Toyoko Inn Ueda Ekimae

"Hotel is in a central location, within 15 mins to the metro station. Room is clean and amenities are decent, although space is a bit small. Breakfast is quite tasty."

Bouzantei Kotobuki

Nanakusa No Yu

"Since the booking sites were full during the Obon period, I contacted the inn directly and they kindly accepted my reservation ^^ (I got a 5% discount for booking early). I arrived a little early, but they allowed me to check in without any trouble. The lobby and room both gave the impression of being a little cluttered, but I later realized that this was part of their hospitality. There was a pickle set and a sweets set waiting for me, which was perfect since I hadn't had lunch. My room was the Asagiri-so special room with a panoramic open-air bath. It seemed to have been recently renovated, as it was very clean. I could see Kitamuki Kannon from the balcony, and the view was great, and the sulfur-scented hot spring was very pleasant. (There is also an open-air bath in the public bath.) Meals were served in my room, the service from the maid was pleasant, and the proprietress came to greet me at dinner. They took great care to accommodate my allergies to certain foods that I had informed them of in advance, and I was impressed that an inn would go to such lengths. The meal was delicious, incorporating local and seasonal ingredients. At night, there seemed to be a festival at Kitamuki Kannon, and it was lively until late. The sound of bells could be heard in the evening and morning, and all of that, including the bells, gave me a nostalgic feeling. I felt soothed by the warm hospitality of the inn. Thank you very much!"

Tamaya Ryokan

"It's close to the station, the spring water is pure, it flows freely, the food is excellent, the facilities are immaculately cleaned, and the staff are friendly. It's been a while since I've stayed at a lodging that's perfect. Even after hopping on the Shinkansen after work, I was able to take two days off a week and feel like I was on a three-day, two-night trip. I arrived around 9 p.m. with a no-dinner plan, and enjoyed the free-flowing hot spring water that was open all night. The next morning, breakfast was a delicious, no-nonsense ryokan breakfast. Nothing pre-made, everything was homemade, which was impressive. The public bath is closed during the day for cleaning, but I used the public bath at Bessho Onsen instead. I stayed multiple nights, and dinner on the second night was carefully prepared and delicious. There were many thoughtful touches, including a reusable shower bed, a large, movable towel rack, four bath towels, and the option to add yukata (I only had two for two days) (even when I stayed two nights somewhere, they only provided me with a yukata and one towel). I used the public bath 10 times, and it was always clean and well-maintained. Draft beer is also available for free at set times! The soft, free-flowing hot spring water has a faint sulfurous scent, but because it is weakly alkaline, your skin will remain smooth no matter how many times you bathe."