Ryokan Nanjoen — Local services in Minamioguni

Nanjeon Onsen. Recommended! ||I managed to book this lovely ryokan that was listed as “full” on the popular booking sites, by going direct to their website. ||They are super good, read on! ||1) Before we came, they wrote email to check our dietary requirements and prepared bath bags according to gender/ size. ||2) We were delayed by traffic and wrote to tell them that we may not be able to reach in time for 6pm dinner, maybe half an hour late. Then, because we arrived in the dark, we missed the turn and got lost. They sent a young guy staff to help limited English, Papago app helped a ton! We googled and re-drove our way out. Then arrived like 7ish, starving and cold. An older guy and the young guy greeted us. The older one told the younger one to tell us not to worry, to go eat first and then check in later. (Some onsens will not serve dinner if you are late!). ||3) When we entered the dining room, the lady staff serving explained all the food laid out beautifully for us. And then continued as they served up one course after another till course 12. Course 13 was thoughtfully served to our room so we could rest and have our dessert. The young guy staff took our passports to do the check in while we ate. ||4) Then when we wheeled our luggage in, the elderly man was quietly waiting to clean our luggage wheels one by one before loading into the hall. He does not speak much cos his English is non existent and will come across as abrupt. But if you observe, you will know that he is very thoughtful. ||5) The beds were nicely laid for us when we took our luggages up. Yukata, warm coat, toe socks, a bag with smallwash towel, toothbrush and comb were provided. Men bag had shaving cream pack and shaver. ||6) The baths were indoors/ outdoors, male and female separated. There are also two private baths, one open to nature and one enclosed. During hours that are open to public, the private baths will be key-entry only for guests while the outdoors communal ones are open to all. Indoors are still guests only. I tried all. It was lightly mineralized baths. My skin felt very smooth after. ||7) Food is superb. Very intricate 13 course dinner, very filling. Horse sashimi (basashi) tastes like Parma ham with no salt. Should try. ||8) Parking is convenient. They are located just next to Tourist...

Nanjeon Onsen. Recommended! ||I managed to book this lovely ryokan that was listed as “full” on the popular booking sites, by going direct to their website. ||They are super good, read on! ||1) Before we came, they wrote email to check our dietary requirements and prepared bath bags according to gender/ size. ||2) We were delayed by traffic and wrote to tell them that we may not be able to reach in time for 6pm dinner, maybe half an hour late. Then, because we arrived in the dark, we missed the turn and got lost. They sent a young guy staff to help limited English, Papago app helped a ton! We googled and re-drove our way out. Then arrived like 7ish, starving and cold. An older guy and the young guy greeted us. The older one told the younger one to tell us not to worry, to go eat first and then check in later. (Some onsens will not serve dinner if you are late!). ||3) When we entered the dining room, the lady staff serving explained all the food laid out beautifully for us. And then continued as they served up one course after another till course 12. Course 13 was thoughtfully served to our room so we could rest and have our dessert. The young guy staff took our passports to do the check in while we ate. ||4) Then when we wheeled our luggage in, the elderly man was quietly waiting to clean our luggage wheels one by one before loading into the hall. He does not speak much cos his English is non existent and will come across as abrupt. But if you observe, you will know that he is very thoughtful. ||5) The beds were nicely laid for us when we took our luggages up. Yukata, warm coat, toe socks, a bag with smallwash towel, toothbrush and comb were provided. Men bag had shaving cream pack and shaver. ||6) The baths were indoors/ outdoors, male and female separated. There are also two private baths, one open to nature and one enclosed. During hours that are open to public, the private baths will be key-entry only for guests while the outdoors communal ones are open to all. Indoors are still guests only. I tried all. It was lightly mineralized baths. My skin felt very smooth after. ||7) Food is superb. Very intricate 13 course dinner, very filling. Horse sashimi (basashi) tastes like Parma ham with no salt. Should try. ||8) Parking is convenient. They are located just next to Tourist...

We liked our stay here. Our travel agent booked our it. One of the staff collected us at the bus stop (that pleasantly surprised us) which was handy because it is a 15 minutes walk down town via stairs or the highway, doable, but not really comfortable with suitcases. All the staff spoke rather good English, and they greeted us with hot tea. Though it was only noon, our room was ready. ||||One of the staff brought a bigger yukata robe for my husband and they gave us a cute small bag which useful stuff like a small towel, socks, hair brush, etc. The room was large and beautiful with a private toilet, small seating area and a sink. It was a bit cold outside, but they had a good heater. Some information in English about the baths was in our room.||||The baths were wonderful. They have 3 private family baths, you can ask for the key at the reception desk. The private baths are semi indoors, the gender separated baths are rotenburo. ||||Dinner was also wonderful. They made a vegetarian meal for me, which was arranged by my travel agent. Dinner is served in the room. They ask what you want to drink, but you can also get some beer from the vending machine downstairs. They do not serve the rice at the end of the meal, but halfway, I finally counted 19 dishes, all wonderful, but more than we could eat. Afterwards they brought a small desert. They made a picture of us which they gave us at check out as a memory. After dinner, the staff comes in to make your beds and you can dip again in the hot water baths, which are open till 10 (family baths) and 11 (gender separated baths). ||||The air conditioning/heater and fridge were a bit noisy at night, and you might hear occasionally someone at the corridors, but the futon beds were comfy. Breakfast in the morning is served downstairs in the dining room and was again tasty. You can leave your luggage at the reception desk until you leave and they will bring you again to the bus stop when you leave. I really thought it was a...