Motoyu Ryokan — Hotel in Atsugi

I recently stayed at this traditional ryokan while visiting my father, and I had a phenomenal experience!!

Firstly, my father found this location because he was looking for a hot springs that I (a decently tattooed foreign visitor) could still enjoy. We stayed in a room that had its own personal bath to avoid any potential issues, but the setup was fantastic! The bath area is located to the rear of the rooms right outside so you have a beautiful view of the river and woods. It is also possible to reserve the main bath so that for a period time the whole bath is only for you and your family/friends. The ambience is very traditional and peaceful and I would thoroughly recommend this to anybody visiting.

Secondly, I have a wheat allergy/gluten free diet. Japanese’s cuisine is usually not the most accommodating for gluten free due to the use of say sauce in almost everything. The chefs and servers here were so helpful that I could barely believe that everything they made for me was gluten free. Every dish they served, they were able to make accommodations except for maybe two small sides. One of the dishes was a tempura platter of seasonal Ayu sweet fish and vegetables, and they made my portion in a separate fryer tatsuta/karaage style with potato starch. It was so good!!! Speaking of the seasonal Ayu, the Atsugi region is famous for their Ayu during summer months, and they incorporated the fish into most of the dishes. I was told that during the winter they specialize in boar, and I would love to have tried that as well. Every dish that was served was described in detail about what it is and how you can maximize the flavor. The service, I cannot emphasize this enough, was absolutely impressive.

Finally, if I could rate this higher than 5, I would. I have posted some pictures, because I am not eloquent enough to truly portray how much I loved it here and even then it does not...

A Japanese friend of mine book this hotel in a special package for tourists. We are from Italy, so we couldn't even imagine what would happened!||The "tourist Package" included a small present upon arrival, a typical dinner, typical dresses and we slept on the tatami...of course, the Onsen was included.||It seemed to be in a dream...everything stops when you try this emotions...I don't even know where to start.||The ryokan experience was really incredible to describe. It seems like the world has stopped and you live in another dimension.||Anyway, the accueil was very nice, with a cup of tea and the choices of our kimonos. Then we went to visit our rooms. The patio of the ryokan was over a river with enourmus black and red fishes! The room was big enoug for 3 persons, and it was very nice indeed.||After enjoying another cup of tea, a cake and the present, we went to the open air onsen...wow... warm and cold water, as you prefer. Sorrounded by the typical Japanese nature. ||||Then the dinner seemed to never stop. We ate so much and good food, that at the end we couldn't do more. Everything was fresh, prepared with care and served with attention.||after the dinner we went in our room to chat...the room was already prepaired with the futon. We could hear the crickets and the frogs singing...||The morning we had another break at the onsen and then breakfast.||I will never forget this Amazing experience. Thanks to all the people working at the Motoyu ryokan

We stay at this Ryokan every year to enjoy our time here. The food was always extraordinary authentic Kaiseki. The Onsen (hot spring) and the ambience around the Ryokan was wonderful with Tanuki (Raccoon). We also had real Raccoon at home too!||||In the evening we would get into Onsen (hot spring) that has many kinds of hot spring that was so good to soak into one by one. ||||In the morning, the Ryokan would switch the Onsen and have the guest enjoy another one for a change which gave us different experience and feeling, indeed. ||||The Breakfast with the Ayu fish which we like so much and the little home made pickles were so special for us. It reminded us that we were in Japan!||||From our room, this year my spouse was so glad to be able to stay at the same room as last year. The first thing he would enjoyed his time in the hot tub at the balcony of the room to view the scenery and the sound of the river in front of our room.||||Then he would go to the Onsen before dinner again. It was something that was very special for us, a great memory once a year which we have been looking forward to enjoying our time at this Onsen. ||||A place where we can enjoy traditional Japanese food and Onsen (hot spring)....