Iwamatsu Ryokan

Iwamatsu Ryokan Review

Situated along Hirose River, this old, large ryokan has rooms that peer out over the stream and mountains. A sumptuous lobby has abundant sofas; the ryokan has numerous meeting rooms, an enormous banquet hall where you have the breakfast buffet offering a large selection of Japanese and Western items; a 20-meter onsen pool reminds you that the ryokan caters to large groups of business travelers, who can be a bit rowdy at night. However, the reason to stay here is the original rotemburo—or open-air bath. Although it generally offers mixed-sex bathing, some hours are reserved for women only. Five different onsen sources fill the four rocky baths naturally—with no pumps—and you can see the warm water bubbling up from the bottom of the river while you are soaking. At dinner, local specialties such as mountain vegetables are served. A shuttle bus is offered from JR Sakunami Station.