Kurokawa Onsen Oku no Yu

The views from the room were amazing. Listening to water through the night

Beds were too soft.

This is a beautiful, old-school hot spring hotel that offers a truly authentic experience. The hot springs (onsen) were absolutely incredible and incredibly relaxing.

The only slight downside for me was that the room itself didn't have a shower, which took some getting used to. You have to use the public shower. While it's part of the traditional style, it might be a bit inconvenient if you prefer privacy.

A good traditional ryokan experience. Our room with a private onsen was remarkably spacious, complete with distinct, well-appointed zones for sleeping and enjoying tea. The highlight was undoubtedly the massive private onsen area. It directly overlooks a scenic stream, offering beautiful views of the surrounding greenery. Since it had recently rained heavily, the river was roaring, sounding like a nearby waterfall. However, once closing all doors, the sound softened immediately . The atmosphere was refreshing. The room was fully equipped with everything we needed.

1. Dinner was served at a nearby restaurant, with private car transfers provided for drop-off and pick-up. While the driver was incredibly punctual and polite, having to leave the property for dinner made the experience feel a bit less seamless than I would have preferred. 2. We were only provided with two bath towels. Given that we booked a room with a private onsen—and there are several other beautiful public baths to try throughout the ryokan—we felt a bit restricted. Even though small hand towels are freely available at the public onsens, having extra full-sized bath towels would have made the experience much more comfortable without having to consciously ration our usage.

The outdoor onsen area was lovely and the setting was peaceful. The dinner transfer was also convenient, with transport provided to and from the restaurant.

The private onsen system was disappointing. It is first come, first served, and despite trying twice, including going early, we were not able to use one. A booking system would make much more sense and would improve the experience. The room was okay but basic, with no skincare amenities, so bring your own. Staff were polite but quite dry compared with other places we stayed.