"Pros: The staff was SO polite and kind!! Just top notch service from them. We arrived early so they took our bags while we explored the famous steps & shrine at the top. Then we came back to tea and snacks in the waiting lounge and got to warm up while watching the stunning snow fall in the surrounding forest. We had dinner one of the nights that we stayed there, and the staff carefully and kindly explained all the foods laid out for us. Also, they seemed to remember us quite quickly, for when we went out and came back, they had our room key ready to go. Another night we booked a karaoke room for two hours, and the machines had lots of recent releases from this past year (2023/24) since they use DAM machines. You could also bring your own snacks and alcohol to karaoke, and there was a vending machine on the same floor for more beer and other drinks. Finally, let’s talk about the main event, the onsen area! I tried the “Matazaemon no Yu” indoor bath and the “Gonzaemon no Yu” outdoor bath. The Matazaemon was pretty standard, similar to other baths I’ve been to before. But the Gonzaemon was *chef’s kiss* stellar. So awesome to just soak in the hot, hot outdoor bath in the cold winter night. I highly recommend going during the down time and having the bath all to yourself~ Cons: The bathroom in our hotel room really needs love. It had a strong scent of something, maybe sulphur or just old water? And the water took way too long to heat up, I think maybe over 20 minutes. But then again, you go for the onsen area, so just skip the bath in your room and wash up/enjoy the onsens instead. I recommend bringing your own face tissues and towels as well if you can afford the suitcase space. The couch cushions also need a good cleaning, but the futons were nice and neatly made each day for us with fresh sheets!" ~Caro

"Pros: Hospitality despite of language barrier. Superb service and excellent comfort in extreme weather condition. Cons: Not a big deal. The location was slightly tricky. It's in a cul del sac." ~Sean