Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo — Hotel in Semboku

Intially, I had wanted to stay at Tsurunoyu Onsen . It was a challenge to book any of accommodation at Nyuto Onsenkyo . The accommodations at Nyuto Onsenkyo are reflected as full or they are not listed on Agoda , Booking.com , Japanican . ||I saw Kyukamura Hotel listed on Rakuten and the dates perpetually reflected as unavailable . I saw hope in it. ||Finally , I made a phone call from Singapore to Tsurunoyu Onsen and Kyukamura to make enquiries . The staff at Tsurunoyu who picked up my call , said 'No English , Japanese only'. However , the staff at Kyukamura , Mr Takahiro Nagoshi, |tried his best to understand my enquiries and managed to make down my |reservation , followed by a written confirmation via email . Kudos to his professional and patience . A big thank to Mr Takahiro Nagoshi, because without him , it is almost impossible to stay at Nyuto Onsenkyo . ||Review of Kyukamura ||Location |There is a direct bus to get from Tazawako JR Station to Kyukamura . It costs 820 yen (S$10) one way . It is easy to get to Kyukamura as the bus stop is located at its door step . It is a 50 mins bus ride . There is a tourist information office at Tazawako JR Station for visitors to make enquiries. Easy ! ||Exterior |Although the name of the hotel means 'village', it is more like a hotel than a village. It does have a relaxing vibe to it . It is a typical Japanese hotel . I saw that the exterior of most hotels in the countryside are black (dark brown) or the beige colour . The beige being the modern one . Kyukamura is beige . It is big with many rooms . I think about 40 rooms . My sister borrowed the sled and had a fun time playing in the powdered snow at the side of the hotel . ||Rooms |The rooms are spacious with a fantastic view of the surrounding national park of beech trees . There are Yukata and a basket for us to put our things for Onsen . It has all the room amenities a four star hotel should have . ||Onsens |The ladies' Onsen is big and modern , with full facilities . There were peeling gel , good quality shampoo , conditioner and body soap , as well as a gadget for a leg scrub . There are two types of hot spring water - one from Nyuto and one from the Tazawa Kogen ( mountain) . The colours are different . The temperature of the water was hot enough . The way I like it . There is a outdoor Onsen , but there is a overhead shelter . I would prefer an outdoor Onsen without an overhead shelter . However, some snowfall could still get in and fall on my head , which was better . A totally open outdoor Onsen with snowfall on my head is my favourite setting . ||I bought the Nyuto Onsen Pass at 1550 yen (S$18) . It is super value for money as I could visit 7 onsens in the Nyuto Onsen area , with transport provided . A timetable for the van is provided . Just get it from the reception . The timetable of the local bus going back to Tazawako JR Station can also be obtained from them. ||Restaurant|There is only one restaurant in this hotel . They are closed after lunch and before dinner . According to the email , I could upgrade the buffet dinner to a Kaiseki giving them three days advance notice . I write to them 2 days in advance but I did not receive a reply . A staff replied after I had returned to Singapore . He explained that he was on leave . ||Although I was disappointed at first , the buffet dinner turned out to be very delicious . There was a wide variety of food , particularly the local Akita cuisine . There were shrimp and tuna sashimi , tempura , fried Ebi , pork Shabu Shabu , their specialty yam in hot pot , coffee , tea , and the piping hot aromatic roast tea . Of all the desserts in the buffet, the Apple sorbet , the Strawberry and Cream sorbet were out of this world ! I ordered a sake and it was a perfect accompaniment to the delicious buffet . ||The buffet breakfast was just as good . I really enjoyed myself - eating delicious food , surrounded by scenic wintry landscape of the surrounding beech forest ! It was just like in the movies . |||Hospitality |The staff are polite and professional . The receptionist also multi - tasked as a cashier for the gift shop . Kudos to having capable staff . Out of all the staff , I had the best encounter with the receptionist. She is sincere and really tried to help me with my enquiries . ||Would I recommend Kyukamura ? |Even though I had wanted to stay at Tsurunoyu Onsen initially , I was a little apprehensive in really staying in a truly rustic 400 years old ryokan . I read that there is no attached toilets in some of the rooms at Tsurunoyu . Tsurunoyu is always in my mind , and I hope to stay there some day . ||Yes, I would certainly recommend Kyukamura to my friends ! I had a fantastic stay at Kyukamura . It was a memorable trip...

