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Summary of reviewsShibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan is highly praised for its prime and tranquil location in the picturesque and atmospheric center of Shibu Onsen. It offers easy access to the village's various onsens and the famous snow monkey park. The complimentary shuttles to the station and park further enhance guests' convenience. Surrounded by the serene beauty of the town, the ryokan offers a delightful blend of historical charm and modern comfort. The central yet peaceful location ensures a restful stay while being near dining options and essential amenities, along with warm and helpful staff.
Breakfast at the ryokan receives high acclaim for its variety and quality. Guests can choose between a traditional Japanese breakfast and a European option, both meticulously prepared. The restaurant offers an array of unlimited drinks and the breakfast is seen as satisfying and delicious, though a few guests mentioned a preference for more traditional Japanese options.
Dinner is another highlight with guests frequently praising the exceptional quality of the food. The in-house restaurant serves a mix of Japanese street food and Italian dishes, including options for those with dietary restrictions. The quality of the cuisine, combined with friendly and accommodating service, makes dining at the ryokan a memorable part of the stay.
The rooms at Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan offer a charming blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics and modern comforts. Guests appreciate the spaciousness, cleanliness and authenticity of the rooms, complete with tatami mats and comfortable futons. The architecture and scenic views add to the ryokan's appeal, though some mention minor inconveniences like the absence of en-suite restrooms and steep staircases.
Cleanliness is a standout feature with the ryokan maintaining high standards throughout the establishment. Guests note the spotless common areas, restrooms and rooms, contributing to a comfortable experience despite the building's old charm.
The staff at Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan are exceptional, known for their friendliness, attentiveness and helpfulness. Their proficiency in English and willingness to assist with various needs create a welcoming and accommodating environment, significantly enhancing the overall experience.
The traditional futon bed arrangements receive mixed reviews. While many guests found the futons comfortable and enjoyed the authentic experience, some found them too thin and the sleeping surfaces hard. However, the majority appreciate the comfort and authenticity of the bedding.
In summary, Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan offers an unbeatable location, exceptional dining, spotless cleanliness and outstanding staff service, making it a highly recommended destination for a genuine onsen town experience blended with modern conveniences and heartfelt hospitality. Show more
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Small Ryokan
As a traditional Ryokan, Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan likely provides a cozy and intimate atmosphere with Japanese-style rooms. Ryokans typically offer onsen and traditional meals, creating a charming experience.
3-Star Ryokan
Located in the historical Shibu Onsen district, this Ryokan offers both private and dormitory-style guest rooms. It features an on-site restaurant where local dishes, wines and craft beers are available.
Room Types
Bed in Japanese-Style Male Dormitory RoomThis bed in dormitory has air conditioning.
Japanese-Style RoomThis room features a seating area on tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional Japanese futon bedding.
Twin RoomThis twin bed room has air conditioning.
Japanese-Style RoomThe family room offers air conditioning, tatami, as well as a shared bathroom boasting slippers. A wardrobe, yukata and heating are offered in this family room. The unit has 3 futons.
Japanese-Style RoomThe family room offers air conditioning and tatami, as well as a shared bathroom featuring slippers. The family room features a wardrobe, yukata and heating. The unit offers 2 futons.
Guest Reviews
9.0
Excellent
Location
Nestled in the picturesque and atmospheric center of Shibu Onsen, Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan enjoys a prime and tranquil location that offers easy access to all the delights of this traditional hot spring town. The ryokan is ideally situated in the heart of the village, making it incredibly convenient for guests to explore the nine public onsens and visit the famous snow monkey park, both of which are within walking distance. Moreover, the establishment provides free shuttles to the station and the snow monkey park for added convenience.
The ryokan is surrounded by the quintessential beauty of Shibu Onsen, known for its serene and pretty setting. With its authentic atmosphere, it presents a delightful blend of historical charm and modern comfort. Guests appreciate the proximity to various onsens, where they can indulge in traditional bath experiences donning yukata and geta sandals provided by the ryokan. The central but peaceful location ensures a quiet, restful stay while being near essential amenities and exceptional dining options.
Visitors also praise the ryokan's unique positioning on the main street, providing a perfect base for exploring the delightful quirks and traditions of Shibu Onsen. The warm and helpful staff, fluent in English, enhance the overall experience, ensuring that every visitor feels welcomed and well-informed about the local attractions and significant spots.
In summary, Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan stands out for its unbeatable location, offering a genuine onsen town experience with modern conveniences and heartfelt hospitality.
Breakfast
The breakfast at Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan has received high praise from many guests. There is an excellent variety, offering both a traditional Japanese breakfast and a European option, including one of the best sandwiches many have tasted. The Japanese breakfast, described as a feast, is meticulously prepared and features dishes like tender miso-marinated chicken with fresh salad and marinated onions and mushrooms. Guests find the food in the restaurant to be delicious and satisfying with many commenting specifically on the quality of the breakfast and dinner.
