Recently converted from an old fire station, the Utsuroi Tsuchiya Annex was the most beautiful and comfortable room we stayed in on our entire trip. The style is modern Japanese with all the comforts of a ryokan but with hi-tech lighting, blinds, windows, and toilet. Loved the balcony with egg chair for sitting after a hot onsen bath. Nice comfortable seating place outside the rooms, too. For those too shy for public bathing, there is a private first-come, first-served bath on the first floor. Owned and run by the Yamadas (whose uncle painted the murals in the room and has a small gallery in the cafe below), the service was so friendly and helpful that it felt like we were staying with family rather than at a hotel. I loved every moment and look forward to returning some day. Breakfast in the cafe was excellent. A convenient stroll to the all the onsen of Kinosaki. A Ryokan Association bus will pick you up from the train station and Mr. Yamada will take you back again

This is not a criticism of the hotel but a warning to other travelers: if you have mobility issues, be aware (it's in the description) that the rooms can be accessed only by stairs. There is no elevator. This was not a problem for me but if you are in a wheelchair it would be.

The location is wonderful and spacious. They have their own special café and make delicious food. The family is very kind and considerate of all guests and they will help you with anything you need. They are a very special family.

We had a fantastic stay at this accommodation, located conveniently close to many onsen, which made our experience even more enjoyable. The staff, including the owner, were incredibly friendly and accommodating, going out of their way to fulfill all our requests. They also provided Yukatas as well explaining exactly how the onsen culture works. A very helpful touch, as we were unexperienced on that matter. A nice place to sit down and have a drink was the charming café downstairs, which also featured a lovely art gallery—definitely a great addition to the overall experience. The private onsen areas were a wonderful bonus, allowing us to relax in a peaceful setting. One thing that pleasantly surprised us was that, although the listing mentioned there was no private bathroom, each room actually has its own private toilet. Whilst you still need to shower and wash in the private onsen area downstairs, having a private bathroom was great. The design of the accommodation was a perfect blend of modern and traditional styles, giving it a unique and welcoming atmosphere. The rooms were tastefully decorated, and we had no issues with comfort—everything was designed to help you rest and recharge. All in all, we had a wonderful time and would highly recommend this place for anyone looking to enjoy the onsen experience in a warm, family-run establishment that feels much more personal and inviting compared to typical hotels.

Everything was great. The hotel is a nice 20 minute walk from the train station. That may sound like a lot, but it allows you to really appreciate the area. Visiting Kinosaki and staying at this hotel was the highlight of my 2 week trip. My room had a great view, was super spacious, comfy and clean. My host, Yamada Mama, was extremely polite and welcoming. The staff doesn't speak a lot of english, but they really try their best to communicate with you and make sure you're comfortable. I will 100% be returning. SUI-ZO-KAN. (That makes no sense to you, but Yamada Mama will know who i am.)

We were greeted by the owner who checked us in and explained about the town and all the onsens. The owners mother then took us to our rooms and served us all some tea while allowing us to choose our breakfast selection for the next day. The room was spacious and we were given yakutas and an onsen pass for the different onsens. There is a toilet in the room but no shower (which isn't a problem seeing as you'll be going to the onsens anyway). The rooms have balcony's and there's a private onsen at the hotel which you can use if you aren't comfortable with the public ones. Breakfast the next day was simple as we had already chosen what we wanted and check out was also very easy and simple. The owner offered to drive us to the station after checkout however we declined as we wanted to wander round the town a bit more. Overall I would 100% stay here again for the friendly staff and overall room quality

Literally NOTHING

Wonderful and attentive staff who go out of their way to help. The food was amazing and completely worth the extra cost. I accidentally booked the traditional room instead of the newer western room but honestly it was for the best. The experience is unique and being in the main building keeps you closer to the staff. It feels like you’re at a home stay. 10/10 would go again.

So perfect. The train ride into the town is beautiful. The actual town is full of shops, restaurants, and friendly people. Lots of beautiful hills surrounding the hotel. The view from the balcony in the room was so lovely. Service, cleanliness, attention to detail, and the artistry of the hotel would keep me coming back! The family who owns it really put their heart and soul into this hotel, and it shows. Service was friendly and professional by the sweet family who runs this business. The room was immaculate - so clean and perfectly put together. It was hard to leave the room to explore the spas because it was so nice being in there. The hotel bath was clean and relaxing. I never had to wait to use it. The incense they used in the hotel hallway was so dreamy. It smelled heavenly.

I really loved it all. I would stay here again. One note of caution for the town (and not the hotel's fault): be sure to eat dinner early and pay attention to holidays. We didn't realize that a holiday was occurring on our last night there, and almost all the restaurants were closed. Two that were open refused to let us in (seemingly because we were foreigners). Luckily, an American-style pizza place was open and we didn't have to eat convenience store food on our last night in this beautiful town!

It was pouring the day of our arrival. I appreciate the flexibility to drop off luggage before checking in since we stayed at a different ryokan the night before. The owner's mom even offered us towels to dry off. Our room was in the main building on the 2nd floor overlooking the cafe. Note that the sound insulation isn't the best and we heard folks stumping on the 3rd floor. The room was cute with everything we needed. They offered tea and cookies in our room and explained the onsen map. We got the yukata and wooden clogs to onsens. The next day, we received a handwritten card with a photo taken outside the lodging. What a nice gesture. Breakfast was ok, with French toast and egg sandwiches plus a drink. The owner gave us a ride to the train station!

Lack of sound insulation.

The hospitality shown to us by Kazuki and his family was exceptional. From the messages and information provided when we booked through to our friendly greeting on arrival it was a great customer experience. The accommodation is in a great location which is quiet during the evenings but close to several bathing houses and the ropeway. The room and facilities are clean and comfortable. We ate breakfast at their premises across the road and also took in the art gallery. We were provided with Yakuta and towels for the bathing houses and enjoyed exploring the town at night- it’s beautifully lit by lanterns. The accommodation is within walking distance of the train station if you have average mobility. We left our luggage at the tourist information centre directly across from the station who delivered to our hotel for a very small fee. We stayed in Kinosaki the following day after we checked out and arranged to have our luggage sent back to the same location so we could easily collect before boarding the next train in the afternoon. Highly recommended this town and the accommodation. We wished we had spent longer there so we could explore nearby caves and coastal attractions.

Nothing, our experience was wonderful and we highly recommend it.

Probably the nicest place to stay in Japan! Kazuki and Haruka are lovely, a great brother - sister team who made me feel special and helped with everything. The rooms are amazing and comfortable in the annex, with a lovely clean bathroom, a nice balcony to relax in, comfortable beds and enough space and storage. The cafe downstairs, run by Haruka, is nice and they have good drip coffee and breakfast. The location is perfect to explore the town and visit all the onsen, which they will give you a map for. The ropeway is also very near, as well as shops and cafes. Kazuki offered to take me to the station and look after my luggage when I left and genuinely wanted to help me with anything throughout. If you want to relax and explore Kinosaki for a couple of days, this is the place to stay :)

It wasn't the cheapest place I stayed in my trip to Japan, but it was totally worth it. The only thing I didn't like was having to leave, I should have stayed 2 nights!