Iroha Ryokan

I go there every year, and I'm always soothed by the warm host.

The staff were very kind and I felt very relaxed.It was my first time to visit Dorogawa Onsen, and I really liked it.

Captain Duck is a landmark

I stayed with him for Christmas. It was reserved for just us. Dinner and breakfast were served in private rooms, and the food was local, so no matter what I ate, I was satisfied. Although the bath was not a mixed bath, I am grateful that I was able to reserve it for myself. They prepared a separate room for us to sleep in, a hot water bottle on the futon, and a perfect inn. I've stayed at a lot of ryokans, but this is the one that left a lasting impression on me. There isn't. On the day I left, they carried my luggage to the bus stop, which made me happy. Also, next time I would like to go when the cherry blossoms bloom. Of course, I will stay at Iroha Ryokan!

I came up with the idea of ​​traveling to Dorogawa Onsen just by chance. This month, I missed out on Saturday and Sunday, so instead, I decided to take an overnight trip on weekdays, November 14th (Tuesday) and November 15th (Wednesday), by combining paid holidays and public holidays. Since I was on a sudden solo trip for just one night, I decided to go to Dorogawa Onsen, which is easily accessible from Osaka by Kintetsu and bus, and where you can relax in the hot springs.Actually, I had been thinking of going to Dorogawa Onsen in the summer, but this summer has been extremely hot, and all the inns in this area, which is known as the ``Karuizawa of Kansai,'' are fully booked. ``Then maybe I can make a reservation on weekdays during the off-season, late fall/early winter.'' Thinking so, I called them and was able to successfully make a reservation.I came to Dorogawa Onsen with the intention of taking a break, so I didn't have high expectations at first. But it's a big difference when you actually come. I was deeply moved by the travel spirit that still lingers in the Showa era.First of all, the price. While most ryokan inns in Dorogawa Onsen cost 20,000 to 40,000 yen per night, this ryokan is relatively reasonable at just over 13,000 yen. Even so, I enjoy a lot of homemade food, such as duck hot pot in the evening and boiled tofu in the morning. The tofu made with local famous water was different from the tofu you usually buy at supermarkets in Osaka, and had a very smooth taste and firm texture, making it very filling.Moreover, the Japanese-style room I stayed in had a tatami floor, a stove and a kotatsu. It's been decades since I last saw a kotatsu. I've been living in a Western-style 6 tatami studio room for a long time with a rent in the range of 30,000 to 40,000 yen, so I wanted to relive my old life of sitting on the tatami in a large room, relaxing under a kotatsu, and eating tea and sweets. I wanted to.The only downside is that there is no air conditioning facility at all. It's much cooler in the summer than Osaka, so I don't really need it. In the winter, when the temperature is nearly 10 degrees Celsius lower than in Osaka, it gets cold with just a kotatsu and a stove.Dorogawa Onsen is located at an altitude of 835 meters above sea level, so I came with winter gear in anticipation of that. After taking a bath and changing into a yukata, it would be cold without an air conditioner.But other than that, the futon was fluffy and warm, and the night view of the inn town lit up by lanterns created a fantastical atmosphere, which was very nice.What's more, it was originally an inn where Shugendo monks and ascetics stayed, so traces of that time can still be seen here and there. For example, the plaques and lanterns of a group called ``Ko'', who worship in Mt. Omine in groups, are still left here and there. In the corner of the counter, there was also a counter selling Chinese herbal medicine (stomach medicine) called ``Daranisuke,'' which was highly valued by ascetics.These days, when it comes to traveling, only foreign tourists and rich domestic people are given preferential treatment, and there are only ``Japanese-style imitation'' and ``rip-off price'' inns catering to their tastes, and poor people like me. I was no longer able to fully enjoy traveling.“Japanese-style imitation” and “pure Japanese-style” are similar and different things. No matter how much it pretends to be a Japanese-style inn, the ``Japanese style'' quickly reveals itself. This is obvious when you look at the Kuromon Market and Shinsekai in modern Osaka. There, the atmosphere of ``good old Japan'' has been completely lost, with only flimsy and noisy ``Japanese-style imitations'' and ``rip-off prices'' services being used.However, in Dorogawa Onsen, the atmosphere of "good old Japan" still remains in many places. That is Kotatsu, which is Daranisuke's Chinese medicine. Above all, you can feel the life of the people who actually live there. I could not feel the breathing of the residents at all in the ``Japanese-style imitation''.Certainly, the accommodation fees at ``pure Japanese'' inns and the prices at set menu restaurants cannot be described as cheap. Even a set meal like the ``onigiri/soba set'' that you can eat near the station for around 500 yen costs more than 1,000 yen at Dorogawa Onsen. However, compared to Osaka's ``Japanese-style'' private lodging, ``pure Japanese-style'' inns and set meal restaurants are still much more elegant. The best part was that I was able to enjoy it.

A warm and homely hospitality inn.Although the facilities are old, they are very clean and have a nostalgic and comfortable feel. You can enjoy the feeling of being transported back in time and feel relaxed.The dishes made with local ingredients are simple and gentle, and will soothe the fatigue of your travels.You can also enjoy the hot springs comfortably.This is a reasonably priced inn within Dorogawa Onsen, where even solo travelers can stay with peace of mind.I would definitely like to use it again on weekdays when it is empty.

The atmosphere of the inn and the entire village is very good.

I like the homey feel and kindness and consideration ❤Although I checked in late, I was welcomed warmly.The food was delicious, including the salt-grilled sweetfish.This time, someone happened to cancel and they changed me to a room with a view outside. I was lucky that it was reserved 😆There was no toilet or bath in the room, but it was no problem at all.Tenga Shrine can be reached in about 15 minutes, so the location and price are reasonable and the best ❤ Thank you again ✨