Kocho

I always include an overnight trip to an onsen whenever I’m in Japan so I’ve seen many to compare to. This is a lovely traditional ryokan that has had some discreet modern renovations that really improve the experience. We were here on a Monday so I suspect there may have been very few others staying, which meant we received an unexpected upgrade to our room, which was very kind. The room had clearly been renovated and came with low futon beds which was welcome as my back is not quite up to sleeping on a traditional floor futon these days, even with an onsen to wash away the aches! Plus it means you can be a bum and relax on the bed right from the outset. Other updates included a massive flat screen tv, redone bathroom with a state-of-the-art washlet, and a general refresh. Very nice. Also lovely was the in-room outdoor onsen which was super-hot but left us both with mysteriously soft skin from the water. Service is with a kind smile even with our complete inability to speak Japanese. The staff communicate with the help of pre-printed signs and translation apps. Dinner and breakfast were part of our stay and serving sizes were extremely generous, I was totally defeated. Cuisine is seafood-heavy as fits the region. In summary: highly recommended.