Kinugawa-Onsen Sanraku

1. Abysmal Pre-stay Communication: We booked via agency. I emailed the hotel twice through their official website to confirm our reservation prior to arrival, but received zero response. The day before check-in, I had another hotel call them on my behalf, only to be told there was "no record" of our booking, despite the agency having already charged us. Because of their negligence, we couldn't cancel or change plans in time. We had to show up in person just to get our booking sorted. The anxiety it caused was unacceptable. 2. Heavy Cigarette Smoke Odor: Upon arrival, our assigned room reeked of heavy cigarette smoke. We requested a change, but the second room was just as bad. 3. Dysfunctional Air Conditioning: To make matters worse, the AC was severely lacking. In the scorching summer heat, the room was unbearably stuffy. When we complained to the staff, they casually replied that "there was no way to lower the temperature" and could only provide a fan and tell us to open the windows. Totally ridiculous for this price point. 4. Substandard and Stale Dining: The Kaiseki dining experience was highly disappointing. The food tasted as if it had been cooked hours ago and merely reheated. The grilled fish was incredibly dry and hard, and the deep-fried dishes were completely dried out. It was a complete letdown. 5. Filthy Rooms & Lack of Maintenance: The room was dirty and poorly maintained. There were numerous stains on the carpet and cobwebs on the windows. Worse still, the bathroom doors, main entrance, and walls showed obvious signs of peeling paint and deep dents. Spending money on such a miserable experience is completely unacceptable. This hotel fails in every single aspect—management, cleanliness, food, and hospitality. Save your money and avoid this place at all costs!

The hotel is right by the river. It has great view. Staff was friendly. Food was tasty and it was presented beautifully. Each dinner meal came with a paper menu. The menu was a piece of art. You could frame it and hang on your wall if you like. I enjoyed every meal. My room was clean and comfortable. The onsen facility was excellent, open and airy, quiet. It provided everything needed. Only thing I wish is the staff could speak better English.

This is my first time at Kinugawa Onsen. I looked it up on YouTube and decided on Sanraku. I guess I arrived late, so I got a call. I called when I arrived at Kinugawa Onsen and they said they would come and pick me up, which was very helpful! I think the building is old, but it didn't feel that way. They offer sweets and tea when you check in. The woman who explained to me was a foreigner, and I didn't understand a lot of things because she was wearing a mask. I was surprised that the room was quite spacious, with three tatami rooms. There were about two types of tea and snacks on the table. The hot spring water is light, but it makes your skin smooth after a bath. At dinner, a staff member explains the experience, but he talks to you in a fun way and the food is delicious, so I was very satisfied with the meal! There was a wide variety of breakfast options and it was delicious. This cost about 30,000 yen per person, so I was really glad I chose this inn. I was really grateful that they also took me to the station in the morning.