There are many ryokans and hotels to choose from in Kurokawa onsen. We chose Wakaba because the listing looked like the sweet spot between budget and tradition and we were not disappointed. Staff - Wakaba is very much a traditional Ryokan but with weirdly (in a good way) the feel of a youth hostel. It is immediately clear that the staff is young. Even the managerial staff is significantly younger than those you will see in the other ryokans when you go onsen hopping. They bring with them a particular enthusiasm that genuinely elevates the experience. My wife and I have stayed in other traditional ryokans and there is always a vague sense of these places (for better or worse) being of a different era. Not so with Wakaba, Wakaba is alive and kicking and the enthusiasm is contagious. They are all kind and we felt very taken care of. Food - The food was traditional ryokan meal, i.e. refined and lots of it. Hot spring - the rotenburo has a lovely feel and a good temperature. Location - Wakaba is close to the centre of town so it is a great starting point for an onsen hopping day. It's also at the top of a slope so your legs get a bit of a workout (they drive you when you have luggage for a reason).

There are only a few tiny nitpicks which I do implore should not keep you from choosing this place. The staff might be young, the building is a bit tired. Everything is intact and functional but we couldn't shake the feeling that a lot of fixtures and elements could do with a mild "sprucing up". The extractor fan in the men's indoor bath comes to mind.

I really appreciated that the staff came to pick me up from the bus stop. It made the start of the journey really enjoyable. They were also able to provide recommendations on where things were and how to move around. Checking in was extremely smooth and I was able to book the private bath. That was definitely a highlight for the stay. The private bath was comfortable and it was great to be able to relax by myself. The dinner was fantastic! I was served by Hiroyi-san in my room. She took great care to explain each dish to me and to have conversations in between. I really appreciated that service! The onsen was also very inviting and a beautiful place to relax and enjoy nature! I was so glad that I got the chance to soak in it. Chef Imamura made absolutely delicious and nourishing meals for dinner and breakfast! It was great to be pampered in that manner.

It was really nice to stay at this beautiful Ryokan Onsen for 2 nights. Service was superb and staff very friendly, always with smile on their faces! Food was excellent, really local, Kaiseki cuisine, breakfast and dinner, for us westerns sometimes challenging to eat (raw fish for breakfast heh), but delicious. :) Our room was traditional with futon beds, spacious and beautifully designed, with view of the green, river and village... we enjoyed our tea by the window and slept great. Onsens are nice too, we especially liked the outdoor pool and option for private bath. We paid a bit extra for halfboard and traditional room, we think it was worth it, as special once-in-a-lifetime threat while visiting Japan. Kurokawa Onsen in early spring was a magnificent place to stay... beautiful village, a bit remote, not too many people, good options to eat. :)

Excellent Ryokan, a perfect stay… Rooms spacious (northern annex), and wondefully appointed, with all the comforts (japanese style futons, but extremely comfortable). Personal onsen was an adequate size (it is possible to reserve other private onsen at the ryokan). Fantastic, cozy closed verandah by the river…. All was immaculately clean, and futons are removed/laid during breakfast/dinner. All meals in Kaiseki style were excellent and in a two night stay there was a different menu on the second day. All personnel was extremely nice, polite and attentive. Star of the show was the rotemburo, perfectly set in a secluded part of a “valley”, protected by trees, at the same time private and airy (compared to other rotemburo we visited on our onsen hop, much better). Location is great, near the main road but totally silent at all times, and about 5 mins walk to the centre of the village (a bit of a climb on the way back) Would return again tomorrow and two days stay was absolutely not too much….

Absolutely no negative points about the stay

Service was excellent, staff were very friendly and welcoming. Both dinner and breakfast were exceptionally delicious, wide variety of dishes and we were very full after both meals. Private onsen inside the room was spacious and clean. the room itself was generously large too. Out of all the ryokans I have stayed in Japan, this room was one of the largest. The ryokan is located just a 5 min walk to the main area where you can see the lanterns illuminate at night. Highly recommended!

The bed was a little on the hard side which was abit uncomfortable for my pregnant wife. But the whole experience more than made up for it.

