Kansuiro Annex

“Amazing authentic experience”

Our first time staying in a ryokan, so I had no real idea what to expect. We were to be served a meal upon arrival, but were massively late to get there taking the Shinkansen from Kyoto, just on the cusp of them stopping to serve dinner altogether but luckily they still accommodated us. Being vega… more

Our first time staying in a ryokan, so I had no real idea what to expect. We were to be served a meal upon arrival, but were massively late to get there taking the Shinkansen from Kyoto, just on the cusp of them stopping to serve dinner altogether but luckily they still accommodated us. Being vegan meant we specified this meal request when booking, and it didn't disappoint. Many unique and delicious dishes in our meal, was a great way to be welcomed to the ryokan. Later I made use of the onsen, but since it was super hot weather already this was probably more enjoyable if we had gone in the winter. Oh well, relaxing nonetheless. I slept soundly (my wife complained that the room smells of wood, which kind of kept her up, I didn't notice this at all, or if I did I enjoyed it), woke up to a beautiful misty morning, and went for a run along the hilly twisty roads of Hakone. We left to Tokyo a little while after. This is a perfect getaway for those looking to escape the bustle of the big cities, or as stop in between cities.

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“Once in a lifetime experience”

What a great experience at a traditional ryokan! Breakfast and supper were included with our stay, as well as afternoon tea service. The food was delicious and we were able to try a lot of different dishes we would not have otherwise experienced. Ichino explained all of the dishes and everything… more

What a great experience at a traditional ryokan! Breakfast and supper were included with our stay, as well as afternoon tea service. The food was delicious and we were able to try a lot of different dishes we would not have otherwise experienced. Ichino explained all of the dishes and everything about the ryokan and our room. We enjoyed the onsens and the quiet of the inn. So much care and attention to detail was given to everything! It is about a 10 minute walk from the train station. Be sure to visit the shops and try the tiramisu ice cream.

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“A bit more research would have made it perfect”

KANSUIRO ANNEX is a relaxing place with an upscale feeling to it. Everything felt welcoming and beautiful. A minor drawback is that it was a bit of a walk from the annex to the main building where all the onsens are located. Furthermore, it was confusing to keep track of which onsens had showers an… more

KANSUIRO ANNEX is a relaxing place with an upscale feeling to it. Everything felt welcoming and beautiful. A minor drawback is that it was a bit of a walk from the annex to the main building where all the onsens are located. Furthermore, it was confusing to keep track of which onsens had showers and which required you to shower in your room first. The atmosphere of the Annex’s outdoor spring was great. This would make a great spot for a weekend getaway and I would like to come back someday!

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“Traditional Japan”

My wife and I stayed at the ryokan as part of our tour of Japan. Having experienced ultra modern hotels in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kyoto, we were keen to sample a traditional Japanese inn. We had a suite of rooms with a private onsen and rockery type garden, which was lovely. Despite being very old … more

My wife and I stayed at the ryokan as part of our tour of Japan. Having experienced ultra modern hotels in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kyoto, we were keen to sample a traditional Japanese inn. We had a suite of rooms with a private onsen and rockery type garden, which was lovely. Despite being very old (I understand the current building is 100 years old), the suite had modern facilities such as air conditioning, a washlet toilet, sink and shower (as part of the onsen). It also had a mini bar. A drinks list is provided with dinner and the prices seemed reasonable. The set-up is very traditional and in stark contrast to the modern hotels, the staff did not speak much English. They do not help with luggage forwarding (the other hotels were very helpful with Yamato paperwork!) Therefore if you are staying here for a night or two as part of a tour, consider taking an overnight bag and forward your luggage from the hotel you are at beforehand to the hotel you’ll ultimately be staying at, or make sure you book Shinkansen seats with luggage space. We had to take a trip back to Odawara station where a helpful JR rep changed our seat bookings for the onward trip, but this took up time we could have spent exploring the area. The downsides are the hotel is old and feels old (a somewhat musty smell pervaded the place). We saw no other guests and it was very quiet. The meal arrangements are quite strict- dinners and breakfasts are served at the prescribed times on the dot but the tea arrived a few minutes early so make sure you are up and dressed in good time. We were attended by a very pleasant and hard working young lady throughout. The dinners were very elaborate and of good quality (the best miso soup we tasted during our trip). If you are used to a bowl of muesli, slice of toast or a croissant for breakfast, the large Japanese breakfast will come as a shock. Being full from the previous night’s dinners, we were unable to finish them, and some dishes were just a bit too adventurous for 8 in the morning. On the whole, a good experience for a night or two.

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