Tateshina Ai

I visited last year and had such a wonderful time that I came back.The dishes featuring wild mountain vegetables and local ingredients, the Onsen at just the right temperature (I gave it 4 points only because there is no sauna), and the warm hospitality with thoughtful, understated service are what I love most.The only downside is that the food is so delicious I end up eating too much (laugh).Recommended for adults.

As soon as we parked, a staff member from the Accommodation came to greet us. The entrance is a short climb up a stone-stepped slope, which felt a bit unsteady—I wished there had been a handrail. After being welcomed with traditional sweets and tea, we were shown to our Room. It was more than spacious enough for two people: spotless and beautiful, with its own open-air bath. Yukata robes, samue loungewear, bathrobes, and three bath towels were provided, so we changed into yukata right away and headed to the large public bath (separate for men and women). We were told the baths switch between men and women at dinner time. Since no one else was there, I could relax in both the perfectly heated indoor bath and the covered open-air bath at my leisure. My husband said his side had a rock bath. Afterward, tokoroten was served, and there was also complimentary cold barley tea in the lobby.\n\nTo be honest, after staying the previous night at an Accommodation in Shirahone—where the hot spring water was great but the hospitality felt more for the staff’s convenience—this place already felt like going straight from hell to heaven.\n\nDinner was served in a completely private dining room. One beautifully presented dish after another arrived in wonderful variety. A sake tasting set after beer made it even more enjoyable. Still, it kept coming so steadily that we—an older couple—unfortunately couldn’t finish everything. In hindsight, stopping around the upgraded beef grilled on a ceramic plate might have been just right as our finale. It was disappointing that we had to skip items like takikomi rice and miso soup just to make room for dessert. During dinner, the proprietress came by personally to greet us. I’ve experienced this at Japanese Ryokan before years ago, but it’s rare these days—and it made me feel the warmth of being truly cared for by real people.\n\nWhen we returned to our Room, futons had been laid out; by our pillows were a pot of iced water and a letter from the proprietress; and soba sushi had been placed in the refrigerator.\n\nThe garden outside looked a little scary in total darkness, but I enjoyed our private open-air bath anyway—the temperature was perfect and I could have stayed in forever. The public baths were spacious and relaxing too, but having an open-air bath in the Room meant soaking anytime without worrying about others—and it was large enough for about four people at once—so I could truly unwind. Late at night before bed I went again; however, since the floor had already frozen over I nearly slipped and fell. Although I don’t usually use one at home، having a bathrobe ready made it easy to throw on over wet skin.\n\nIn the morning my husband used both our private open-air bath and then the public bath; I took my time soaking again in ours before breakfast—also served privately—in another dining room suite-style setting like dinner did earlier . After breakfast، coffee (delivered by what seemed like owner or manager) brought directly up into room .\n\nAn exceptional Accommodation for an indulgent adults-only getaway . We’d love return again while point card still valid .