Yamanaka Onsen Kuriya Yasohachi

“Top-Notch Service for a Reasonable Price”

This place epitomizes the joys of Japanese hospitality. The service is attentive, personalized, and friendly. Everybody truly goes above and beyond. The intimate size of the ryokan ensures a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, which was exactly what we were looking for. What stood out more than anything … more

This place epitomizes the joys of Japanese hospitality. The service is attentive, personalized, and friendly. Everybody truly goes above and beyond. The intimate size of the ryokan ensures a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, which was exactly what we were looking for. What stood out more than anything else: the FOOD. The chef presents and cooks everything with such delicate care, utilizing all local ingredients and highlighting regional specialties. We were stuffed to the brim, but it was worth it! Pro tip: reserve a room with a private onsen, as the communal onsen was admittedly average compared to other onsen ryokans I've been to.

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“Great onsen, delicious fresh snow crabs!”

I stay at Kuriya Yasohachi once a year in February for snow crabs and the onsen. This is a smaller ryokan which is definitely not for big bus tour groups and their service is very personal. It is quiet and classy, typical Japanese onsen ryokan. I always reserve a room with private onsen which is f… more

I stay at Kuriya Yasohachi once a year in February for snow crabs and the onsen. This is a smaller ryokan which is definitely not for big bus tour groups and their service is very personal. It is quiet and classy, typical Japanese onsen ryokan. I always reserve a room with private onsen which is facing a beautiful bamboo forest and a river. I love taking onsen at the room looking over the snow covered view but also their public onsen is very nice. It is not a huge onsen but the atmosphere is calm and relaxing. Hot spring is very smooth and its temperature is perfect. And snow crabs!!! Oh my god. They are so good. They serve two fresh brand tagged whole snow crabs per person. The shell of the crabs are all shining gold from their freshness. First, they serve them as sashimi, which is called Hana-saki-sashimi, meaning blooming flower sashimi because the meat of the crab is see though pink and they just look like blooming flowers. Then they grill them on "hibachi", cook nabe and risotto all in front of you. They serve crab sunomono (marinated with vinegar) with eggs from female crabs, too. All are decorated beautifully on Kutani dishes and Wajima-nuri bowls. The whole presentation is a course of art. This place is absolutely must go! in the winter/crab season.

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“One of Ishikawa-ken’s Best Ryokans”

My wife and I enjoy visiting Ishikawa-ken because it is away from the typical tourist crush...it is quiet, refined, clean, and unhurried. We keep searching for those ryokans which cater to couples rather than to large tour groups, and to couples rather than families with loud and unruly children. … more

My wife and I enjoy visiting Ishikawa-ken because it is away from the typical tourist crush...it is quiet, refined, clean, and unhurried. We keep searching for those ryokans which cater to couples rather than to large tour groups, and to couples rather than families with loud and unruly children. Also, we look to find ryokans which offer private, in-room rotemburos. Kuriya Yasohachi seems to have it all — an air of quiet elegance, a nice modern room with a private rotemburo, excellent food in measured quantities, and top notch service. We stayed three nights and did not feel like we were getting repeats from the kitchen — each dinner and each breakfast was different, delicious, and satisfying, without being overwhelming. The service was excellent and management went out of its way to cater to all of our needs, even those which were not a ryokan issue (a dysfunctional GPS navigator on our rental car, for instance). Cleanliness was top notch, and we never felt like tings could be a little cleaner or a little more tidy: a perfectionist would be in heaven. We were sad to leave as we felt so welcomed in the inn. We never saw the public baths because our own private rotemburo was wonderful to bathe in. We had views of the ravine, the river below, and bamboo trees — complete privacy, and the sound of the river lulled one to sleep. What is not to like? 1. The exterior of the building could stand a good cleaning and painting. While the interior has been impeccably maintained, the exterior gives the impression of age and decay — don’t worry, the inside is wonderful. 2. The ryokan charges for coffee. Many of the luxury ryokans in which we have stayed offer coffee, usually self-service, but complementary. Yasohachi charges JPY500 per cup, which to be fair, is freshly brewed for each client. 3. Yasohachi provides a beautiful selection of yukatas for the ladies. We wish there had been a greater selection for small ladies — there was much greater variety for taller and larger women than for the petite ladies. We’ll be back!

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