Kinugawa Onsen Hana no Yado Matsuya Ryokan

What an interesting stay. The hotel is in a very scenic nook in this otherwise ghost town. We stayed in the Fall and the Fall colours were stunning. The hotel is nice kept up...but a little eery to think how busy this area once was and how empty it is now. Post 90s crash, post nuclear fall out and flooding - the area is pretty desolate. But for one night - what an interesting place to be. The staff were kind and our room was big with a great view over the river valley. Everything is old but works. A little dusty but it suits the overall atmosphere of the town. There is truly only one restaurant in the town and it closes at 4 - so you eat your dinner at the hotel - they have some vending machines in their basement that we also hit up for some late night snacks. We stayed in their traditional Japanese room with tatami mats. Close to the train station - this hotel provided our base while we travelled to see Niko Toshogu shrine area (45 minute train).

It is hard to rate this hotel because the staff was very kind, the river view was absolutely incredible and the traditional touches were heartwarming. But, there are so many signs of water damage throughout the hotel, smell of mold in the carpets, stained tubs and toilets from years of use, that it took away from the experience. Even though the charm is all there, the sheer lack of upkeep in the place makes you feel like you are in a slightly haunted hotel. We did like our stay here because the view and the unique experience. There is very little around in terms of food--there was one restaurant nearby so keep that in mind while planning. The monkey gondola nearby is incredibly depressing. We thought they would be moneys in the wild but they are caged and contained within an electric fence. The price is high compared to what one is getting and for that we are rating it a 2 star. If the price had been a little lower it would have made up for the smell of the mold etc...

I visited on a family vacation. As the title suggests, it was a highly satisfying inn. First, the view from the room is good! I was able to stay in a vantage point room with the Kinu River flowing through it. (I didn't use it, but you can actually go down to the Kinu River.) The public bath has high ceilings, thick beams, and a sense of history. His parents said, 'The water is a little lukewarm.' He said that, but I wasn't that bothered. Also, the open-air bath was an open place overlooking the Kinugawa River. I think it is rare to see an open-air bath with such a view these days. And most importantly, the food was delicious! We utilize local ingredients from Tochigi for both dinner and breakfast, it looks beautiful and tastes great!! It was a meal that conveyed the effort and ingenuity of the people who made it. The cold hallway was the problem, but overall we were happy! When I come to Kinugawa, I want to stay there again.