Everything was fabulous. Wonderful meals, a lovely onsen bath, we also received an upgrade to a premium room with a hinoki bathtub.

Stayed in March 2025

There was nothing I didn't like.

Tsuwano is a fascinating historic town in the mountains of South Western Honshu. It now has a brand new train station which is probably less quaint than the old one I read about. Noren Yado Meigetsu was fabulous! We were greeted by our hostess and directed to the parking next door. She attended to our every need upon arrival and the women in our group were invited to dress in yukata for dinner. It was so special because she helped us dress with a properly reinforced obi too! Dinner was an amazing array of delicacies, including matsutake mushrooms because we were there in autumn. Breakfast was huge and traditional. The onsen tub is small, essentially private, so needs to be booked and was very pleasant. Sleeping is on traditional futon in a very quaint tatami room. The ryokan is beautifully maintained, and our hostess waved us off the next day. Highly recommended.

Stayed in October 2024

Friendly and helpful staff, excellent breakfasts and dinners, spacious and quiet rooms and a good sized public bath.

Stayed in November 2024

The property was excellent but Tsuwano was very quiet - nearly everything was closed.

Noren Yado Meigetsu is a traditional Japanese style guest house in a beautiful old building. Our room was very spacious and comfortable, the staff were very friendly and helpful and the meals were exceptional. The salmon cooked in foil was the best dish we have had so far in Japan. A great place to stay!

Stayed in November 2024

Fabulous dinner (extra cost). Excellently prepared and very tasty. Good breakfast included. A lovely host. Made us feel very welcome. Small hot public bath. Excellent location just off the main historical street. Tswano is a great place to visit.

Stayed in November 2024

Truly authentic japanese experience, very polite and helpful staff and tasty food

Stayed in November 2024

The reasonably short walk from the station can be a little uneven when wheeling suitcases.

This was an excellent hospitality experience from beginning to end. It's a traditional ryokan in a side street that can be a little hard to find. We were warmly welcomed with effusive and helpful service on a rainy afternoon. Our spacious room was a gem with a lovely view of the courtyard. Breakfast was amazing - graceful service, presentation was a work of art, and the food was delicious. It was an hour-long cultural immersion. The locally sourced roasted green tea was such a highlight that we bought packets to take home with us.

Stayed in October 2024

The warmth of welcome was second to none. Such lovely people wanting to make our stay the best it could be and genuine in their desire to assist my husband who is visually impaired. The accommodations were authentic and comfortable. The meals were incredible - with interesting and truly delicious dishes. Care was shown in everything they did.

Stayed in October 2024

Booked two rooms, and the upstairs one was a bit underwhelming by comparison.

Very welcoming and attentive. Excellent traditional breakfast. Lovely downstairs room with view on the garden.

Stayed in July 2024

I was OK with them, but steep stairs.

Good location, friendly staff, great breakfast!

Stayed in May 2024

The necessity of using an electronic translator

Unexpectedly and without us asking the owner was waiting for us at the station and gave us a ride and remembered us from our stay of many years ago. View from the room is a nice Japanese garden and pond filled with koi.

Stayed in May 2024

N/A

Wonderful staff....extremely helpful and charming.A lovely Ryokan,,room was comfortable and the vegetarian Japanese breakfast wonderful.

Stayed in April 2024

We would highly recommend that the town work on making access at the train station easier, if they hope encourage more tourism. Having to lift luggage over the tracks is extremely difficult for older travelers. Tsuwano is such a lovely town, definitely worth visiting but train station access is a definite problem.

All meals were exceptional, Feasts for the eyes and palate. Kaiseki meals were at the gourmet level comparable to other 5 star entities

Stayed in March 2024

None.

Breakfast is very good.

Stayed in March 2024

Even though we were expecting traditional sleeping arrangements, and comparing it to our experience at other ryokan, our futons and pillows didn't make for a restful sleep! Also no surprise to us, but be aware that en-suite bathrooms in such old buildings can be cramped.

Wonderful staff - not much English but they have a translating machine which was great. They were so welcoming and couldn't do enough for you. They created a calm and peaceful atmosphere in this traditional old guest house, well situated in this lovely little town. Fabulous Japanese style breakfasts.

Stayed in April 2024

On entering one felt immediately that this was a warm, homely place and you would enjoy your stay. This impression was converted into a fact. There was nothing I didn't like. Thanks to all the staff. 10/10.

The meals were fantastic, varied and creative. A lot of heart went into each meal. The staff were bonny and put in the effort and enthusiasm to ensure an excellent stay. Ensuring my medical food requirement was catered for and then providing me with a card in Japanese that explained this problem so I could forward to other chefs was most considerate.

Stayed in March 2024

Futon are thin

Amazing place. Highly recommend

Stayed in April 2024

Perfect! The staff made the stay extra special - they were so kind and welcoming despite our lack of Japanese. The food was consistently exceptional, everything so tasty and beautifully presented. We especially enjoyed getting dressed up in yukata for dinner.

Stayed in November 2023

I have back injuries, so it was difficult for me to sleep on the futon at night. Not the fault of the Noren, but should be considered for others with back issues. Also, stairs are a bit steep, and a bit tough to walk especially while wearing slippers or carrying luggage.

Breakfast was excellent, as was the bath area. The staff was wonderful and attentive.

Stayed in September 2023

We were embarrassed that we could not eat all we were offered!

Exceptional food and friendly welcome from helpful staff. Wonderful traditional hot bath for us as a couple. We were encouraged and helped to wear traditional clothes which were provided.

Stayed in November 2023

Although we asked if my partner's meals could be adjusted, since she doesn't eat seafood or fish (mostly), we were still served two fish meals, two crabs, etc. I understand that the meals are probably chosen individually for each day, leaving not much flexibility for difficult customers like us - which is perfectly fair. However, I ended up having to eat about 1.75 meals each time, since a large part of the food would have otherwise gone to waste, so just leaving out the fish, crabs etc. for my partner would have been the better choice (also from a sustainability standpoint).

Very, very, very beautiful ryokan. The owner already greeted us at the entrance and was extremely friendly. The room was also beautiful and made you feel like living in Edo period Japan. The onsen was very relaxing, and after it, my partner was offered to wear a nice yukata for dinner. The food was extraordinary (although it could mostly not be adjusted for my admittedly picky partner, see below), both in terms of taste and in the way it was presented. I would definitely recommend this ryokan anytime to any traveller.

Stayed in September 2023

We arrived much later than planned due to the cancellation of several trains because of a typhoon, and were very surprised to see someone waiting for us at the train station with a car. The meals are visually beautiful, very tasty and abundant, the staff is very friendly, the facilities ate simple, traditional and enjoyable

Stayed in August 2023

It was great that I could use the public bath just for myself but it would have been even better if the water was hotter.

A wonderful ryokan in a beautiful peaceful setting. My son and I slept in a room with a private bathroom and separate seating area overlooking the garden and fish pond. It was spacious and very relaxing, especially falling asleep listening to the sound of the water. The family running the ryokan were so friendly and attentive. The local Japanese breakfast and dinner was vast and delicious. Highly recommended!

Stayed in August 2023

Nothing

What a pleasant Staff at the Noren Yado Meigetsu Ryokan in the small mountain town of Tsuwano. The rooms are large for Japanese standards, properly cooled (if wanted) and have all facilities required. It has a very comfortable public bath, that can be used privately . The breakfast is one of the best I have ever had in Japan. A true Ryokan experience in the mountains.

Stayed in July 2023