Reviews of Houshi Onsen Chojukan 4 stars

Visiting Hoshi Onsen Chojukan as an American was quite different from other experiences I had in Japan. Soaking in the baths twice a day was peaceful and beneficial. The meals served in the dining room were outstanding as well. Tattoos did not seem to be a problem in the baths. I eat a lot but it became difficult to finish the meals with so many different foods available on offer. The service was friendly and responsive, the hotel is well staffed in regards to how many guests it receives. The surrounding area is incredibly beautiful in summertime, and there are many fun areas and activities for tourists. The wifi and the phone signal are poor, which helps with disconnection and relaxation. My mind felt very quiet after staying here for three days.

The onsen access schedule prevents men from taking a regular shower-- anywhere in the hotel-- between 7am and 3pm.

Exceptional stay with a magical onsen experience.

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Absolutely beautiful property and wonderful staff, the three Onsen’s are all very different, personally the outdoor one was our favourite with the mixed one a close second. Very very traditional stay including the bedding and food, loved it, it’s expensive and way out the way.

I’m being picky but the third Onsen was tiny, two shower heads and small space, be ready for very firm and thin mattresses but that’s what the place offers so suck it up and enjoy.

Such a beautiful place and authentic experience it was the highlight of our trip

It was very hard to get to so we had to hire a car but it’s also very beautifully located

Probably the best Onsen in Japan

Onsen water is hot enough.

Location is far deep inside, the road is extremely narrow. One of the onsen is too small , limited time to use the onsen.There is no elevator to the room, the stairs also very steep. The room’s heater not working, almost no amenities.

A very nice and long historical ryokan. Good rest and Onsen here. Staff are nice and friendly.

The switching of onsen time and usage of mixed sex in a certain area in a certain time.

Incredibly beautiful location and facilities.

Onsen were amazing

Hard futons, corridors were cold

Unique and traditional vibe

A lot of insects in the room

Beautiful property, Onsen, and room. Friendly staff.

Meals were repetitive, and some dishes may not appeal to a Western palate. The last dinner made me sick to my stomach.

This place was magical! It was everything we expected and much more! The rooms were impeccable, the pool beautiful and historic, the meals were truly exceptional, the staff incredibly friendly and helpful, the site is historical and it was covered in snow when we arrive. We will definitely recommend it!

Nothing. It was perfect.

I found this ryokan on a list of tattoo friendly onsens. There is some competing information out there, but I emailed the property directly and they said I could just cover my tattoos with a towel. Once there, I had no issues with my tattoos while using the public baths, despite being a young foreigner amongst elderly Japanese, everyone was nice about it. The baths were absolutely stunning, looked just like the pictures. It snowed one night and to sit in the open-air bath in the snow under a red maple tree was pretty magical. There were also some hiking trails out behind the property that were lovely to walk around in. The local sake was pretty tasty too.

The food was fine but nothing to write home about. The beds were of course futons on the floor, which is normal. I was not used to the beanbag pillow though and that was not the most comfortable. But, hard to complain about an authentic experience at a Meiji-era onsen ryokan. Oddly, the first day the staff never came to put away our futons, so we just had beds out all day. But look, you come here for the natural hot spring baths, and it's worth it. Incidentally, if you are using TA-Q-BIN, don't make the same mistake as me - it only took one day for our bags to get there from Tokyo, but to send them from the onsen straight to Haneda would have taken two days, so we had to schlep our heavy bags into an expensive taxi since the local buses are quite small. If you can plan ahead and stash any large luggage in a locker or something you'll be glad for it.

The Houshi Onsen Chojukan is a magical place that offers scenic views and beautiful walking trails in the surrounding area. The staff members are incredibly lovely and truly elevated our stay there. The food was amazing, and we couldn't get enough of the onsens.

The times for the onsens M/F/Mixed were a bit odd at times other than that it was a great stay

The place is exquisite. The beauty of the onsen baths and preservation of the building is outstanding. Came for our honeymoon and the staff treated us incredibly well. Everything was beyond our expectations.