Rekishi No Yado Kanaguya

“Incredible, gorgeous, relaxing, delicious, beautiful”

What an incredible experience! This was our first time staying in a ryokan and we were blown away by the building, the service, the town and the food. After reading some of these reviews I was worried two nights would be too many but it absolutely was not, I wish we booked three. We didn’t visit th… more

What an incredible experience! This was our first time staying in a ryokan and we were blown away by the building, the service, the town and the food. After reading some of these reviews I was worried two nights would be too many but it absolutely was not, I wish we booked three. We didn’t visit the onsens in the village because the ones in the ryokan were so cool and very relaxing but if I had another day I would have tried that and explored the villages a bit more. If you are going to see the snow monkeys make sure you go in the morning. The hotel will call a taxi for you and the awesome cafe near the entrance will call one for your way back. Check the weather too, we regretted not grabbing an umbrella for the 1.4km walk into the snow monkey park. You also don’t need to pack too much because you practically live in the traditional dress they give you (except when going to the snow monkey park) and they provide tooth brushes and tooth paste. This place is old and not for people who want pristine, spotless accomodation but if you like a bit of character and adventure this place will win your heart. Oh! Also the food was magnificent! We ate it all but were very full. English is a little limited in the dining space so look up a couple of useful phrases and have fun with it. Dinner on the second night was the best meal we’ve had in Japan so far.

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“Charming and captivating experience”

Highlight of our Japan trip. Such a special ryoken and loveliest staff. The onsens were fabulous, the rooms were traditional and very clean, food was delicious and varied. We felt very cared for and I couldn’t recommend this experience enough.

“A memorable and unforgettable stay”

We stayed for 1 night in this historic 4-story wooden ryokan more than 200 years old. The accommodation offered an experience with genuine Japanese culture as its architecture is registered as a national cultural property, and the rooms were designed like individual houses while the corridors were … more

We stayed for 1 night in this historic 4-story wooden ryokan more than 200 years old. The accommodation offered an experience with genuine Japanese culture as its architecture is registered as a national cultural property, and the rooms were designed like individual houses while the corridors were like streets. As our room do not have a shower facility, we used 2 of the many baths in the building for bathing and enjoyment of onsen. Dinner and breakfast were traditional multi-course Japanese meals.

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“Unique…but would not stay again”

Just finished an overnight stay and my feelings are mixed. We were a party of 5 in 2 rooms. It was interesting to visit Shibu Onsen and try the hot spring baths. It was a plus that Kanaguya has serval baths in the building just for guests. The architecture of the Ryokan was certainly unique but as … more

Just finished an overnight stay and my feelings are mixed. We were a party of 5 in 2 rooms. It was interesting to visit Shibu Onsen and try the hot spring baths. It was a plus that Kanaguya has serval baths in the building just for guests. The architecture of the Ryokan was certainly unique but as others have stated the building seems to be falling into disrepair. Our room had a strong musty smell and the empty refrigerator was covered with mold inside. The water has a strong sulfur smell which filled the bathroom. No WiFi in our room. The inn advertises air conditioning but that is only in the hallways. NO air conditioning in the rooms. Our room was very hot and stuffy and I had to request a fan be brought to the room so we could sleep. The futon on the floor was thin and worn and the single pillow was like a brick. I was up for an adventure but this was crazy and unnecessary…especially at a rate of $400 usd/night. Finally, It is absolutely ridiculous that they will not store your luggage for you in the morning when you go to the monkey park, you have to take your luggage with you! All in all, unique but very disappointing stay. There seem to be much better Ryokans in the area - they are less hyped (and less expensive) but make service and comfort an actual consideration. My suggestion is don’t book Kanaguya if coming to this area.

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