Kamesei Ryokan — Hotel in Chikuma

Lovely traditional ryokan but would not recommend in the winter if possible. It gets really cold in the hallways and room as there is no heating throughout the building. They do provide an ac unit in the rooms which does help only the room a little. Of course this is only our experience in the winter and I cannot speak on what it’s like during the summer heat.

There is no hot water throughout the building as well, except for the public bath. That is all understandable as this is an old ryokan, but regardless of origin or its construction - it is the reality and this is just a heads up and something customers should be aware of when considering this location. Of course not all old traditional ryokans share the same lacking, so this is not a given either.

Maybe it was the location of the room we were given, but the wifi was really poor from our room and at times unusable. Just a heads up if youre given the second floor.

We opted for their breakfast each morning for an additional cost. No issues with it in particular - basic kaiseki breakfast. Everyone has different tastes and compared to multiple other establishments I’ve experienced in past, it was pretty normal and standard. Would recommend it if you’d like to make your mornings easier.

The public bath was small and private. They have both an indoor and outdoor bath. Theyre open for use 24/7 which is very convenient. The sulfur bathes were refreshing. Only issue would be the fact that in one of the outdoor public bathes, it is visible to be seen by others from outside of the building’s premise. Not much of a dealbreaker for myself personally, but could be for female guests and just something to be noted.

The wife/owner was very accommodating and was helpful. We originally arrived 30mins early from their 3pm check in time and dropped off our bags as instructed so we could continue our travels the rest of our day. We arrived back at 10pm, which was our fault for overstaying our day trip, but she was still available to check us in which we were very appreciative of. She even provided us with information and brochures that can help us on our travels the following days.

The American husband that is seen in the ads and part owner of this ryokan on the other hand unfortunately lacks the social and professional skills expected of a business owner - especially one working in the service industry. His inability to take criticism whether constructive or not is very unfortunate. This is proven by the disgusting manner in which he responds to negative criticism online, which is very concerning. Whether it be on google, booking com, or any other platform - feel free to read his responses to negative reviews and his attempts to try and discredit and belittle them. Its disheartening to know this lovely ryokan is run by such a toxic and hateful person.

As a response to the husband: There is nothing rude about arriving 30 minutes early to an accommodation. Nobody requested for early check in or to be checked in early upon arrival either. I stated to you in person who I was and when my check in time was so you would be aware who and why I was in your establishment. I notified you that I would be driving my vehicle to pick up extra guests up at the nearest train station and the party i was currently with would wait in your lobby. That is what you have a lobby for. It is shocking and pathetic of you to lie about our initial interaction and label us liars in return as a retaliation to a negative review. We were respectful and kind to both you and your wife in all our in-person encounters, so to see you be two-faced, fake, and switch up personas because this is on the internet, is very surprising. You are an active business and not exempt from honest criticism from myself or any other guests who are dissatisfied with certain aspects of your location. Your establishment is not perfect - nobodys is perfect. Please learn to communicate online better and conduct yourself in a more professional manner in the future. Best of luck!

Booking -6637 January...

Our family of five, spanning three generations, had a truly wonderful stay at this charming ryokan hosted by the warm and welcoming Tyler and Mari-san. From the moment we arrived, we felt at home thanks to their genuine hospitality. Tyler and Mari-san shared invaluable information about the town and local attractions, making it easy for us to plan our days. A lovely, personalized touch was seeing our name displayed outside the ryokan—such a thoughtful welcome!||||The meals were nothing short of spectacular. The traditional Japanese breakfast and dinner were a culinary delight, filled with exquisite and beautifully presented dishes. We especially loved the walking tour Tyler-san led through the Kamiyamada Onsen town. It was an unique experience getting to meet local shop owners, sample delicious treats like green tea and manju, and learn about the area’s history and culture.||||Every morning, Tyler-san generously drove us to Togura Station, making our outings stress-free. On our final evening, which happened to be a Sunday, the ryokan was bustling with families, and Tyler-san hosted a popcorn party that thrilled the kids—a perfect end to our stay.||||Thank you to Tyler and Mari-san for making our visit so memorable and comfortable. We look forward to returning to this cozy haven for more...

We stayed at Kamesei Ryokan for two nights on our visit to Japan. Our stay there was, hands down, the best experience of our trip.

We had a room with private onsen, and it was so relaxing to partake of. Actually, the entire feel of the Ryokan was one of relaxation and welcoming. I used the shared onsen options as well and was impressed by their design. There is a lot of thoughtfulness that has gone into the onsen and they are a treat to enjoy.

We enjoyed the dinners each night and they went out of their way to accommodate our allergy limitations. The food was delicious and I tried dishes I probably would never have attempted. 100% worth.

Tyler made sure that our stay was memorable and was a great host. All of the staff were brilliant. We were made to feel at home and pampered. The staff were attentive to our needs, offered wonderful suggestions, and simply made sure we were cared for.

If the opportunity is there to spend a night or longer at Kamesei Ryokan, then you will not regret the experience. I feel like I could write a million things that I enjoyed or was...