山みず季 URARA つたや

This ryokan is absolutely spectacular. It’s a small establishment with an incredible attention to detail. The tatami rooms are both comfortable and traditional. The staff changes seamlessly from day to night furniture while you are having the most incredible dinner or breakfast. The food is something else: gourmet with passion. What an experience. Kiso is a great base to explore the valley and its routes. It is delightfully void of noise and luxury shops. The ryokan is directly in front of the train station and we just had a fantastic time. Probably the best memories of the whole trip.

We asked for an authentic Ryokan experience and I’m pretty sure that’s what we got. Kiso doesn’t have a lot going for it ( needs to be borne in mind it hammered with rain for the whole of our 48 hr stay!) but this property is a jewel. Located across the road from station and also next door to a small supermarket and tourist information office. Owners and staff could not be more helpful, not much English spoken, but enough. Room was initially a shock but staff turn the living area into sleeping area whilst dinner is being served , and then back again in morning. Bath on ( optional) open air terrace looks rustic but is high tech ( like toilets) self filling and kept at a constant heat. Same could be said of room , traditional tatami matting & futon , but also wi fi ,fridge , tv, coffee machine . Room is small so we were glad when we transferred luggage on first morning for next stay. Traditional clothes are provided and you can dress for dinner and breakfast , it is not compulsory but nice to do so , The food is magnificent around 12-15 small courses at each meal all beautifully presented and carefully served ( not much by way of translation but all seemed lovely) . Drinks are also available at extra cost at dinner. Meals at set times : dinner at 6 , breakfast at 7;30 or 8. On day 2 you can choose between American or Japanese breakfast, we had no hesitation in choosing Japanese. Shoes have to left outside at all times.In a cupboard, they are then laid out for you in morning. It is handy for the station , some people did much more adventurous hikes to Magome and Tsumago but this involved military precision transport planning that was beyond us, so on a very wet day we went by train to Narai , a nice old post town , that was sufficient. This is a beautiful property that is definitely 5 star , the locality was perhaps not for us but no hesitation in recommending the Ryokan.