Semi Onsen — Local services in Kitakami

This is an amazing Japanese-style onsen. The rooms, the setting, the food, the baths, and the staff were incredible. The onsen is located west of Kitakami in the mountains a short 10 min drive from the Geto Kogen ski area. After a day of skiing, this onsen was the perfect refresher.||||Our room was Japanese style with a wonderful sitting room that overlooked a snow-covered hillside and a brook. At night the sound of running water was as peaceful as it gets. The snow covering the hillside, the trees, and the grounds made everything look pristine. I imagine that in the fall when the leaves turn, a different type of view would be just as spectacular.||||The are 3 bathing areas and 4 baths. The most popular area has an indoor and outdoor (rotunburo) baths. Sitting in the rocky outdoor bath surrounded by snow covered boulders with snow falling was about as good as it gets. I felt the outdoor bath was a little hot but my wife, who prefers cooler baths, felt that the women's was perfect.||||The dinners were amazing. The dominant protein was fish, but the first night there were some pieces of Wagyu beef. As is traditional, there were a large number of small dishes and they were all exceptional. We ordered a bottle of sake and the waiter saved what we did not drink the first night for our second dinner. While at dinner the futons an comforters were put out in our room.||||Breakfast was a traditional Japanese breakfast with fish, salads, soup, and numerous small plates. Again it was exceptional. The coffee was wonderful. ||||A shuttle to the ski area is provided but we had our car and it was easy. While we were at breakfast, the staff cleared all of the snow from our car. What a wonderful touch. As in most Japanese inns, the staff made us feel special. Enough English was spoken to eliminate any problems, but the clientele is almost exclusively Japanese. I even received an email before we departed welcoming us and explaining the shuttle to and from both the ski area and the train station.||||We will most definitely return. This was one of the highlights of our...

Shoes were taken off at the door and the hotel has a policy of ‘socks or bare feet’, which was fine by us. Socks were supplied in the room, if you didn’t want to wear your own. ||The hotel is a bit of a maze but we were guided personally to our rooms, and staff made sure that we had everything that we needed. ||The room was a new experience for us, with tatami mats set up with a table and chairs when we arrived and then converted for sleeping with futon mattresses. Unfortunately, I’m rather taller than your average ryokan guest and so spilled over the edges of the mattress. The small pillows (filled with buckwheat?) were also a bit of a challenge. ||Facilities in the room include a sink and a toilet but no shower. This is zero problem because there is a huge choice of different onsens, all of which are excellent. ||Traditional dinners and breakfasts were served in the dining room; huge feasts of small dishes, all beautifully presented. I suspect that I made many gaffs in the manner in which I ate everything but I thoroughly enjoyed it all. ||We also very much enjoyed the cultural dance show, and making use of the karaoke room! ||Thank you to all the staff who made us all feel so special and introduced us (gently) to the...

Stayed here for three nights and enjoyed every minute. Room was Japanese style but Western style rooms are also available. Our room was perfectly equipped with comfortable chairs for daytime relaxation and Futon for the night. Lovely view from the room over the river running beside the hotel with Cherry Blossom in bloom when we went there mid May. View is very private so could relax and watch the river and the trees behind in peace||.||Food is exceptional, the best we found in all Japan. Every day a very different menu that did not cover old ground. Amazing local delicacies to enhance the meals. English Menu provided was very helpful.||||The Onsens are wonderful including a mixed Rotenboro in amongst the trees. Nothing nicer than enjoying hot springs in the open air, great under the stars.||||Owner speaks English, but very much a Japanese location. Easy to get to on the Shinkansen Semi-Onsen offers a pick up to/from the hotel. If you want to see the mountains nearby or visit Geto Onsen a car...