Hotel Housei — Hotel in Yamanouchi

We travelled as a group of three families (5,5,4) and enjoyed our stay at Hotel Housei very much. While my family are frequent travellers to Japan, it was the first time for the other two families and they were keen to try Japanese accommodation - tatami, futons, and onsens. We were able to book three tatami rooms all with private onsen and they were fantastic - especially as the majority of our travelling group were a little shy to go nude in the public bath 😬 |The futons were comfortable, the rooms were cosy and warm, and we enjoyed the complimentary tea and traditional sweets, and the yukatas to wear. The instructions for using the private bath were very clear and the bath itself was lovely to soak in and enjoy.|The staff were very friendly and could communicate well in English. They made excellent restaurant suggestions for our group of 14, and also assisted with sightseeing and snowboarding suggestions in the area (less snow this year so usual spots not open). They always welcomed us warmly when we returned each day from our adventures and we enjoyed their personal touch. |The hotel offers a free shuttle bus to the snow monkeys, local ski field and the train station, but we had hired cars so did not need to use it. They had a valet parking service which was very handy! |We thoroughly enjoyed our time in this hotel and...

Since it was cheaper than other ryokans in the area, I didn’t expect much.But to my surprise, it offered full service—just like the more expensive ryokans I’ve stayed at before!They even provided a pickup service from the train station, which I forgot to book. Luckily, a Western couple sitting next to me on the train had reserved it. When I saw the “Hotel Housei” sign on the van outside the station, I hopped in!The hotel is a bit far from the station and involves walking up and down hills, so carrying luggage all the way would have been quite tough. I was really fortunate to catch that ride!Cherry blossoms were in full bloom along the river, just a few steps from the hotel—such a beautiful sight.The room wasn’t large, but it had enough space and was very comfortable.The elderly gentleman at the front desk seemed to speak multiple languages—he even knew some Thai! He was incredibly friendly and welcoming.The onsen was wonderful. The indoor bath was a bit too hot for me, but the outdoor bath was cooler and more relaxing.Breakfast was a buffet, which was decent.In conclusion, this place was absolutely worth it.Next time, if I go skiing in Shiga Kogen or bring someone to see the snow monkeys, I’ll definitely remember to book the pick-up and drop-off...

My partner and I chose this place because we wanted to go to the Monkey Park and they offered a shuttle to take up there in the morning. We also knew we wanted to experience a Ryokan and got ourselves a private Onsen attached to our room.

The room and Onsen was amazing. In addition, the service from everyone was 100000% above and beyond. The counter staff were helpful and they explained everything about the hotel on the first day clearly and were extraordinarily polite.

On the second day, they driver took us to the Snow Monkey Park and back. We had a full board, and dinner was astonishing and tasty. Breakfast was filling and the servers were extremely helpful. When it came to vending machines or paying for things in the local area, be aware that cash is still long in the regional/rural areas of Japan, so using card or tap to pay is not a thing here. I couldn't even find a place that would take a Suica or a Pasmo card. So no IC cards here too.

I loved my time here in the winter. The heater in the room was hot and we could open the window into the falling snow outside to let in the cold air a little bit, and hear the water drip. The Onsen was steaming hot and was a unique and rare experience for me as...