Ayanosho

Thank you very much for your time. I was able to stay for a proposal, and I am truly grateful for the meticulous and warm attention you gave me, from prior consultation to the day's response. Thanks to you, I was able to welcome the most important moments of my life in the best way possible in Hisate. I was always impressed by the quiet and calm detached rooms, the heartfelt food and, most importantly, the hospitality of the staff. I will definitely come again. Thank you so much for the wonderful time.

I visited this traditional Japanese inn as an accommodation of package tour. As a matter of fact, Ryokan is not a familiar type of lodging for foreign tourists. It is known as an experience of Japanese culture and customs such as Tatami (straw mat) flooring, typical Yukata (robe), hot-spring bath, and sleeping on a Futon (bedding) put down directly on the Tatami floor. As a middle-aged Korean, Tatami floor and public bath are not strange, but this was my first Ryokan visit, so was very impressive. Cool experience. Ayanosho is located near Kurokawa Onsen village, surrounded by tranquil farmland. There is nothing to do but eat, bath and sleeping. But really touching. I stayed two-floor cabin, equiped with amenities and clothes with my colleagues. Each room is seperated perfectly and provides full privacy. The number of people of our group was over 20, others stayed at Hanamura Ryokan. We enjoyed Kaiseki dinner and public hot bath at Hanamura. Except my colleagues almost guests are Japanese, they are so humble and calm. During liquor drinking, it was rain shower. Perfect and unforgettable moment. Just before good night, I took another hot bath at private hot-spring(out door). The mood and environment was awesome. After sweet sleep, another bath at Ayanosho public bath early morning. Public bath runs 6:30AM to 10PM. Seperated for men and women. It has both indoor and outdoor hot-sprin baths, and indoor sauna also. Ayanosho and Hanamura are operated by brothers. Each has Lounge Room. Ayanosho Lounge room runs 7AM to 10PM offering free coffee, tea and newspapers(Japaneses). Despite inconvinient access and staffs' poor English, I would like to revisit this Ryokan with my family. They provide excellent service with affordable price cheaper than Kurokawa area. It has official web site and guest could book on-line, but only Japanese language. You can reserve by Tripadvisor. 직장단체연수여행으로 하나무라 료칸과 함께 아야노쇼 료칸에 나누어 숙박함. 저녁은 하나무라의 개별 식당에서 카이세키식으로 제공받았는데 나름 감동적임. 하나무라와 아야노쇼 모두 대부분의 숙박객은 일본인이었지만, 두 군데 모두 워낙 일본스럽게 분리되고 침착한 분위기여서 사생활은 완벽하게 보장됨. 일본어로 운영하는 공식 웹페이지를 통하면 1인당 1만7천엔으로 예약가능하지만 에이전시를 통하면 1인당 20만원 가량으로 비싸지는데 트립어드바이저에서 좀 더 싸게 예약 가능할 것으로 보임. 주위 환경은 그냥 한적한 농촌이므로 숙박 이외의 엔터테인먼트는 전무하지만, 1박에 경험할 수 있는 서비스로는 충분히 지불가능한 가격이라 생각함. 라운지룸이 따로 있고, 복층으로 분리되어 있는데, 여기서 밤10시까지 무료 커피와 차, 일본어 신문이 제공됨. 저녁 식사 후 미리 준비한 음료 등으로 이야기 나누거나 이른 아침 온천욕 후 조식 시작할 때까지 커피 등으로 즐길 수 있는 공간으로 훌륭함. 라운지는 아침 7시부터 운영, 조식은 8시부터 제공. 하나무라의 온천탕은 노천탕과 동굴탕으로 구성되어 있고, 아야노쇼의 온천은 실내탕, 노천탕, 그리고 사우나가 있음. 온천탕은 아침 6시 30분부터 밤 10시까지 운영됨. 두 군데 모두 남탕과 여탕으로 구분되어 있음. 객실에 구비된 온천탕은 모두 노천탕이며 온수와 냉수를 구분하여 수도꼭지가 장만되어 있어서 야외욕조의 온도는 얼마든지 조절 가능함. 1층 다다미 방과 2층 침대방으로 구성된 객실에 숙박했는데, 화장실이 하나뿐인 점이 아쉽지만 객실 수준이나 시설은 만족스러움. 아소산에서 유명한 쿠로가와 온천에서 자동차로 5분 거리라고 하는데, 가격을 따진다면 적극 추천하고싶은 숙소임.

Getting there was not easy, as my travel agency provided me with the wrong information about the location, with an incorrect name of the Ryokan and without phone number and web address. As there was nobody at the (correct) bus station to pick me up, I got help from others to direct me to the tourist information. They were then able to figure out where I have booked, and 15 mins. later I was picked up by car. I ended in an unforgettable Ryokan, a room (each in a separate house) like a dream, a private onsen (hot outdoor bath), delicous breakfast and dinner (in your private dining room) with tens of small bowls and dishes, nearly each with its own soy sauce to dip the fish, tofu, and vegetables. Apparently I was the only foreigner there, and they won't have much anyway. Nearly nobody is talking English. The waiter and me, we used Google Translate on a tablet to communicate: He was speaking Japanese, I was speaking English in the tablet's microphone and Google translate did a good job producing an understandable translation for each of us. Make sure you remember the maze-like path to your room, as the rooms have names written in Japanese and not numbers, every entrance looks the same, and it would be embarassing ending in the wrong room. Even as the price is high for a night, it's an unforgettable experience.