Jamie575
Google
The Ryokan is up a steep uphill brick road. The drop off area was small and narrow. The ryokan is perched at the side of a hill with views of the bay and the famous sandbar, Amanohashidate. First impression was that the ryokan was traditional with some modern touches. Some English was spoken. The Staff welcome you and a kimono clad member looks after you throughout your stay; much like your personal butler. ||Room|Our room was one of two modern rooms at this ryokan. Ours was the larger room - Kongo. There is another smaller room with just the bedroom and bathroom (Nyoi)|Our room had a small study, tatami-living room, large bathroom, and a modern bedroom with two single beds and a large couch.|The Beds were very comfortable with a thick quilt. Rooms were all air conditioned rooms and the Floor was heated throughout.|Room lights were controlled via remote controller (one for bedroom and one for living room).|There’s a Nespresso machine and Japanese tea bags, plus an assortment of tea cups, glasses and long-stem wine glasses for red and white wines. A Kettle is provided.|Wines and alcohol chargeable, while soft drinks come with the room.|WiFi can be received in the room. There’s a Blue-tooth radio speakers and a VCD player.|A Flat screen TV is hung on the wall in front of the L-shaped couch; but it features mostly local Japanese stations.|Japanese Snacks were brought to our room by staff during the evening tea time.|There were Modern touches in the room, including design lamps for bed time reading.|Iced Water and torch lights were placed on our bed head at night. The bed-head also had plug points for charging mobile devices.|A small toilet is near the bedroom, opposite the walk-in closet (complete with his and hers changing areas). Japanese yukuta are provided if you wish to go to the spa or to wear it to dinner.|Dinner and breakfast can either be served in room or at a designated private dining room.||Bathroom|Our room came with a huge bathroom area. A Narrow entryway /walkway with another toilet on the left, followed by his and hers sinks with three sets of fluffy robes, towels and hand towels and more than enough face towels. |Cardboard boxed Bars of soaps, small bottles body gel and body moisturizer are provided around the sink area. |In the three drawers, we found various amenities such as “Good Morning” towels, rough wash cloth, toothbrushes, combs, amenity package (Q-tips, facial wipes, shower cap), and shaving kits.|The Sink is large, but there’s no stopper if you wish to wash your clothes. A powerful Dyson hair dryer is provided.|There’s a Walk-in rain-shower; which is more than a drizzle, less than a deluge. Large bottles of shower gel, shampoo and conditioner are provided.|In the same space is a large sunken bath already filled with water heated to 50 degrees Celsius. Temperature of tub water can be controlled from controls at the bath room entrance.|The Bathroom smells strongly of cedar wood and is totally relaxing. Lying in the bath, watching the windows steam up, one gets easily lost in one’s thoughts.|An Outdoor tub is also pre-heated using the electronic controls. We found it very tranquil to lie in the bath and listen to the rain or the trains go clickity-clack down below, or the waves wash in from the bay. Funnily enough, we did not feel cold traipsing out after our shower.|The Living room has traditional tatami flooring with a low dining table and chairs. Further towards the window, a pair of low chairs share a low coffee table, and over-look the bay.|There’s a small study area with a couple of chairs. ||Food|Snow crab was in season. Our omakase meal featured snow crabs in almost all the dishes. Deliciously done snow crab in sashimi, grilled, cold, and porridge. |Service was consistent and kept pace with our speed of consumption. |Breakfast is a choice if either Japanese or western. We had Japanese and again, it was well done and there’s more than enough food for us.|On our second day, we had Western breakfast, which was smaller in size but was very filling.||Service |Service was warm and friendly. Our “butler” could speak some English, but wife had picked up Japanese and got to practice. |All staff were on the ball. Example was the bell hops. They came out when we arrived to take charge of our bags. Shoes were taken off in the lobby and staff would put it into a room. (Provided Slippers were worn throughout the ryokan.)|When we left for the day, and if it was raining, the staff would have umbrellas ready. Shoes were also ready for us, lined up neatly against the step.|Service was warm, caring, and genuine. ||Other information |There’s a Small gift shop and a traditional check-in area in the lobby at ground floor.|Onsen located downstairs, and a Small gym next to the onsen. |If we needed to head to town, a shuttle bus could bring us down. Amanohashidate station is only about 600m from the hotel but the steep slope up and down can be treacherous.|We were based here for two nights. We spent a day going out to “Kyoto by the sea” to see the Funaya boathouses. ||Our rooms were incredible. We loved it lots and were sad to leave after our short stay. Highly recommended for these modern rooms specifically, the warm and genuine service and the delicious food.
