With a stay at Ogawaya in Gero, you'll be just steps from Shitajima Onsen and Gero Hot Spring Shrine. This ryokan is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Sarubobo Shrine and 0.3 mi (0.4 km) from Gero Onsen Funsenchi Outdoor Hot Spring.
Enjoy recreational amenities such as hot springs and karaoke. Additional features at this ryokan include complimentary wireless internet access, gift shops/newsstands, and a reception hall.
Stop by the ryokan's restaurant for dinner, or grab snacks at the coffee shop/cafe. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. Buffet breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, luggage storage, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. This ryokan has 3 meeting rooms available for events. A train station pick-up service is provided at no charge, and free self parking is available onsite.
Make yourself at home in one of the 96 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and LED televisions. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and blackout drapes/curtains.
"Impression:
Ogawaya was one of the three day-trip options I considered for my Gero trip last summer, and it left a great impression then. So, when planning this winter trip, I really wanted to stay here for a night. Since I booked late, I was lucky to even snag a room.
Service:
The front desk had a Chinese-speaking staff member who was, hands down, the loveliest Chinese-speaking person I encountered on any of my trips. Unlike some uncomfortable experiences I had at Dormy Inn Kumamoto and with the Nohi bus today, this young lady was genuinely warm and friendly.
Facilities:
During my day trip last summer, I only got to use the women's bath that was open in the afternoon. It was very clean and had a silk bath. This time, I tried the other bath in the morning, but I still feel that Sagi-no-yu has a more unique charm. Also, on the first floor of the scenic view building where I stayed, there's a 'Can Onsen' (sparkling onsen) which is open to women from afternoon to evening. It features a highly concentrated carbonated hot spring. Although it's artificial, it's definitely worth trying. The lobby has a self-service drink bar, and after a hot spring bath, enjoying a cold orange juice while watching the river flow by outside the window is incredibly relaxing.
Drawbacks:
The only downside was the noise from my next-door neighbors. I don't know who they were, but this is the only Japanese hotel I've stayed in where I've experienced such loud noise. Despite having two layers of doors, I was disturbed both in the evening and in the morning.
Highlights:
A great bonus is that the hotel's refrigerator has a freezer compartment – a freezer compartment! Perfect for storing ice cream!"