Rekishi-No-Yado Kanaguya

This is an older ryokan in a historic building. Some things might look a bit dated or be less comfortable, but that's actually part of its charm. There are many private and public baths here, and walking through all those dim corridors between them was a really cool experience. The Kaiseki dinner wasn't bad, but some of the appetizers were a bit too traditional and unique, so they might not appeal to everyone. You can order other dinner options; I chose the beef one and had to contact the ryokan via Instagram beforehand to arrange it.

One day isn't enough, so I recommend staying for two nights. Thanks to that, I was able to enjoy the hotel's onsen, all nine of Shibu Onsen's hot springs, and even Jigokudani Onsen. The in-house tours and hot spring source tours were a lot of fun. People from other inns were also coming to take photos of KANAGUYA at night. I also visited Jigokudani Monkey Park and bathed in Jigokudani Onsen with the monkeys – it made for the best memories!

Back from my trip, my friends and I keep talking about how incredibly lucky we were to stay at Kanaguya Onsen. Even if we hadn't managed to get a reservation, I'm sure we would have enjoyed Shibu Onsen at another inn, but staying at Kanaguya made a huge difference. To this day, I still dream about the playful craftsmanship of the palace carpenters from the early Showa era, evident in the fittings, corridors, and windows, and the charming atmosphere throughout the inn. It's no exaggeration to say that even while inside the inn, the guest rooms offered the experience of a small town shopping street under a romantic starlit ceiling, or an alleyway lined with early Showa-era wooden single-story houses. The dinner was a feast, not just pre-made dishes, and the grated yam for breakfast was also delicious. The many baths, though old, were immaculately clean. Stepping into the steam felt like traveling back in time. While there aren't many showers, the hot water from the taps is actual onsen water. It's hard to explain, but everything about Kanaguya was an experience you couldn't get anywhere else. There are plenty of stylish and modern hotels in the Reiwa era, but I hope people can appreciate this romantic four-story wooden building, a testament to the ancestors who lived through challenging times in Japan and made it such a wonderful country, giving their all back then. Thank you for finding my lost 9-bath tour onsen towel, cleaning it, ironing it, and sending it back to me. The customer service was also wonderful.

The value for money isn't great. The interior is like a labyrinth, which I can understand given it's an old building conversion, but some of the design choices aren't very user-friendly. However, I have to complain about the food. There wasn't even a single piece of beef for dinner, and breakfast was mostly pickles, with no natto in sight. If you're not particularly fond of ancient Japanese architecture and just want to shoot a night video, you could definitely choose somewhere else.