Hotel Iyaonsen

Iya Onsen was exceptional – from the attentiveness of the staff, to the onsen itself, to the FOOD. I had several food restrictions, and I was fully expecting an okay meal, but they prepared an incredible, several course meal that ranks in top 10 for best meals I've ever eaten. Every little detail is meticulously thought out. The energy of the mountains and river are incredibly healing and can be felt. An outstanding stay, to say the least.

The room with the private bath and Onsen was superb. The river Onsen was special. I really liked the footpath in the room. Isolated location, but it only added to the special experience.

The natural baths The facilities were not very friendly. Missing a lounge area. The lack of English speaking people made service complicated. Facilities smelled a little because of humidity.

The ryokan was beautiful. We had a Japanese style room with a futon on the floor. The amenities were nice, and the dinner and breakfast were delicious! The outdoor onsen was wonderful! The location was convenient for a leisurely start to the day yet still being able to see Kazurabashi and other nearby attractions without rushing. The drive to the ryokan went through many one-car roads on the mountainside, which are common in the area but take practice to drive and can make motion-sickness-prone people ill easily. Even driving it didn't help me much. I enjoyed the futon on the floor, even at nearly 6 months pregnant and having to sleep on only my sides. However, my husband found sleeping on his side there more painful, so it will vary by individual.

no where to relax before dinner and have drinks

Iya Onsen is located in the magical, beautiful Iya Valley. Views are stunning, the outside onsen is amazing (and the cable car ride there and back is quite an experience). Staff treat you royally and they present meals beautifully. As we are getting older, the Japanese style rooms are less comfortable. There are no elevators in the property, so you need to be comfortable on stairs. No in-room shower, was another downside.

An outdoor onsen with a hot spring water by the river, which is accessed by a cable car

The setting is gorgeous. The onsen is nice. While the setting is top notch, the facilities are just … low quality. Several examples: the onsen water is lukewarm. They say it’s 38.5c which is just above body temp. In march, it is really cold outside, yet they keep the changing room rather cold. So coming out of barely warm onsen into nearly a freezing changing room is not pleasant at all. Now, the onsen water temp is out of hotels control, but the heating in the changing room certainly is. Next, dinner and breakfast- only one word - cheap. The dinner didn’t even feature sashimi!!! Can you even call it kaiseki if it doesn’t have sashimi? On their website it seems one can purchase an upgrade - we were never offered such. Not sure. But the bottom line, food is blah.

Food is very disappointed. Environmental

Hotel Iya Onsen provided an unforgettable experience during our stay. The views of the Iya Gorge were stunning, offering breathtaking scenery that truly showcased the beauty of the valley. The outdoor onsen was a highlight, allowing us to relax in nature while enjoying the serene atmosphere. Both dinner and breakfast were exceptional, featuring delicious Japanese cuisine. The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly, making us feel warmly welcomed throughout our visit. Overall, an excellent experience that we would highly recommend! The only downside was the hotel’s remote location, which made access slightly challenging. However, this seclusion added to the charm of the stay, making it perfect for those seeking tranquility.

Unique experience Long winding drive to hotel

The “cable car ride” Lots of step as it’s on a slope

Very good

More secluded ryokan. Comfortable 10 tatami room with toilet. Multi course dinner and breakfast included in plan. I think the Japanese breakfast is better value. Outdoor bath down the hill via the cable car was interesting to visit, with views to the river. Narrow road access to hotel site. Not much else around to see and do.

Beautiful views. The onsen experience by the river is very cool and the public indoor bath offers an amazing view as well. The traditional Japanese room style adds to the experience (as a Westerner). The service the staff provides is top notch- very attentive and professional. The meals are exceptional, well presented and prepared. The inside is very clean and well maintained. However, for the price of the rooms, parts of hotel seem a little worn down. We were also disappointed that we booked a room with a terrace, however the terrace over looked the road and top of the tram and not a direct view over the valley.

Great kaiseki and nice outdoor onsen Travel Distance from Osaka, nearly 5 hours

Very good

Lovely hotel in a beautiful setting. Amazingly presented food. Beautiful inside and outside onsen with incredible views. Beautiful traditional Japanese rooms Kind staff who made lots of effort to make stay more comfortable. Struggled with help from staff to get transport to hotel from station. There is a free shuttle service from remote train station but only runs twice a day so plan trains in advance. Taxi from local stations around 7000 yen Would have liked more explanation from staff regarding the onsen how to use and etiquette. Perhaps a little overpriced. That being said lovely overall experience

Exceptional

Very good