Intially, I had wanted to stay at Tsurunoyu Onsen . It was a challenge to book any of accommodation at Nyuto Onsenkyo . The accommodations at Nyuto Onsenkyo are reflected as full or they are not listed on Agoda , Booking.com , Japanican . ||I saw Kyukamura Hotel listed on Rakuten and the dates perpetually reflected as unavailable . I saw hope in it. ||Finally , I made a phone call from Singapore to Tsurunoyu Onsen and Kyukamura to make enquiries . The staff at Tsurunoyu who picked up my call , said 'No English , Japanese only'. However , the staff at Kyukamura , Mr Takahiro Nagoshi, |tried his best to understand my enquiries and managed to make down my |reservation , followed by a written confirmation via email . Kudos to his professional and patience . A big thank to Mr Takahiro Nagoshi, because without him , it is almost impossible to stay at Nyuto Onsenkyo . ||Review of Kyukamura ||Location |There is a direct bus to get from Tazawako JR Station to Kyukamura . It costs 820 yen (S$10) one way . It is easy to get to Kyukamura as the bus stop is located at its door step . It is a 50 mins bus ride . There is a tourist information office at Tazawako JR Station for visitors to make enquiries. Easy ! ||Exterior |Although the name of the hotel means 'village', it is more like a hotel than a village. It does have a relaxing vibe to it . It is a typical Japanese hotel . I saw that the exterior of most hotels in the countryside are black (dark brown) or the beige colour . The beige being the modern one . Kyukamura is beige . It is big with many rooms . I think about 40 rooms . My sister borrowed the sled and had a fun time playing in the powdered snow at the side of the hotel . ||Rooms |The rooms are spacious with a fantastic view of the surrounding national park of beech trees . There are Yukata and a basket for us to put our things for Onsen . It has all the room amenities a four star hotel should have . ||Onsens |The ladies' Onsen is big and modern , with full facilities . There were peeling gel , good quality shampoo , conditioner and body soap , as well as a gadget for a leg scrub . There are two types of hot spring water - one from Nyuto and one from the Tazawa Kogen ( mountain) . The colours are different . The temperature of the water was hot enough . The way I like it . There is a outdoor Onsen , but there is a overhead shelter . I would prefer an outdoor Onsen without an overhead shelter . However, some snowfall could still get in and fall on my head , which was better . A totally open outdoor Onsen with snowfall on my head is my favourite setting . ||I bought the Nyuto Onsen Pass at 1550 yen (S$18) . It is super value for money as I could visit 7 onsens in the Nyuto Onsen area , with transport provided . A timetable for the van is provided . Just get it from the reception . The timetable of the local bus going back to Tazawako JR Station can also be obtained from them. ||Restaurant|There is only one restaurant in this hotel . They are closed after lunch and before dinner . According to the email , I could upgrade the buffet dinner to a Kaiseki giving them three days advance notice . I write to them 2 days in advance but I did not receive a reply . A staff replied after I had returned to Singapore . He explained that he was on leave . ||Although I was disappointed at first , the buffet dinner turned out to be very delicious . There was a wide variety of food , particularly the local Akita cuisine . There were shrimp and tuna sashimi , tempura , fried Ebi , pork Shabu Shabu , their specialty yam in hot pot , coffee , tea , and the piping hot aromatic roast tea . Of all the desserts in the buffet, the Apple sorbet , the Strawberry and Cream sorbet were out of this world ! I ordered a sake and it was a perfect accompaniment to the delicious buffet . ||The buffet breakfast was just as good . I really enjoyed myself - eating delicious food , surrounded by scenic wintry landscape of the surrounding beech forest ! It was just like in the movies . |||Hospitality |The staff are polite and professional . The receptionist also multi - tasked as a cashier for the gift shop . Kudos to having capable staff . Out of all the staff , I had the best encounter with the receptionist. She is sincere and really tried to help me with my enquiries . ||Would I recommend Kyukamura ? |Even though I had wanted to stay at Tsurunoyu Onsen initially , I was a little apprehensive in really staying in a truly rustic 400 years old ryokan . I read that there is no attached toilets in some of the rooms at Tsurunoyu . Tsurunoyu is always in my mind , and I hope to stay there some day . ||Yes, I would certainly recommend Kyukamura to my friends ! I had a fantastic stay at Kyukamura . It was a memorable trip...

I stayed here with 7 other family members in 3 rooms. It’s the only ryokan in the area that has Western style rooms with beds (that I found through research). This was perfect for my elderly auntie and uncle. My family slept 4 adults to a room Japanese style which was quite snug - I would recommend 3 adults max per room. Loved sleeping with the window open and letting the mountain air in.||The room rate comes with dinner and breakfast buffet style and it did not disappoint! Some of the nicest tempura I had ever tasted and the ice cream was fabulous. I enjoyed watching the barista carefully pouring out drip coffee every morning. Delicious!||We drove two cars and there was ample, free parking. A 20 min drive to Lake Tazawa, 45 min drive to Kakunodate, 35 min drive to see the Skunk Cabbage Festival and around 55 mins to Dakigaeri Gorge. ||The outdoor onsen is brilliant and I loved the honey shampoo so much I bought a bottle home. We used the onsen every day! One thing to note is there aren’t any private baths so the staff kindly told my shy aunt that she could bathe with a towel wrapped around her body. They gave her the towel at the front desk.||Staff were very friendly and accommodating even though their English was limited. It added to the charm not seeing any other...