The internal restaurant is praised for its pleasant ambiance and the breakfast set menu offers unlimited drinks such as coffee orange juice and oolong tea. Coffee, in particular, is noted as being very delicious. Overall, guests feel that the breakfast is very good, delicious and decently priced, setting them up well for the day.
However, a few criticisms include the breakfast being smaller than expected and lacking some traditional Japanese options. Despite these minor issues, the breakfast experience at Koishiya Ryokan remains overwhelmingly positive, making it a highlight for many visitors.
Dinner
Dinner at Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan is a delightful experience that guests frequently praise for its exceptional quality. The in-house restaurant serves a variety of delicious dishes, including both Japanese street food with a local twist and Italian options such as pizza, ensuring there's something for everyone, even those requiring gluten-free meals. The food is often described as amazingly delicious with many guests declaring it to be their favorite part of the stay.
The restaurant offers breakfast and dinner with an excellent array of dishes to choose from and guests highlight the local ingredients and original meat dishes. Despite some mentions of a limited menu, the quality of what is offered makes up for it, leaving guests satisfied and often recommending it. Visitors can also enjoy local beer and very good espresso coffee, enhancing their dining experience.
Service is noted to be friendly and accommodating, providing a warm, familial atmosphere. This, combined with the incredible cuisine, means guests feel little need to venture out for their meals. The combination of quality food, drinks and service makes dining at Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan a highly recommended and memorable part of the overall experience.
Rooms
Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan offers a charming blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics and modern comforts in its rooms. Guests appreciate the spaciousness and cleanliness of the rooms, which are adorned with tatami mats and comfortable futons. The architecture, over a century old and defined by wooden structures, adds to the ryokan’s authentic charm, while a few modern updates ensure a pleasant stay.
The ryokan's rooms are generally quiet after 10 PM, making for a restful night. Many reviews highlight the pure Japanese-style accommodation, complete with lovely old features and cozy heaters, providing a unique cultural experience. Even though some found the rooms cold initially, the provided heaters soon made them comfortable.
Visitors enjoy the scenic views from terraces attached to certain rooms. Furthermore, the ryokan maintains high standards of cleanliness, from the bedding to the rooms themselves, adding to the overall comfort.
While some guests have noted the absence of en-suite restrooms and the steep staircases leading to higher floors without continuous handrails, these minor inconveniences are often overshadowed by the helpful and friendly staff.
Overall, Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan offers a beautiful and quaint retreat, melding traditional Japanese warmth with the right touch of modernity to enhance the guest experience.
Beds
At Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan, the bed arrangements primarily feature futons, which many guests found comfortable and conducive to a good night's sleep. Reviewers frequently mentioned the surprisingly spacious and comfortable nature of the beds and futons with some highlighting the enjoyment of the authentic Japanese-style sleeping arrangements. The bedding was commonly praised for being extremely comfortable, adding to the authentic experience.
However, opinions on the bedding weren't universally positive. Some guests found the futons too thin and the sleeping surfaces hard, leading to discomfort, especially for those with back issues. Additionally, there were remarks about the beds and pillows needing better upkeep with some noting that they looked unclean or grubby.
Overall, the majority of guests appreciated the comfortable and traditional sleeping setups, though a few pointed out areas for improvement in cleanliness and bedding thickness.
Cleanliness
Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan impresses with its exceptional cleanliness, consistently highlighted in guest reviews. The entire establishment, including common areas, shared bathrooms, restrooms and rooms, is very well maintained and spotless. Visitors noted the clean, beautiful rooms and the overall cozy atmosphere of the inn. While some facilities, such as shared bathrooms and room interiors, appear a bit dated, they are kept in excellent condition and are comfortable to use. Guests enjoyed the authenticity of setting up their own futons and appreciated the immaculate baths and showers. Despite minor concerns such as noise due to the building's old charm and occasional seasonal bugs, the ryokan's cleanliness and the love with which it is operated make for an inviting and delightful stay.
Staff
At Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan, the standout feature is undoubtedly the exceptional staff. Guests frequently praise the team's amazing friendliness, attentiveness and willingness to help. The staff's proficiency in English is highly appreciated and adds to the warm welcoming atmosphere of the ryokan. They go above and beyond to ensure guests feel comfortable, assisting with everything from organizing taxis to shuttling guests from the train station. Their dedication to service creates a hospitable and accommodating environment.
Whether it's guiding visitors to optional baths, delivering excellent service in-house or being polite and cheerful, the staff consistently leave a positive impression. Their ability to provide thorough explanations, immediate responses and personal attention to guest needs makes many visitors eager to return. The high level of service, combined with the staff's friendly demeanor, contributes significantly to an overall pleasant experience at Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan.
No, Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan.
No, Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan.
No, Shibu Onsen Koishiya Ryokan doesn't have a gym.