Besshoonsen Nanjyo Ryokan

We stayed a week at Nanjyo Ryokan and had a very pleasant stay in Bessho Onsen thanks in large part to Katsuki Ide, who helped us with our online reservation and made certain that we had a wonderful stay. Our Japanese style room was lovely: very spacious with a view of the (small) garden which you can visit on your way to the public baths. (Be sure to take advantage of the Shampoo Bar in the women’s bath.) The hotel is old and shows its age, but being aware of this beforehand we knew what to expect. There were marks and repairs on the walls, some strange heating pipes visible under the closet, not the cleanest floor to ceiling window, along with routine signs of wear; none of this was an issue and one might say it added to the charm. The many connected annexes and hallways meant that you could get lost trying to find your room if you don’t have a good sense of direction. The renovated lobby was comfortable, with books to browse and games to use, jazz playing during the day, and Charlie Chaplin silent movies at night (subtitles in Japanese plus background music). Coffee, tea and cocoa were available in the lobby all day with a wide selection of beautiful cups and saucers. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. We spent several days visiting the sites in Bessho Onsen. We also spent a morning at Shimonogo Ikushimatarushima Shrine which was very worthwhile. It is easily accessible by train or as one of your stops on the “Heritage Bus” which we took on another day. (¥500 each). We will definitely consider returning at some point for autumn foliage in Bessho Onsen.

Bessho Onsen is a magic place just outside Ueda, full of lovely temples and hot springs. This Ryokan fully embraces the vibe of this little village and offers good facilities in an amazing surroundings. The hotel is pretty old, which gives it a nostalgic feeling. But it is perfectly kept and with all the amenities you should wish for. A lovely room, amazing gardens, very good indoor and outdoor hot springs and a very very good restaurant. We had the best breakfast of our entire trip there! Last but not least the staff is absolutely lovely.

Loved our stay at this very friendly ryokan. The meals were excellent, the keiseki dinner was amazing, with many different dishes and flavours, one of the best we have ever had. We had tatami room with onsen which was spacious with a nice sitting area. The public onsen included a small outdoor pool. Nearby temples are all in walking distance.