It’s clean, quiet and well-maintained. I stayed in a 2-western-beds room with private onsen. The onsen is good and appropriately levelled…(in the onsen I stayed in the previous night, the onsen water is below my chest when I sat upright straight. I’m only 5’2” (157cm)). So I when I came to Wakaba onsen, I felt great since the water could cover my shoulders. The family bath is super comfortable too. It’s a pity that the public onsen got nobody when I went there at 9pm. A bit too cold and quiet. Later I knew the reason why it’s empty without any guests. It’s that only 6 rooms on the lower floor were open for bookings while the other 10 rooms on the second floor are under renovation.

To go to rooms either to the lower floor or second floor, you need to walk on the stairs. So, for those who have weak knees or legs, be prepared to walk on stairs, as there is no lift inside the Ryokan.

Most of all, we love the place. The Bath: The private bath is so great I'm happy with it. - as they have two public bath (for men and women) and 2 private bath which you can reserve.(one room, can only reserve one private bath a night). And some special type of the room also has its own bath onsite. The place is cozy, the room is big, full of facility and the service is super nice. They have a staff that is fluent in English and the others can understand some basic conversation anyway they are so willing to help. Due to the fact that the hotel was located in Minamioguni, the valley of onsen, the atmosphere is super great. If I have another chance, I will comeback in winter time. I believe it would be pleasant experience. Great job, Ryokan Wakaba. Thank you.

Only things that I will ask a little more if possible is our dinner and breakfast. For dinner, the quality of the food is good. but I think I need a little more may be another grill fish would be great. As we requested seafood and no beef for breakfast, the main dish we got are tofu in soup with some glass noodle served in hotpot. I felt I need a piece of grill fish. or fish sukiyaki or tempura. But don't understand me wrong, the food served by the hotel is great. 8 from 10. I just try to point how to get 9 from 10. (in order to have 10 from 10, you have to have wow factor which It's beyond my knowledge.)

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Ryokan Wakaba and would like to express my commendation for the establishment's remarkable hospitality. The staff's fluency in English was both shocking and impressive, making them, in my opinion, among the most proficient English-speaking teams in Japan. The culinary experience at Ryokan Wakaba was nothing short of delightful, with delicious meals provided for both breakfast and dinner. Notably, the innovative approach of ensuring that each visit brings a unique dining experience by avoiding meal repetition was a standout feature. Despite being an older establishment without ostentatious embellishments, my stay in the new wing proved to be a luxurious experience. The inclusion of a private onsen in the room, as well as the option to reserve a separate private onsen, added an extra layer of comfort and exclusivity. The outdoor onsen, characterized by its relaxing ambiance and optimal temperature, further contributed to the overall tranquility of the stay. In conclusion, my experience at Ryokan Wakaba was overwhelmingly positive, marked by superb hospitality, culinary excellence, and serene relaxation. I believe that addressing the mentioned concern will further elevate the safety and satisfaction of future guests.

However, I feel compelled to provide constructive feedback based on a less-than-ideal incident. Unfortunately, my mother sustained a cut from broken glass in the room, prompting a suggestion for room service to ensure such occurrences are prevented in the future.

The staff was incredibly welcoming, happy to help us around; both before our stay as well as on site — they even took care of parking our rental car :) Meals (both dinners and breakfasts) were one of the highlights of the stay, with an amazing variety of truly excellent dishes — and different everyday! The onsen was amazing, we truly appreciated having the option to book a private room for ourselves, as this was our honeymoon. The rooms was great as well, in a traditional japanese setting, with extremely comfortable futons, a private bath, and an adjoining tea room.

The only thing we only understood upon arrival was that the different prices listed on Booking.com were actually related to the different options for the dinners' menu. It would be great to add said details on the listing, or clarifying that point through messaging after the booking.

Beautiful ryokan with a beautiful surrounding. The staff were so warm and kind and enthusiastic in providing us the best service they can. The onsen, especially the outdoor bath was so beautiful. I was lucky to come on a slightly cold night that I can experience the joy of soaking in hot water while the air above was chill, and relaxingly enjoying the trees and bamboo arround

I understand the place is on the older side and I loved the old charm. However there were some little things that should be fixed like holes on the paper screen.