Sanga Ryokan 山河旅館

We are so glad we ventured out to this lovely establishment in the hills of Mt. Aso. Once the shuttle takes you down from the station, you are surrounded on all sides by the dense forest. The meals are excellent and filling, and the baths themselves are separated only by a short walk across polished stones. Each one is a private alcove, with trees and rocks forming a boundary against the world. This is a truly special place! An unforgettable experience.

The most unique and traditional experience I’ve had while traveling through out Japan. The staff was super welcoming and made us feel at home. The food was amazing. We had a room with a private bath and was amazing. Totally recommend for couples or even family group.

Our stay at Ryokan Sanga was absolutely delightful after the hustle-and-bustle of Tokyo and Kansai. You really get the sense of being deep in the woods and close to nature, and relaxing in the open-air bath while listening to the sounds of the forest is incredibly refreshing. The staff are very kind and welcoming, and the meals were delicious.

The public open bath is absolutely wonderful for relaxing and enjoying nature. The facilities are beautiful, and the ryokan itself is really picturesque. I would definitely recommend it anytime! Tattoos were not a problem

We stayed for a night in May. The big plus was the size of our room and the private onsen with a great outlook. It was a pity that it was tired with old fittings and much in need of decoration. For example, it smelt of cigarette smoke. When we arrived, the service was perfunctory and transactional and this was repeated in the restaurant. The dinner quality was the worst we experienced in Japan, although the (Japanese) breakfast was much better. We have advised our tour operator against using it again.

Once in awhile you come across a gem of a property. Sanga Ryokan is one such place. From the moment you arrive on property the staff can’t seem to do enough ! The rooms were very traditionaland very comfortable. Great to have e a private onsen in ours. Our meals were beautiful and the service excellent. We were lucky to visit all the onsite onsens. Very enjoyable. The lovely lady at the front door noticed my shoes were wet and without asking she ensured they were dry on our departure. I highly recommend this property.

Excellent onsen ryokan. The only drawback is it’s not directly in the town itself. Service was flawless, the food was perfect, and the baths were great. My room was good for my needs, it was quiet, and the waterfall outside was a great source of white noise. Highly recommend for a peaceful stay.

Our stay was the pinnacle of our trip to southern Japan. I offer no hyperbole whatsoever when I say the service and staff offered during our stay was the best experience I have ever had during my almost sixty years on this wonderful world, and my wife and have travelled almost every clime and place you could imagine. The mix of tradition and excellence was pitch perfect. We can’t wait for a future visit and we’ll definitely recommend to our friends!