Kocho

“Lovely onsen ryokan”

I always include an overnight trip to an onsen whenever I’m in Japan so I’ve seen many to compare to. This is a lovely traditional ryokan that has had some discreet modern renovations that really improve the experience. We were here on a Monday so I suspect there may have been very few others sta… Più

I always include an overnight trip to an onsen whenever I’m in Japan so I’ve seen many to compare to. This is a lovely traditional ryokan that has had some discreet modern renovations that really improve the experience. We were here on a Monday so I suspect there may have been very few others staying, which meant we received an unexpected upgrade to our room, which was very kind. The room had clearly been renovated and came with low futon beds which was welcome as my back is not quite up to sleeping on a traditional floor futon these days, even with an onsen to wash away the aches! Plus it means you can be a bum and relax on the bed right from the outset. Other updates included a massive flat screen tv, redone bathroom with a state-of-the-art washlet, and a general refresh. Very nice. Also lovely was the in-room outdoor onsen which was super-hot but left us both with mysteriously soft skin from the water. Service is with a kind smile even with our complete inability to speak Japanese. The staff communicate with the help of pre-printed signs and translation apps. Dinner and breakfast were part of our stay and serving sizes were extremely generous, I was totally defeated. Cuisine is seafood-heavy as fits the region. In summary: highly recommended.

Meno

“Fabulous meal. Great location.”

We were staying at Kocho late December 2019, after Christmas. After checking in, we were served delicious sweets and macha. Our room was spacious and can easily accomodate 3-4 people. It also has a separate dinning area partitioned by sliding door, where dinner and breakfast were served. They hav… Più

We were staying at Kocho late December 2019, after Christmas. After checking in, we were served delicious sweets and macha. Our room was spacious and can easily accomodate 3-4 people. It also has a separate dinning area partitioned by sliding door, where dinner and breakfast were served. They have 2 public bath (one of which has an outdoor portion) and a private bath (which you can use whenever it’s door is open). We were totally blown away by the kaiseki dinner. It was one of the best meal we’ve ever had on any Japanese ryokan. The shioyaki were impressive, as well as the crab dish, which was in season. We were also served a complimentary Buri Daikon, which is a popular winter dish in the area. The staffs spoke little English, but it was not a problem at all for us even though we don’t speak any Japanese. The ryokan is placed very near to the town center and ayatori bridge, allowing us to stroll around town before soaking in the hot tubs. Definitely recommending Kocho to anyone visiting Yamanaka Onsen

Meno

“Japanese hospitality at its best!”

We stayed here for two nights during the Sakura season. The food and the service blew us away. They provided shuttle service from the Kagaonsen train station. On our second day there the staff drove us to the train station so we could go sightseeing in Kanazawa. We were late getting to the Kan… Più

We stayed here for two nights during the Sakura season. The food and the service blew us away. They provided shuttle service from the Kagaonsen train station. On our second day there the staff drove us to the train station so we could go sightseeing in Kanazawa. We were late getting to the Kanazawa train station, missed our train and thus our previously agreed upon pickup time. To my surprise they were at the station waiting for us when we got back to the Kagaonsen, a couple hours later. The food was delicious and portion generous. We had a hard time finishing what was offered during breakfast and dinner. They were also very accommodating to my daughter's picky eating habits. We dined in our own room so we could just dress in yukata to enjoy our meals after enjoying the onsen. The room we stayed at, which has a private outdoor onsen, is a bit dated but clean. It was facing the river so the setting is very peaceful. There is also a private family onsen which we utilized quite a bit. It was very difficult to leave such a lovely place. Highly recommended!

Meno