"Pros: Exceptional stay at Ginsyou! Check-in was super easy; they have multilingual front desk staff who speak Japanese, English, and Chinese (among others). They offered us a one-use welcome drink voucher for two glasses of Japanese tea in the lounge. If you want to go to the Saraku Sand Bath next door, you can buy vouchers from the front desk that they will charge to your room - no cash needed! The beautiful Japanese-style room had the most magnificent view of Kagoshima Bay. I could not believe how nice it was. (Book an ocean-facing room if you can.) You can enjoy a shower and bath with the same view. They had all the amenities plus complimentary skincare products! I HIGHLY recommend booking dinner and breakfast. They're delicious, and there are not that many options for food nearby. We arrived at the dining space at 6:30 PM to find a full spread of fresh food. Our server, Gen, provided descriptions of the courses and instructions on how to eat certain dishes. It was a multi-course meal and there was so much food we almost couldn't finish it all! Very delicious and fresh, and included not only sashimi but also local specialties like satsuma-age and kurobuta. Breakfast was less hefty but equally varied, fresh, and delicious. Amazing value for the price. During dinner, the staff will make your beds. The floor futons were so soft and comfortable. I took the opportunity that night to hit the onsen. They have two onsen - one public bath on the 2nd floor, and one rotenburo (open-air bath) on the 9th floor. Both were excellent, but I especially loved the rotenburo at night and in the early morning. Bathing under the moonlight in near pitch darkness, or taking a shower while taking in the breathtaking daytime views, are memories I'll never forget. Don't miss the chance to have an authentic, relaxing, premium ryokan experience at Ginsyou - for a great price!" ~Alex

"Pros: fabulous food Cons: view" ~Harada