Asaba Ryokan

This hotel is not worth the very high cost. It is a beautiful and tranquil ryokan but the town it is located in is very small and there is little to do there, so you quickly get bored once you relax for a day at the hotel. While the staff is extremely kind and eager to please, most do not speak English so it is difficult as a foreigner to communicate your needs. The hotel does not organize any activities so other than the onsen (which has limited hours) and the spa, there is also not much to do there. We were told they sometimes organize performances on the lake but there were none during our stay. Overall, I would not advise coming here, especially if you have limited time in Japan.

From the moment we arrived, we were taken away by how stunningly beautiful this ryokan is. Everything is tastefully designed and at times it feels more like a museum than a ryokan. We loved our room Hagi which faced the pond. We also absolutely loved the food that was served here - the ingredients were very fresh and the dishes, to our palate, were better than the ones at Fufu (and mind you, food is a strong point across all Fufu properties). Our room attendant, Yoko, was also friendly, knowledgeable on a lot of things and had a cool personality. The tatami was also plush and very comfortable, possibly the best futons we have ever slept on.||What wasn’t so great for us, however, was the lack of proficiency in English. There were a couple of service lapse, which we assume is due to language barriers despite what we thought was clear communication and acknowledgment. We feel that it should be better for Japanese speaking guests. We also feel that most staff here were a little bit old and feel that we might be a bit too young to be a guest, I’m not sure how we got the feeling but just didn’t click for us. For the room, it lacked the normal skincare amenities of an onsen ryokan and the hairdryer was very weak, which would pose an issue for the ladies or gents with long hair. Service here, while good, was not great per se. In the end we had a good stay here but were not blown away.||Room: We stayed at Hagi room, which is adequately sized for two and enjoyed a great view of the garden. Would happily stay there again if we return. One night would be enough given the very small size of the Shuzenji town.

Beautiful ryokan neighboring shuzenji. Our room “Tenko” was spacious, amidst the forest with indoor and outdoor onsen. The room only has 2 beds, but there was a living room that could close off almost entirely and has its own bathroom, futons can be added here and it can easily accommodate more people. I had high expectations for dinner due to the high rating on tabelog, but there were only a few standout dishes like the sashimi and eggplant tempura topped with uni, the other dishes were a bit bland and unmemorable. Breakfast on the other hand was much better. Service was very attentive as well, but all in all I’m not sure the price tag of over ¥700,000 for three people is justified. Granted our room was the largest on the property, but our friends who stayed in the standard rooms also paid over ¥300,000 per couple which is way higher than other ryokans in the area. At this price point I would expect everything to be perfect, but it wasn’t. I also didn’t think the scenery in our backyard was that impressive. Overall it was a great experience, but I think staying here once is enough.

The first amazing thing about Asaba Ryokan is that it’s been in one family ownership for over 500 years. A truly mind boggling fact for someone involved in early stage companies in a country where the first white settlement occurred when Asaba was already about 200 years old. Apart from just being an amazing fact, the family has maintained the ambience that I’m sure its founder would be proud of. ||The setting and architecture of the ryokan, with only 12 suites overlooking a lake, full of large fish, over to a Noh theatre stage, is magnificent. The facilities and service are of the highest standard. All breakfasts and dinners were served in our room, with personalised service by friendly wait staff. The food is excellent. Drinks in the salon overlooking the lake was a peaceful way to relax after walking around town. ||Our room, Asagi, was beautiful. The hot tub overlooking the lake was a highlight. ||Asada Ryokan is expensive. Is it worth the money? It depends on what one values. I think our 2 night stay was definitely worth it.

While the property itself is undeniably beautiful, my experience fell short of expectations, especially considering the high nightly rate. Unfortunately, the meals were disappointing, and to make matters worse, I noticed red mold in the bathroom, which was concerning.||||The initial welcome staff was warm and attentive, but the service during our meals was quite the opposite—our server seemed unengaged, and the service was consistently slow. I was also surprised that alcohol wasn't included, not even the first round, given the price.||||When I requested an extra bottle of water, I was told it would incur an additional charge, which seemed excessive for something so basic. Another drawback was the lack of a comfortable place to sit together in the room. There was only a small bench that could barely accommodate one person.||||Aside from the bath, there were no amenities or activities offered on-site, which limited the overall experience. For the price we paid, I expected a lot more in terms of service, comfort, and offerings.

This is one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. It has been run by the same family for 500 years and we found the standards of service, the beauty of the buildings and the quality of the food flawless. Everyone was so kind! An exceptional and magical experience! It is also a great base for bush walking in the neighbouring countryside and rafting.

The staff at the hotel is truly excellent - friendly and welcoming, and communication prior to our stay was perfect. The kitchen accommodated my food allergies and the dinner and breakfast were delicious. Yoko, who served us our meals, is a delight and we loved her. The room was very spacious and quiet. The beds were really comfortable, and the onsen/shower room was wonderful. Our teens slept on futons on the floor in a tatami room, which worked really well. Asaba sits in a very pretty spot, with lovely views. My only complaints are that there was no lotion in the room (but there was in the common indoor batha reas), that nudity is required in the hot spring baths (I had thought it was optional to wear a swimsuit, so perhaps this was my fault), and that the hotel is very expensive. Although we really enjoyed our stay and the experience we had, I do not think it is a good value, although I have no other ryokan/onsen experience to compare it to. Also, the nudity rule makes it a bit uncomfortable for families with older children or teenagers.

My husband and I just spent a glorious two nights at Asaba Ryokan and we loved it start to finish. Everything was spotlessly clean, the service was attentive but understated, and the peace, quiet and relaxation were the perfect antidote to jet lag. All that said, there are customs and etiquette specific to ryokans and hot springs bathing, so do your homework. If you are expecting to be able to choose your meals or not get naked to enter the communal baths (segregated by sex), you will be disappointed. If, however, you’re open to the experience and especially the bathing culture, you can’t do better than Asaba. If your goals are to relax, bathe and eat well, Asaba will tick every box. We can’t wait to go back!