Reviews of Pension Kinoshita 2 stars

Please note this is a cash-only hotel. The property is old, but charming in its own traditional way. The onsen water is very hot yet relaxing, and the open-air bath is mixed gender. The food is delicious, the owners are kind and helpful, though English communication is limited. At night, you can enjoy a beautiful starry sky.

only cold shower

The Onsen and the food were incredible

Super nice onsen, one in natural rocks in the garden and one in wood inside the house, beautiful both

Wonderful Japanese breakfasts, the onsen and all that made this place so peaceful.

Nothing

Very chill place to stay, the food was amazing and the onsens were very nice, especially the outdoor one in the night!

Stunning mountain area. The onsen was incredible! You are really surrounded by forest. The meals we had were the best food we ate in the country. Real home cooking perfection. The onsen was a delight even in summer.

Loved everything:) The bedding could have been a bit nicer but it was all good!

One of our favourite stays in Japan - we extended an extra night. Mrs Kinoshita takes great care of her guests and is a remarkable cook. A lot of love and energy goes into the meals she prepares. Onsen (indoor and outdoor) was one of the most relaxing during our time in Japan. The pension is cosy and feels like home. Beds were extremely comfortable, we slept very well. A must if you’re seeking something of an authentic experience.

We couldn’t really fault anything.

Incredibly quiet, we slept very well. The food was wonderful and mama was wonderful

The food was AWESOME! We had a lot of Kaiseki dinners on our trip through Japan but this was one of the best. It is plentiful and the Hida beef is splendid. Our landlady even served a homemade ice sorbet for desert. Breakfast was also really delicious. One shouldn't miss this opportunity! There's an onsen which is filled 24/7 directly from the source so it's always hot. There's one on the outside and another one on the inside. We got there when spring was yet to come, so there wasn't a lot in bloom yet - but we assume that the gardens and the surroundings must be splendid throughout the year. Also it's really close to the Kamikōchi valley which is a definite bonus. And the silence.... Magnificent! All in all we enjoyed this stay a lot.

This is not so much about not liking it but about preference: there's no possibility to shower inside. The onsen is the place to go in order to freshen up. Also there's a shared space for brushing teeth and getting ready in the eve and morning. We assumed the house is a little older, so there's no ensuite bathrooms. My guess is that this is not for everybody. If we had stayed longer maybe we would have wished to have more privacy. For one night it was alright. So it wasn't like a negative to us.

This was our number one favorite stay in Japan! It is a very traditional guesthouse with a lot of charm, run by a sweet older couple. It is a small operation in a very small town: compared to modern hotels, many things such as dinner and breakfast schedules are more rigid. Please consider this when booking! The old lady who runs the customer-facing part of the guesthouse is very welcoming and accommodating, but also straightforward, which was fantastic from our Finnish perspective. She can use a translation app, gestures and a couple of English words for communication with foreign guests. We could speak some Japanese which made things a lot smoother. I would recommend learning some key phrases in Japanese for this stay! Some reviews criticize the cleanliness of the place, but let's be real here: the establishment is an older wooden house with sliding doors in close proximity to nature. Obviously you can find some cobwebs in the rafters if you look for them. The place is kept in very clean condition where it matters, and that includes guest rooms and dining areas. The set dinner and breakfast were the best food we ate during our trip. Simply fantastic. The hot spring baths were great, but also very hot 😄 Which shouldn't come as a surprise. The public, non-reserved baths are located indoors in a detached bathhouse building. There are separate indoor baths for men and women. The private outdoor bath must be reserved beforehand, after check-in. During our stay there were few other guests, so we were often free to use the private bath at will. If you want to travel here by bus, be ready to study the Nouhi bus timetables carefully. Some buses stop very close to the guesthouse, while some stop a 15min uphill walk away. Pulling a lot of luggage up a mountainside would not be a good time! We used the Yamato Takkyuubin luggage courier service both when arriving and when leaving. Payment is expected in cash.

Amazing stay at a traditional ryokan. The food and outdoor onsen were fantastic and the lovely couple who own the place were a joy to watch and complimented the whole experience.

None.

Excellent dinner and breakfast prepared by the host (a must-have) (book the dinner in advance).. On site natural Onsen - a must have, especially after dark..

None

Exceptional food, and lovely onsens and gardens. The room was very comfortable with a pretty outlook. When our arrival was delayed into a rainy night, the owners picked us up from the bus stop, which was very kind.

A small detail, but a kettle in the room, or way to get hot water and cups, would be fabulous.

Fabulous dinner included hida beef. Onsen in and out fed by a natural hot spring. Outside especially tranquil. Good size bedroom and comfortable bed.

The onsens were incredible and every breakfast I looked forward to. I thought that I t was a really homely stay. It gave a sense of a family retreat and the bed was really comfortable. The onsens were next level and the indoor one, with the shower, was very hot but you could easily get used to it.

I thought it could do with a dust, the picture frames were covered and the wooden beams too. Also, there was a bit on limescale in the toilet, which wasn’t very inviting. Overall it was a brilliant stay.

The house is amazing, with a really relaxing mood. The location is stunning, in the middle of nature. The home made food was probably one of the best we had in Japan. The onsen is beautiful.

Nothing. Everything was perfect

Facility is old, the room was quite old, didn't smell fresh at all. We came just for one night and left very early in the morning. The cost for this room (shower was outside the facility) is too overpriced

We loved the breakfast and dinner, it was cooked by the grandmother, it was extremely delicious. It was a great way to experience traditional Japanese home cooked food.

We wished if there were a Kettle or other way to get hot water in the room for morning coffee or tea.

We had booked one room shared with our teenage nephew. We were the only guests, and the owners offered him a second private room for free so we each had some privacy! I've never stayed anywhere so generous! The meals we were served were delicious, and the onsen were wonderful, particularly the outdoor open-air bath.

Nothing, this place met and exceeded our expectation! The price was a little on the high side, but the hospitality we received really justified the cost.

This is an authentic Japanese inn with a fabulous dinner and breakfast. The outdoor onsen and surrounding area is peaceful. Communication a little tough for English speaking tourists but we managed with translation apps and we felt welcomed!

The dining room was quite cold but maybe that was because it was the end of November and the heater just didn't reach in there. As we were arriving by bus, we found the location not too convenient but on the other hand, that's what made it a peaceful place to visit.

The owners are the sweetest old couple that try their very best in making your stay pleasant and making the best food ever! Onsen outside and inside are beautiful. It's a special place and has a bit of an old and semi-faded luxurious feeling, in the best way possible. We loved it here and hope the owners will be able to keep it up for a long time.

Can't think of anything.