Kosekiya (Annex) — Hotel in Obanazawa

Nestled in the enchanting Ginzan Onsen village, my recent sojourn at Ginzan Kosekiya was an experience marked by charm and occasional intrigue. My anticipation was met with a twist as I found myself in the annex rather than the main building, where the allure of newer facilities beckoned. Regrettably, the selection of building preference during reservation is akin to a whimsical game of chance, adding an unexpected element to the stay.

Yet, let me be fair; the annex's quarters were meticulously maintained while exuding an unmistakable traditional Japanese aura. The sensation of strolling down the onsen street, donned in the exquisite Yukata provided by the ryokan, transported me to a bygone era.

A stroke of fortune smiled upon us on a particularly rainy day, as the staff graciously whisked us away in their shuttle van when we arrived late in the evening, ensuring our luggage reached the annex unscathed. Alas, our room in the annex was veiled by a roof, denying us the river's captivating vista.

Weathering the hot summer season was surprisingly pleasant, the gentle breeze making explorations of the picturesque street all the more delightful. A neighboring kimono rental further enhanced the nostalgic Japanese ambiance.

A curious note for future travelers - the ryokans lining the street were fully occupied, even during the balmy summer months. One can only imagine the reservation battles that await during the enchanting autumn and winter seasons.

Culinary delights were a highlight of our stay, as we indulged in the exquisite washoku-style breakfast and dinner offerings, artfully presented and well portioned. Yet, a somber revelation awaited at the annex's public bath, which failed to captivate as its counterpart at the main building did. To add salt to the wound, annex guests are denied access to the main building's bath, a lamentable discovery.

However, the true gem of our experience was the pilgrimage to the sister establishment, Ginzanso. A 10-minute walk from the annex unveiled the crown jewel - an open-air onsen, its panoramic views of lush pine trees casting an indelible spell.

In summation, my rendezvous with Ginzan Kosekiya was a blend of charm and minor chagrin, with the promise of Ginzanso's resplendent onsen serving as the ultimate crescendo. A sojourn at this ryokan, while not without its quirks, remains a tapestry of unforgettable memories in the heart of...

First of all, please not that this place (Ginzan Onsen, not this hotel) is VERY popular in Japan (as well as other countries, especially China), so you must book very early (6-7 months in summer, 1 year minimum during winter). |So, this being said:|- if this is your first time in a ryokan, you will be amazed. Nevertheless, the interior was quite old and dusty. The state of the facilities are not that good, even if one can see they are well cleaned ... they are simply old and need urgent refurbishment, especially given the high prices charged|- on the other hand, the magic of the place compensates this. But it would be so simple to modernize it, especially the entrance area (it looks like a storage area !, great contrast with the other ryokans in the area, it's a pitty).|- the food was great, exactly what you would expect in this price range for a ryokan|- the baths are OK, if you want something special use the ones (exterior) in the "sister" hotel, they are great.||(-) the big negative point for me was some of the staff and the way they seem to treat non Japanese guests; from the guy at check-in that started shouting "no reservation, full" because he didn't understood we have already a reservation ... (he never apologized). and the check-out where they showed us where to leave the luggage before leaving and that was everything. No goodbye when we came back to take the luggage, no help to the shuttle, nothing. |Also, I think It's the very first ryokan I've visited where the staff insists we should take the luggage to our room ... without offering to help us or anything. Extremely disappointing and I think the level is so low because they have too many clients, people will keep coming even with substandard quality. |It may not be strange if you don't know how a ryokan works but it' not good....||PS1: get a room on the front side (river), the back side is pretty sad. ||PS2: try to get outside of the "main street" of the "village" and do a stroll in the mountains around the Onsen, it's a great experience.|Also, the best visit we did was after 21h00, when most tourists are in their best......

First of all, please not that this place (Ginzan Onsen, not this hotel) is VERY popular in Japan (as well as other countries, especially China), so you must book very early (6-7 months in summer, 1 year minimum during winter). |So, this being said:|- if this is your first time in a ryokan, you will be amazed. Nevertheless, the interior was quite old and dusty. The state of the facilities are not that good, even if one can see they are well cleaned ... they are simply old and need urgent refurbishment, especially given the high prices charged|- on the other hand, the magic of the place compensates this. But it would be so simple to modernize it, especially the entrance area (it looks like a storage area !, great contrast with the other ryokans in the area, it's a pitty).|- the food was great, exactly what you would expect in this price range for a ryokan|- the baths are OK, if you want something special use the ones (exterior) in the "sister" hotel, they are great.||(-) the big negative point for me was some of the staff and the way they seem to treat non Japanese guests; from the guy at check-in that started shouting "no reservation, full" because he didn't understood we have already a reservation ... (he never apologized). and the check-out where they showed us where to leave the luggage before leaving and that was everything. No goodbye when we came back to take the luggage, no help to the shuttle, nothing. |Also, I think It's the very first ryokan I've visited where the staff insists we should take the luggage to our room ... without offering to help us or anything. Extremely disappointing and I think the level is so low because they have too many clients, people will keep coming even with substandard quality. |It may not be strange if you don't know how a ryokan works but it' not good....||PS1: get a room on the front side (river), the back side is pretty sad. ||PS2: try to get outside of the "main street" of the "village" and do a stroll in the mountains around the Onsen, it's a great experience.|Also, the best visit we did was after 21h00, when most tourists are in their best......