Excellent hotel with good location. Close to almost every public onsens. The staff welcomed us very well. If you arrive before check-in time, you can leave your luggage and take a walk around the city. The dinner was excellent. It's worth a try. Breakfast is just a simple menu. Overall, it was a very good experience. We will definitely stay here again.

Onsens! Your hotel provides a free access pass and the traditional outfits to wear while travelling throughout the town. We loved it. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, explained everything, and provided tea on arrival in our room. They also set up our beds for the night when we went out. There is also a hotel onsen which is open 24hr so was perfectly located for the morning dip before we checked out. There's no bathroom(shower) in the room but you bathe at the onsens so this was not an issue. The hotel owns a brewery & restaurant just next door so it was great for beer and lunch in between the onsens.

Nothing. The town was really quiet when we were there but it was a lovely break from the big cities.

Our stay at this ryokan was absolutely wonderful. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warm hospitality and attention to detail. The hotel is stunning, with a beautifully traditional design that exudes charm. As is customary in a ryokan, guests are asked to remove shoes inside, but slippers are provided. Our room was spacious, spotlessly clean, and very comfortable. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a hot cup of tea, which was a thoughtful touch. When we went out, the staff prepared the futons for us, ensuring everything was ready for a peaceful night’s rest. We opted for the breakfast, and it was both delicious and generous. We also enjoyed sampling the local beers at the hotel’s bar. The onsen, while small, was never crowded during our stay, and I often had the place to myself. I particularly enjoyed the serene outdoor bath. The views from our room were lovely, overlooking the street and river. Next time, I’ll request a room with a view on the forest, as the autumn colors were breathtaking. Every member of the staff was friendly, professional, and eager to help, making us feel incredibly welcomed throughout our stay. We truly had a memorable experience, and we’ll definitely return. A heartfelt thank you to the entire team for making our visit so special.

One of the most pleasant hotel experiences I have ever had, the staff were a highlight of our stay - they couldn't have been more accommodating and welcoming from the moment we checked in. The hotel itself is beautiful, well situated in the middle of all of the onsens in Kinosaki, and also operates its own restaurant and craft brewery right next door. The room was incredibly spacious, and we had an amazing view of the canals and willow trees that made for a perfect place to enjoy tea or morning coffee. The bed rolls were comfortable, as were the complimentary slippers and yukata for onsen hopping. We didn't opt for the meal, instead visited a few restaurants while we were in Kinosaki. We did enjoy the private onsen inside the hotel, particularly the wooden outdoor barrel.

Nothing!

This was arguably the best experience I have had in Japan! We never had a ryokan experience and the staff was extremely kind in explaining to us the rules, the schedule, and even the way and order in which to eat dinner and breakfast. The ryokan has a bath open at all times for guests (separate in men and women sections), but also a private, semi-open air bath that we were able to reserve just before dinner. The water is hot, the showers are clean, and the dressing room is furnished with everything you need. The room was very spacious, and we loved the opening with the windows looking directly into Kinosaki's main street. I've sat for a couple of hours sipping green tea and just looking at the people walking by in their yukata and geta. Speaking of, as soon as we checked-in and were shown our room, a staff member brought green tea, biscuits, and fitting yukatas for both of us, explaining how to wear them. Walking around town in those clothes and sandals is an experience you must have! The food is phenomenal. It was probably the best dinner I have had in my life, and the atmosphere adds to it. I also had the chance to taste their own craft beer, which was also very good. Other positive notes: a free pass for all onsen baths in town, luggage and shoe storage for the duration of our stay, and the in-room toilet.

The outdoor portion of the men's section of the bath could have used some more maintenance and cleaning. It was extremely beautiful to look at the sky while soaking, but it would have been better not to do so through spiderwebs.

The ryokan was exceptionally clean and the staff was amazingly helpful. There was a number of staff who spoke english fluently. They have their own microbrewery and you can have beer delivered to your room until 10 (if that’s your thing). The room was beautiful and clear instructions were provided for the onsens, yukata, and ryokan. While the listing says the bath for Yamamatoya is open until 12AM, we were told we could go in all night. The bath here at the ryokan was super nice and private, and had both an indoor and outdoor section.

Nothing

The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and spoke good English. Dinner and breakfast was served in our room and each item described to us as they were laid out. Our futons were laid out and packed away by staff. The whole ryokan was kept immaculate and we heard no noise at all. Geta, yukata, umbrellas and baskets were provided for going to and from onsens. An onsen pass was also provided from check in to 3pm on the day of check out. We were allowed to keep our towels until this point and our luggage was held after check out.

No complaints whatsoever.

For our first time in a ryokan it was a great surprise and experience. The room was the good size for 4 people and we enjoyed the balcony with the view to the town's main street and the river. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and takes great care to explain the different activities to do in the ryokan and in the town. We had an amazing time using our yukatas and hopping from one onsen to another, and we also very happy with the meals that were prepared at the ryokan - the dinner was definitely the best we had in all our stay.

We loved the private onsen on the property, the option to have dinner or breakfast in the dining room and the location. We upgraded to a room with a private bathroom, which also happened to have a balcony overlooking the canal and street. We opted to have dinner one night of our stay as it was a bit expensive, but it was very delicious. It would be a lot of food to have multiple nights in a row, so I recommend trying the other plentiful restaurant options in town during your stay. The ryokan also provided yukata (robes) and wooden sandals as well as towels and carrying baskets for visiting the various public onsen in town. During your stay you'll have a free pass for all 7 of the public onsen that lasts until 3pm the day you check out. This was also one of the largest rooms we had while in Japan, so for that alone, a ryokan is an excellent option.

We didn't love sleeping on tatami mats on the floor and would have preferred a western style bed. That said, we knew that this would be the case going in, so we weren't surprised. Each of us had three tatami mats stacked on top of another, so it was more like a very firm mattress than a yoga mat. Also, we really enjoyed the experience anyway.

Everything that Yamamotoya offered was beyond what I expected. Yes, it’s pricey compared to other types of accommodation. But be reminded that this is a ryokan, possibly family run. Even the dinner might be considered expensive but it is really a sight for the eyes and a feast for the palette. The adventure of onsen hopping is also wonderful experience for both first timers and repeaters.

Can’t think of any. I’ve read some negative reviews in Google but I guess these people who was expected way much given the price point.