Hanabun Onsen Hotel — Hotel in Myoko

Took a Shinkansen to Noetsumyoko, from there transferred to a local train Myoko Haneuma Line to Sekiyama station. As JR Pass does not cover for private rail, I have to fork out 410¥ for this only route to Sekiyama. Sekiyama station sits in a out of everything town. No eatery house, no conbini, nothing. Except a small little lounge that sits inside the station that took the role of cafe and information counter and free waiting lounge. They only sell instant coffee and cookies. I took the 14:07 bus heading for Tsubame Onsen. The bus is more of a 6 seat sedan than a normal bus which cost 500¥. It was a 35 min journey although it could be faster except the "bus" was traveling at a bicycle speed. ||As it was early spring, the mountain ranges are still capped with snow. ||When the bus arrived, Hanabun is just right at the doorstep of the bus stop. The very 1st ryokan on a street of onsen establishment. I don't know if it is due to the beginning of the end of winter, the street was deserted. Less than 100 metres of a onsen street houses about 5 onsen house (I think so because some of which looks run-down and out of business) one dark ramen store and one ancient convenient shop. The only people who are up and about sat inside the dark ramen shop. I last counted, 6 human beings, all male.||No shopping opportunities here it would seem. ||Let's return to Hanabun.||Where's the footbath?||Run-down, old and worn-out onsen house.||Thin and stained carpet, the whole place reeked of negligence.||Up till now, everything is gloomy and dreary.||Then comes the onsen, milky and warm.||Then comes the dinner, hearty and satisfying.||If you are looking for the new and trendy business onsen house where their service is tip and top, this is not for you. ||This place is run by obasan, hence you will only receive warm and sincere welcome.||If you are looking for fancy Japanese Cusine, this is not for you.||Here they serve very basic, simple but ||deliciously heart-warming fare.||If you are looking for milky but clean onsen water, this is not the place for you.||Here the onsen water runs direct from the source, thus the milky water are specked with mineral dust. When I said specked, I meant the water looks dirty, with black stuff floating in the milky white. ||It is all natural and warm and soothing. The wooden rim of the bath holding the water had mineral deposits on it.||So if you are skirmish about all these, Hanabun is not the right place for you, you will not enjoy yourself here.||The price is a bit on the high side, like it's location. However if you are looking for a authentic onsen house that offers a good soak and hearty meals, this is the place to be. ||As the whole place is still ladened with snow, the path to the famous outdoor onsen is impassable. In fact all walking path out of this single street town are impassable except the one road that leads into this town.||"You must come here in Autumn, Myokosan is very beautiful if you love koyo"||I do love koyo, "next year in Autumn, I will definitely come back" this I...

The hotel looks shabby from the outside, and is even more tired and shabby inside. There were water stains on the ceilings and floors, paint was scuffed and marked. The concrete lintel in the main ofuro was covered in black and green mould and the tiles on the wall were broken and chipped. The condition of our room was clean and bedding was clean and comfortable, but the toilet and basin areas were very old and falling apart. The dining room had a sticky floor and very old, worn furnishings. On the plus side, the hotel's location is good - within 5 minutes walk to the free rotemburos on the mountain. We visited in May and access to the rotemburo by the river was blocked by snow. Also the meals were good, featuring foraged plants from the mountain. Despite the good food, because of the very poor condition of the hotel, I would say that it is overpriced and I would not stay...

The hotel looks shabby from the outside, and is even more tired and shabby inside. There were water stains on the ceilings and floors, paint was scuffed and marked. The concrete lintel in the main ofuro was covered in black and green mould and the tiles on the wall were broken and chipped. The condition of our room was clean and bedding was clean and comfortable, but the toilet and basin areas were very old and falling apart. The dining room had a sticky floor and very old, worn furnishings. On the plus side, the hotel's location is good - within 5 minutes walk to the free rotemburos on the mountain. We visited in May and access to the rotemburo by the river was blocked by snow. Also the meals were good, featuring foraged plants from the mountain. Despite the good food, because of the very poor condition of the hotel, I would say that it is overpriced and I would not stay...