PPinkozxcIt wasn't the most pleasant experience considering that the males n females had to share toilets and that some other rooms had private toilets n bath instead. And also the fact that the walls are super thin hence whomever is connected to your room if their loud or they don't like your voice volume than you might get kicked to the curb. It's a very frustrating experience for sure since it tests one's patience n ability to let go. It's training for the customers n monks alike. I met a Japanese friend here whom shared with me how rude the monks and the staff were to one another n I think that shows the quality of this place however we were pretty lucky as there was a male who spoke mandarin n a male who spoke English both quite well in this place n though the mandarin speaker was quite condescending towards the other monks, the English speaker was really nice n patient overall. He helped me out a lot since we couldn't communicate with the others n seemed to be the only customers that spoke English whom booked this place by ourselves, the others around seemed to have a guide n were usually in groups.
It's a unique experience n I recommend just staying for one night or going to the other temples. I went for the ajikan meditation at eko in temple n the service n cleanliness was on another level for sure. The food here was also really simple. Also a must see are the tomb area n the walk to kobold daishi temple. As a sensitive person, I felt the overwhelming love n presence and the cleanse of my heart of this amazing soul over there. To me, that was worth it. Remember to clean yourself with the water out front before going in.... and of course to the amazing fateful friendship that occurred for us with the jap-********* couple we met. It was the next fav of mine after the time spent in nara visitor center. That was truly magickal n how I wished we stayed longer there. But all was good cause the way I planned this trip made it so that we would have this fateful encounter to the end of our trip.
CCEL_LI was about to give bad reviews due to some poor check-in experience, but everything after check in is so good that compensates this journey.
First, the check-in process that brings me with bad experience: it is self-served and there is no any staff. By rights you should receive an instruction email with check-in PIN in advance, which I heard from other guests. However, I didn’t receive anything but Trip’s confirmation letter and I was unable to check in. And my sim card in Japan is just an internet card unable to make phone calls, which means I have no way to contact the hotel directly. My partner and I were desperately locked out of the hotel in the evening, after 7h hiking, with no other available hotel in the mountain. After waiting for over 1 hour, other guests helped us to enter the admin room where there is an ipad to call the hotel (why not make it available to guests without checking in?), and with the help of Trip’s agency, we finally checked in successfully.
Then here is the staying experience: so good that makes me almost forgive the poor check-in experience. Each room is a spacious individual house and ours has a garden for BBQ. The food is also self-served, with the cooking stuffs and ingredients in the fridge. It was unexpected that you need to cook yourself (I don’t think it was listed on room info when I booked it), but it’s not bad that Wagyu, chicken, and vegetables are served. The rooms are big and cozy, and you can do the laundry after hiking.
Everything is good about the hotel itself, just be aware of the self-checkin process and make sure you get the instructions before that.
GGeraldLim1Beautiful Ryokan! The room I stayed in had tatami floors and western beds. The doors slide instead of open outwards like they usually do. Toilets are relatively small, but the shower had great water pressure and temperature! However we did not shower much because.. We showered at the Onsen instead since we were there to spend time! The Onsen is tattoo-friendly as confirmed by the check in staff, and the water really had skin smoothing effects. Yukatas are available at lobby area for all guests, and level two has a restaurant with microwave and ice machine outside for your konbini meals. No view from the room, but that's fine cos the Onsen itself was worth a visit. Steep short hill up to the lobby, but if you drive then that's fine. Free to use outdoor BBQ area, but didn't have the chance to. Rooms were comfy, sleep was good with minimal disturbance. Side note: my underwear got stolen at the onsen and I never managed to find it back again but that's fine cos it was worth the Onsen experience. Stayed two nights here, no regrets, would totally do it again! Oh and Onsen area has got numbered lockers to store your belongings but not your undies!