Hanamaki Ryokan Airinkan

We booked online and travelled to Hanamaki by train . We were picked up at the station by the Onsens bus , it is then about a 35 minute ride through the lovely countryside up into the mountains. Greeted warmly by all the staff and booking in went smoothly. Our spacious room was on the 2nd. Floor, it had a lovely view out over the sloping gardens and river, Reception is on the 4th. floor and the hot spring baths are on the basement floor . There is a nice 40 minute walking track around the resort that we did before having a bath, they gave us a walking stick each with little bells on it to keep the bears away, it is a lovely walk through nice garden and forest areas, plenty of good photo opportunities. The hot baths were very good, water temperature was between 40 to 42 degrees, very relaxing , there is everything you need at the baths, like body soap, shampoo, conditioner.hair brush and combs, hairdryer. As per normal they provide the yukata’s to wear to the baths and around the hotel for meals etc . They gave us a sparkling wine welcome drink and there were free icypoles anytime you wanted down in the nice lounge near reception. There is a gift shop there as well . Dinner was partly on the table set out for you then you just partook of a great smorgasboard spread , plenty of variety, scrumptious. Breakfast was a smorgasboard, again very very good The resort bus took us back to Hanamaki station at 9 am. Next morning after five staff members came out and gave us a rousing goodbye, A fabulous stay , we should have been staying longer, Highly recommended.