Asaba

The staff at the hotel is truly excellent - friendly and welcoming, and communication prior to our stay was perfect. The kitchen accommodated my food allergies and the dinner and breakfast were delicious. Yoko, who served us our meals, is a delight and we loved her. The room was very spacious and quiet. The beds were really comfortable, and the onsen/shower room was wonderful. Our teens slept on futons on the floor in a tatami room, which worked really well. Asaba sits in a very pretty spot, with lovely views. My only complaints are that there was no lotion in the room (but there was in the common indoor batha reas), that nudity is required in the hot spring baths (I had thought it was optional to wear a swimsuit, so perhaps this was my fault), and that the hotel is very expensive. Although we really enjoyed our stay and the experience we had, I do not think it is a good value, although I have no other ryokan/onsen experience to compare it to. Also, the nudity rule makes it a bit uncomfortable for families with older children or teenagers.

A magical place, historic with lots of modern touches. We stayed in the Fuji room which looks out at a garden, koi pond, and bamboo forest. We loved our in-room onsen and the public/private baths were beautiful as well. The Japanese beds were plush and extremely comfortable, maybe the best sleep of our whole trip. We enjoyed most of the food, particularly the soups, cooked fish dishes, and both Japanese and Western breakfasts, and our meals were beautifully and thoughtfully prepared. Our room attendant, Yuri, was very warm and helpful. The service was wonderful, everyone is so lovely and kind. The place was fully booked and somehow we rarely saw other guests - it was as though we had the whole place to ourselves. A deeply soothing, peaceful experience and well worth the cost.

We have stayed at many Relais & Chateaux properties and this place may be the best yet. From the lovely accommodations and private onsen, to the spectacular bath, outstanding staff and delicious meals, we were amazed at the tranquility and beauty of everything around us. Even the town of Shuzenji was a lovely place to spend time and walk around. Truly a gem. We will stay there again.

Stunning property, service, and meals. The view out of every window looks like an old Japanese painting. I can't imagine how beautiful it is in the fall. This was the most peaceful, relaxing stay we've ever had anywhere.

Much has been said in detail in other reviews here about the excellence of Asaba. I won't repeat them, except to corroborate and say that Asaba is indeed one of the best luxury ryokan experiences in Japan (we stayed at several other well-known luxury ryokans including Gora Kadan and FUFU as well). The location and views are what sets it apart - it's truly one of the most beautiful settings that you can imagine, and is even more stunning in person than it is in pictures. Asaba's natural surroundings and views look almost unreal and storybook-inspired. This ryokan is a national treasure and I almost did not want to leave such a glowing review for fear of it becoming increasingly impossible to book...

Food: no flash presentation but every ingredient and preparation was impeccable. Decor: traditionally Japanese and spotless. View from the room: like a masterpiece picture with a breeze. Building: you don’t have to wear awkward slippers typical in Japanese ryokan. Lounge was wonderful. We enjoyed the the garden for hours there. Great collection of art books was fun, too. Perhaps you can have a glass of champagne there before dinner which will be served in your room so that you could eat it with pajama on if you want to relax. And the food will be grand-maison level!

Very nice on-sen hotel. One of my best experiences in Japan. The view from the room is spectacular. The food is exquisite. The common room is well designed. Close to the shuzenji, not far from the station.

This was our third visit to Asaba ryokan in the last 12 months, and you might be wondering why. Asaba is a ryokan that offers something unique unlike any other; various performances take place throughout the year on a beautiful Noh stage set on the opposite side of a pond and surrounded by a gorgeous garden. This time, we came to see a Kyogen (狂言) performance by the famed Nomura Mansai (野村 萬斎.) As soon as the performance schedule for 2022 was posted on their website, we got on the phone to make a reservation. By the time we did, however, many of the choice rooms were booked. Given that we were a party of four, we took Makiginu (巻絹) and Doudan (満天星) - one was a spacious room with an Onsen bath on the second floor (but no view of the stage), while Doudan was on the first floor and had a commanding view of the Noh stage, meaning that we could watch the performance from the room. We felt this was an acceptable combination... one room with a view so that we can all gather to watch the performance, with the other room serving as a nice gathering spot for the family, and the place where we'd all dine together. While it was a solid plan, I was disappointed in Doudan. Of the 19 rooms,

Asaba is one of the rare luxury ryokans that potentially offers a unique experience each time one stays there. In our case, the difference was in the performance. We made reservations on a date where a Shamisen (a traditional, three-stringed Japanese instrument) performance was planned. And this was no ordinary Shamisen concert. It featured Nakasaburo Shinnai (新内 仲三郎), a designated "living national treasure." along with his son Tagatayu Shinnai (新内 多賀太夫.) It did not disappoint! We were able to watch the proceedings on Asaba's gorgeous lake from the comfort of our spacious and stylish Moegi Suite Room. Afterwards, Mr. Shinnai gave a talk in the lobby area, and even gave an encore performance for the small group of guests that were staying at Asaba (only guests are able to attend the concert.) It was truly a magical night for us, and reason alone for staying at this ryokan. There are other traditional performing arts that are sporadically scheduled throughout the year, including Noh stage performances - that's the target for our next stay here. Even without a live event, Asaba is a standout among Japan's luxury ryokans. It sits right near the heart of historic and lively Shuzenji town, is traditional in its decor but modern and fresh in its amenities, has a wonderful garden that includes a picturesque lake and a Noh stage that is hundreds of years old, its staff are refined in their manners and warm in their smiles, the communal open-air Onsen hot spring baths are stunningly beautiful and tranquil, and the kaiseki cuisine served at Asaba is absolutely divine - out of the dozen-plus dishes that were served, not a single one was a repeat offering from the time we stayed there last Spring. And yet everything was unique, creative and mouth-watering. The kitchen staff do a spectacular job in focusing on seasonal and local ingredients yet delivering a world-class dining experience. We booked two rooms (we were a group of four this time) - the aforementioned Moegi, along with Hagi, which is located on the first floor. Both are superb accommodations but differ in their charm and aesthetics. Moegi is on the 2nd floor and faces the lake, offering up the iconic lake + Noh stage view that you'll see all over the internet. It's also the preferred room during scheduled events, since performances take place on the lake (weather permitting; otherwise, it happens indoors.) Hagi, but contrast, is on the ground floor and does not have the same view. Rather, it has its own, stunningly gorgeous, view of a wonderfully manicured garden with a spectacular stream in front and a variety of trees beyond. The in-room Onsen bath is also of the open-air variety with a front-row view of the garden, unlike Moegi, which is located inside. If I was asked to choose between the two, I'd recommend Moegi for a first stay (or on event days) and Hagi for subsequent stays at Asaba. Given Japan's plethora of top-notch luxury ryokans, we rarely (if ever) grant a second stay at any prope