Ryokan?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 19
Ryokan?
I am considering staying at Gora Kadan for a night on my trip to Japan. Is it worth the expense? I've also heard good things about Suishoen.
http://www.suisyou.com/en/
-Jason
http://www.suisyou.com/en/
-Jason
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
In Gora, I'd also suggest looking up Gora Hanaougi... very nice place, but not cheap (although should be cheaper than Gora Kadan). I've never stayed at Gora Kadan even though I see Gora Kadan get brought up again and again on FT.
#5
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
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Posts: 9,632
Eh. What can I say? That's not how I see things.
Isawa Onsen is a place that I'd never visit if I had the choice. In that sense, I suppose it's true that I'd get more satisfaction per dollar in Hakone than in Isawa. In general, though, I've found that the further I get from the madding crowd the better the onsen I can afford.
Isawa Onsen is a place that I'd never visit if I had the choice. In that sense, I suppose it's true that I'd get more satisfaction per dollar in Hakone than in Isawa. In general, though, I've found that the further I get from the madding crowd the better the onsen I can afford.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Isawa Onsen is a place that I'd never visit if I had the choice. In that sense, I suppose it's true that I'd get more satisfaction per dollar in Hakone than in Isawa. In general, though, I've found that the further I get from the madding crowd the better the onsen I can afford.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: TYO
Programs: JGC Premier (OWE)
Posts: 45
For example, I have fond memories of a stay at Shisen in Aizu (Yunokami onsen), which is a modest family-run minshuku, but still offers large, comfy rooms, nice jizake and local mountain cuisine, a kakenagashi rotenburo, and really warm service (the wakaokami would tell you everything you wanted to hear about the calligraphies on the wall, the story of the place and so on). The area is fantastic in the season of automn leaves.
Goshoranba near Izumo (Tachikue-kyo onsen) was also a great experience (incredible views from the rooms and the baths, surprising hiking trails at the doorstep, a very filling dinner, etc.) all for the price of a business hotel.
Clearly, though, neither of those is like the traditional Japanese version of a Four Seasons night. For that, and the feeling of splurging at bubble-era rates, Gora Kadan might be a good choice.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Posts: 9,632
I defy you to find a more hideous "non-descript residential type of setting". It's non-descript residential with ugly-as-crap bubble era hotel towers and low rent slums for the imported sex-workers ... Isawa is the arsehole of Yamanashi.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
#10
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
Kinugawa Onsen. You're welcome.
One difference, I think, is that Kinugawa was an area of beauty before being disfigured by onsen development. Isawa, by contrast, was just dull farmland until some farmer noticed that his ankles weren't cold after a day in the paddies. Another difference is that Kinugawa has been the victim of a more violent boom and bust. So what? So nothing, I suppose.
Last edited by jib71; Jul 11, 2014 at 7:15 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13,573
I am considering staying at Gora Kadan for a night on my trip to Japan. Is it worth the expense? I've also heard good things about Suishoen.
http://www.suisyou.com/en/
-Jason
http://www.suisyou.com/en/
-Jason
#12
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
@emma69:
You should look up Gora Hanaougi and Hakone Ginyu. They're still high-end and very nice, but they should be <<$1100 per night. If it doesn't have to be high-end, there should be decent places for ~$300 total for 2 adults inc 2 meals. Do keep in mind that there can be quite a bit of price difference btwn Fri&Sat nights and all the other nights. If you can, stay sometime during Sun-Thu.
Those are pretty harsh words, but you're entitled to your opinion. We have a lot of family friends in that area. The word "hideous" would hardly come to mind with Isawa. Non-descript? Yes. Anyways, I'm not saying it's a great onsen town or anything, although I have enjoyed my onsen stays there. Onsen and a bowl of houtou go well together. My point was that, when comparing equal caliber lodging, Hakone is generally not much different than places like Isawa in terms of room package rates.
Good call on Kinugawa, jpatokal. You look out the window from the hotel and you see abandoned buildings (presumably ex-hotels) on the river cliff, which is eery. The whole place just feels a bit decrepit. But the main problem I have is that, at every hotel I've stayed at in Kinugawa, the onsen just feels quite watered-down.
You should look up Gora Hanaougi and Hakone Ginyu. They're still high-end and very nice, but they should be <<$1100 per night. If it doesn't have to be high-end, there should be decent places for ~$300 total for 2 adults inc 2 meals. Do keep in mind that there can be quite a bit of price difference btwn Fri&Sat nights and all the other nights. If you can, stay sometime during Sun-Thu.
Good call on Kinugawa, jpatokal. You look out the window from the hotel and you see abandoned buildings (presumably ex-hotels) on the river cliff, which is eery. The whole place just feels a bit decrepit. But the main problem I have is that, at every hotel I've stayed at in Kinugawa, the onsen just feels quite watered-down.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Posts: 9,632
Fortunately, anyone with access to Google Street View can see exactly what Isawa looks like.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13,573
@emma69:
You should look up Gora Hanaougi and Hakone Ginyu. They're still high-end and very nice, but they should be <<$1100 per night. If it doesn't have to be high-end, there should be decent places for ~$300 total for 2 adults inc 2 meals. Do keep in mind that there can be quite a bit of price difference btwn Fri&Sat nights and all the other nights. If you can, stay sometime during Sun-Thu.
You should look up Gora Hanaougi and Hakone Ginyu. They're still high-end and very nice, but they should be <<$1100 per night. If it doesn't have to be high-end, there should be decent places for ~$300 total for 2 adults inc 2 meals. Do keep in mind that there can be quite a bit of price difference btwn Fri&Sat nights and all the other nights. If you can, stay sometime during Sun-Thu.
Any suggestions for some that might come in at the $300-400 mark?
#15
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
I get 77,800y total including two adults, dinner+breakf at Gora Hanaougi.
Some of the other places... I've just had a quick look, so by no means is this a comprehensive list. These are all places with at least decent onsen, and it's priced for 2 adults with dinner+breakf.
Gora:
Gora Kansuirou (40,000y) - old shinise ryokan
Gora Hanougi Souunkan (46,300y) - don't know much about this place, but looks like a place worth looking into
Sengokuhara:
Hotel Green Plaza (40,700y) - dinner here is nothing special (French or kaiseki at their restaurant); room nothing special either but, on a clear day, you have a great view of Mt.Fuji from the outdoor onsen.
Auberge Ren (50,600y) - French-influenced, so no tatami room here or kaiseki dinner.
Yumoto:
Hotel Okuyumoto (43500y) - very nice onsen area, room okay but a bit dated; you should consider this place.
Tenseien (33600y) - large hotel with regular western-style room/beds, but nice onsens; both dinner & breakf are buffet-style which may work to your favour
I should mention that I've actually stayed at only some of the places above, although they've all been on my list (except Hanaougi Souunkan, which I don't know much about... I just put that on there due to good reviews and good onsen profile)
Last edited by evergrn; Jul 14, 2014 at 10:12 pm Reason: adding 2 more places to the list