Noboribetsu Onsenkyo Takinoya

My first visit to Takinoya was eight years ago, and coming back after all this time, I'm truly impressed by how well everything has been maintained. Although the ryokan has some age to it, it doesn't feel old-fashioned at all. It's truly the best onsen ryokan in Hokkaido in my opinion. We stayed in the D-type room, which not only had its own private onsen but also a separate dining room – incredibly convenient.

The hotel has a very traditional and luxurious Japanese style. The room was incredibly spacious, and we were able to enjoy kaiseki dinner and a Japanese breakfast right in our room. The private onsen in the room was a unique experience, allowing us to soak while admiring the garden view. Our little one loved it too!

This time I booked a private hot spring room. The room was very spacious, with two bedrooms, plus a living room, dining area, and a balcony with fantastic mountain views. The private hot spring was also excellent, with sulfur-rich water that was truly rejuvenating. Upon arrival, we were offered green tea and homemade pastries. Both breakfast and dinner were delivered to the room with dedicated service. The alcoholic beverages we ordered were also reasonably priced. The service was superb. This established hotel offers incredible value for money and is definitely worth a second visit.

Facilities: Absolutely fantastic! Cleanliness: As expected from a Japanese hotel, impeccable. Ambiance: Elegant. Service: Warm and welcoming. This hotel was our first stop on our trip to Japan and it completely exceeded our expectations. Although it was a bit pricey, my family of three all agreed it was worth every penny. It honestly made all the subsequent hotels on our trip feel just 'okay' in comparison. We chose the 'one night, two meals' plan, and the D-type room came with a hot spring bath. The sushi at dinner was incredible – far better than what you'd get at a high-end restaurant in a major city (where you'd pay around 1300 JPY per person), and even better than the sushi we had in Sapporo and Tokyo. Breakfast was extensive, and the staff were incredibly polite and enthusiastic. We will definitely be back and will book the same hotel and room type again. This is the first hotel I've ever felt compelled to recommend; it's so much better than anything you'd find back home! It's rare to find a hotel that makes you want to linger and return.

This is a traditional Japanese-style hotel with fairly new facilities. The dinner was quite good, but the service lacked a bit of the traditional Japanese elegance and attentiveness. The hot spring wasn't particularly outstanding, especially for Noboribetsu. Overall, I'm satisfied, but there were no major surprises.