Arai Ryokan

Even though traveling solo felt a bit lonely, the overall experience exceeded my expectations – it was absolutely perfect. Everything from the ambiance and facilities to the service and food was impeccable. It's clear why this 150-year-old onsen ryokan has such an allure; I now understand why literary greats like Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and Yasunari Kawabata chose to stay here. They have four public baths, each with its own unique charm, and they rotate access between men and women at different times. If you plan it right, you can experience all four even with just an overnight stay. Dinner was a kaiseki meal served in my room between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM. The food was good, but the pace was very slow, and I actually started to feel sleepy towards the end. The paper hotpot tofu for breakfast was a unique and delightful touch. A taxi from Shuzenji Station took about five minutes and cost less than 100 RMB. I truly hope to have the chance to stay here again in the future.

I booked the stay with two meals. Breakfast was a nine-grid bento style, and while dinner wasn't exactly traditional Japanese cuisine, it was filling. The hotel itself is an old-fashioned, traditional Japanese-style building. In the morning, there was hardly anyone around when I walked, and the whole onsen town was very quiet. It's also right next to Shuzen-ji Temple.

The environment, hot springs, and service were all excellent. I will definitely stay here again next time.

I visited this ryokan with high expectations, given its rich history and tradition, and I'm so glad to say it met them all. I made some wonderful memories here. While the cleanliness was a slight concern due to the nature of tatami flooring, I was completely satisfied with everything else, from the service and meals to the hot springs!