Amis Droles

This hotel was unexpectedly lovely! The "onsen pool" was the perfect temperature, and it was nice to be able to enjoy an onsen-like experience with my mixed-sex group of (shy American) friends. Our rooms were clean, tidy, very spacious by Japanese hotel standards, and had all the amenities we needed. The owner/manager was extremely kind and eager to help, and my rudimentary Japanese was more than enough to allow communication between us. Even my non-Japanese speaking friend was able to follow his explanation of all the amenities.When the manager discovered we had not planned enough food (our fault for not reading the maps closely enough), he very kindly drove us to the nearby conbini so we could supplement our supplies. This was really above-and-beyond service compared to what I'm used to, and I am so thankful to him!The hotel and Kawazu town itself were a bit more remote than I had expected (not enough research), and it gets DARK at night, so in retrospect I can say we should have brought a rental car.We got a private hot springs room, and the luxurious feeling of the private onsen was amazing. Open-air but still very secluded, with a natural stone aesthetic.Also the pool deserves another mention--such a nice temperature, with fun lighting at nighttime--a delight both in the morning and evening. There were many little critters to watch from the pool, including birds, colorful beetles, and butterflies, and my friends saw a gecko enjoying the warmth near the private onsen!We went to Kawazu specially for the nearby KawaZoo, a frogs-only zoo, which was amazing, but were also charmed by Kawazu town itself. There was a nearby shrine dedicated to a sumo wrestler who was said to have trained with a 700-lb stone which you can still see today, and on the short walk over there were multiple beautiful views of the Kawazu River and the surrounding mountains. I would also recommend taking the bus to do the 1 hour Nanadaru waterfalls hike if you are able--there are lots of stairs, but feeling the spray from these gorgeous waterfalls and getting to see the rare columnar rock formations was 100% worth it. Our ryokan host provided us with a very cute map of the area showing all the attractions, as well as MANY helpful brochures including one with all the restaurants. There is also a unique and interesting coil shaped highway feature, named after the waterfalls.Overall, my friends and I didn't want to leave this hotel! I wish we had stayed longer. On my next Japan trip I would love to return to this hotel to enjoy the onsen pool and explore the town further :)

The hot spring pool is cool!

I stayed with my two dogs.The room was a little small with two dogs.There was a small dog run, and there were cages and dog sets in the room.There is also a private hot spring that you can take your dog to (smaller).The public bath was small, but I was satisfied with the pleasant hot spring water and the thoughtful amenities. Impressed by Refa's shower head!Best of all, the food was absolutely delicious.The night pool is also a heated pool, so I think you can enjoy it even during the coming seasons.thank you very much.

The former diving facility is now open as a pet-friendly inn.The carefully selected pool is perfect for traveling with children in spring or fall, as you can enjoy it even in the chilly season.The private bath for the pet building was a good size, but unfortunately it wasn't cleaned properly and was full of mud...Well, if you think of it as an open-air bath...The service was good and the food was delicious, so I would definitely come back again!