Arai Ryokan

The best ryokan I have ever visited in Japan. You feel at home. It is located in a picturesque place with its own sakura alley, momiji. There is a bamboo grove. Breakfasts and dinners (kaiseki) are interesting and delicious. You can feel the constant attention of the ryokan staff. The onsens are varied and beautiful, after visiting them, my skin became very smooth. The rooms are historical, large, classic, very pleased. I recommend Arai Ryokan!

Very traditional onsen with rooms rebuilt but keeping the historical decoration and environment. Enjoyed very much the Japanese food and service.especially their breakfast. Dinner was not truly our taste on all dishes , mainly veggie and seafood. But in general very impressive experience and will recommend to friends who are looking for authentic Japanese Onsen .

An amazing authentic experience. From check in to check out, staff were attentive and so kind. The room specialist that took care of me and my room was the sweetest older lady. She was so prideful and genuinely happy to teach me about her country and culture. In room dining experience was fantastic. On site onsens were peaceful - I was the only one at the times I went :)

Arai Ryokan, built in 1872, is a luxurious ryokan with 31 Japanese style guest rooms are located in various private cottages. Its 15 wooden structures are registered as the national cultural assets. Many Japanese celebrated artists made frequent visit and the big art collection is housed in the ryokan. A wooden bridge leads to the guest rooms which overlook either the river or the courtyard with its large pond full of carp. Arai Ryokan’s traditional Japanese cuisine kaiseki served features local fresh seafood and vegetable of each season.

Fabulous stay at this beautiful ryokan. Staff was unfailingly helpful, attentive and kind, even though they spoke little English, and we speak even less Japanese. The meals were amazing and the five onsen were fantastic. Our stay was peaceful and restorative...just what we needed!

Me and my wife just wrapped up a 3 days stay here... where do I begin? The food is utterly amazing. I am american, and truthfully about 80% of the food that was served was things I had never had. Some stuff I was a little scared to try! But it quickly became apparent that all the food was as fresh as you can get. By the end of my 3 days, I actually really was enjoying many of the new foods I was trying, and I am a picky eater to some extent (my wife is more adventurous than me lol). The location is utterly beautiful. You will sleep to the noise of a crystal clear river, and walk out of your room to a stunning koi pond (I really enjoyed feeding the fish). The whole area is great for walking around. Finally, the best part is the service. I had never been to a ryokan before, so the experience was totally new to me. Our attendants name was Junna. She made us feel like the most important people on earth. She would arrange our breakfasts and dinners in such a thoughtful manner! Additionally, she taught me all about the foods we were served, and japanese culture in general. By the end of the whole experience, we felt like we had made a wonderful friend that taught us about the area. The service was so good, I plan to actually take some of the lessons I learned from her and the staff here, and apply it to my own construction business back home in the states. If your debating staying here, do it!

Just amazing! Yes, it is not the cheapest ryokan with onsens BUT it is so beautiful and with beautiful onsesn. It has two kakenagashi rotunburo (constantly fresh water flowing open air) onsens (spring baths), which can be used by both men and women - not at the same time of course, there is a schedule. There are other onsens as well, but these two are the best especially one of them - it looks like from a Japanese game or anime - in the forest. There is a mini lake with koi fish inside the ryokan which is beautiful. The service is spectacular. A bit difficult with English but there is always google translate for people who dont speak Japanese. Food is delicious although a bit strange and might not be preferred by everyone. I liked about 60% of the food but it was a lot, so you won’t be left hungry. Truly authentic experience - in a traditional, clean and cosy room, with pretty view from the window, very private and you are supplied with free yukata for the stay. P.S. the pictures I have taken, there was no one else besides me in this onsen as it was 23:50, thats why I allowed myself to bring my phone for a picture.

We spend about five months a every year traveling, mainly in Europe and Asia, and have stayed in countless hotels, from the Alps to Mediterranean islands, and from Provence to Tuscany. In Japan, we’ve stayed at places like Hiiragiya in Kyoto and Hoshinoya in Tokyo, but Arai Ryokan in Shuzenji is our favorite. First, their one-night, two-meal package offers excellent value for money, and the service is impeccable. The shrine bath (Chikurin no Yu) and the outdoor garden baths are true treasures, rare to find elsewhere. Compared to places we’ve stayed, such as two Michelin three-key hotels in the Black Forest or luxury options like Aman, Hoshinoya, and Four Seasons, many left little lasting impression. However, every time we leave Arai Ryokan, it feels bittersweet. Their breakfasts and dinners are never repetitive and are crafted with extraordinary care, reflecting the thoughtfulness of the hotel. The staff deserve special mention for their warm and attentive care, often waiting early in the restaurant to greet us. They are genuinely friendly and kind, which enhances the overall experience. This time, we stayed in Yukino 1, a room with three sides offering different garden views, each mesmerizing in its own way. Shuzenji itself has many subtle charms that make it hard to leave. This was our second visit to Shuzenji and Arai Ryokan, and I’m certain we will return again. In Japan, we’ve visited Kyoto the most, along with Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa, Niseko, Noboribetsu, and many other places, each with its distinct appeal. Shuzenji, however, stands out—not for any particular uniqueness, but for its captivating allure. Although Arai Ryokan doesn’t offer modern luxury or extravagance, you can truly feel the deep cultural heritage and legacy of the family that runs it.

Arai Ryokan is a Japanese traditional style inn and widely known for its Japanese traditional architecture, art and history. It's located in a quaint town Izu. It's the perfect weekend get-away if you're locally from neighboring cities, but the rest of us had to plan this in advance...The best time to be here is from Monday through Wednesday. Trust me when I say the "best time" because it's more crowded towards the weekend and you will not have easy access to the hot spring. This town is quiet and is the perfect spot to "de-stress your mind and body. Most of the shops closed around 6-7pm. They have a "public" bath house/hot spring that is open to all the guests; and they also have a "private" bath/hot spring that you can have all to YOURSELF! But the private one is always taken on the weekend so that's why it's better to be here at the inn on the slow days. Since we were a big party of 6, we had the option of dining in the "dining hall" instead of our room. Again, it's another plus to dine in a large room instead of your own room. Of course, depending on which wing your room is located, the view is breath taking! Our bedroom has a nice view of the river Katsura River. Yes, it was very romantic and we felt like we were on our honeymoon (gasp, be still my heart). We had our meals twice a day at the inn. This is another must try! Their local fish is fresh and prepared with the utmost attention to detail. I can go on and on but I will not do it justice and I won't. Suffice to say that I was well fed and gained 5 pounds at the end of my trip. Within walking distance there's an udon shop that it's worthy of my weight gain battle and it's another "must try" kinda thing. I would like to think that we'll be back but with so many spots yet to explore, who knows when that will happen.

What a wonderful and beautiful location. Starting from when you arrive at the front door, the service is impeccable, swift and well managed. They give you a Kyoto style kaiseki breakfast and dinner in your room. You can soak in one of five pools which are separated by gender. Order something and it'll be there before you can even think about it. I'll mention Sasaki-san as she was very good to us while we stayed. You will not want to leave. Peace and quiet location and you can have a room that overlooks the beautiful stream and waterfalls that are present. Expensive and well worth it.