Sakuyama Hotels from S$41

"Asaya Hotel is not only our favorite hotel in Kinugawa Onsen — it is honestly the main reason we return to Kinugawa Onsen at least once a year. Every stay reminds us why this hotel is so special. We love the beautiful onsen facilities, especially the public baths with their larger and more spacious atmosphere. I personally prefer the public onsens, where I can fully relax and enjoy the traditional hot spring experience. My wife, on the other hand, especially enjoyed the private hot spring bath in our room, which she used throughout our stay. Having that private bath made the experience even more relaxing and convenient. The food is another major highlight. Both the breakfast and dinner buffets are excellent, with a wide variety of choices and consistently good quality. The buffet experience is one of the things we always look forward to whenever we stay here. Most importantly, the staff are genuinely friendly, professional, and caring. On the day of our departure, the taxi we had reserved was cancelled without our knowledge. Instead of simply apologizing or leaving us to figure it out, the hotel staff personally drove us to the train station. That level of hospitality really touched us and showed the heart of Japanese omotenashi service. Asaya Hotel continues to be our “only hotel” choice whenever we visit Kinugawa Onsen. Between the onsens, the food, the service, and the warm hospitality, it truly feels like a place worth coming back to every year."

"I don’t get why there are so many foreign workers. At the check-in and the housekeeping. It’s subtle details but they’re Japanese is not fluent, or they don’t smile immediately when they see you, or immediate greet you. I shouldn’t have to walk up and say hi first for them to look up. And non-customer related conversations should be done quietly behind. I want to be treated as a customer, not someone who is just someone to be attended. Also regardless they are housekeeping, it is Japanese custom to smile, bow, and be greeted. Also why do I have to speak English in a Japanese hotel? They should understand Japanese."

"The WiFi didn't work and the excuse the staff gave me was that my computer was an older model. I have never had any trouble with any other hotel before nor since."

"Spa and pools were premium. Staff is laways friendly and helpful. We stayed on the Ninth floor Club9 with an osen in the room. Most excellent!"

"Stayed here while visiting Nikko. This is a single family home. What can we say. We loved the place. Very clean and safe. Bedroom upstairs more like a loft with 2 queen beds. One main restroom with the onsen and walk in shower. Also has the washer/dryer combo in place. Another restroom with toilet and small sink. There is 2nd restroom next to the kitchen area with toilet and sink. And a 3rd restroom by the main entrance with sauna and shower. Check in was relatively easy although we had to dial in a few times due to “high volime” of calls at the time. There were free drinks including water and tea, some juice and beer in the fridge. Appliances were a bit challenging to use as Google Translate was not the best, but we figured it out. Washer/dryer combo is eco-friendly so can only wash a few clothes at a time and it takes a long time to dry. Villa itself is about 11-14 min walk to the train station. Uber will get you from Nikko train station to the Villa, but they will not pick you up from Villa to Nikko so keep that in mind when you pack. We had to lug 2 suitcase each to the local train station in the morning to take the trains back to Nikko station to take our train back to Tokyo. That was not fun. So pack accordingly or rent a car. Villa also walkable to restaurants and 7-eleven. Restaurants nearby close early, so make sure you eat in Nikko before coming back. Or make reservations well in advance or you will be turned away. Would stay here again, but will rent car next time."

"This is our first experience at a Japanese style hotel, ryokan. The overall stay was excellent as expected. The menu in their buffet (all you can eat) looked good, though we could go over most of menu items, too many items. The ones we tasted were excellent. We liked the variety of desserts served. We must mention that staff services were excellent in every aspect."

"Fairly new Hotel. No dinning restaurant however hotel provides free snack for the first 100 guests 8 PM to 11 pm. Our snack was sashimi rice with hot soup and pickles. Hotel staff refer a Restaurant nearby. The restaurant was very good. The hotel breakfast was wonderful."

"I loved the private onsen and the ryokan stay. The buffet was also excellent. The hotel provides yukata robes to wear while you’re walking around the hotel. We also had a great view of the suspension bridge from my room."

"We booked the “half-board” which was definitely NOT worth it. Both the dinner and breakfast were a choice of frozen dinner that we nuked. Other than the disappointing food, the onsen was nice and the staff friendly. The rooms face the main road so ear plugs are handy here. "