Sunriver Oboke

The room was very spacious and had all the required amenities. The view from the onsen was amazing. A shuttle service from and to the nearest trains station is offered for free, which is a great way to compensate for the lack of transportation when the public bus is not driving around. The hotel restaurant was really great, especially in such a remote area it's really convenient to have a place to eat and the food itself exceeded all my expectations.

The hotel is in a rural region, next to the Ōboke gorge. The interior is a little dated as well as certain amenities. We got a Japanese-style room with mattresses which have been rather hard compared to just only futons. The room was very spacious though. There’s no shower in the room, only the toilet and a sink. You can use the showers in the public onsen (divided by gender), though. The onsen is also a little older but the highlight of the stay. There’s a big bassin inside with hot water, a smaller one on the outside, a sauna and a cold water bassin. We booked the room with dinner, which has been an interesting experience but since it was local Kaiseki it wasn’t entirely to our taste - eating a whole fish with tail and head is a little unusual for the European stomach. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. Women got to choose a colorful Yukata which you can wear throughout the house, even for dinner and breakfast. This was one of our more expensive stays in Japan, though. Considering the age and state of the hotel we had more comfort for less the price in other hotels.

The staff were really nice and welcoming. They explained things really well upon arrival. The breakfast buffet was wonderful and there was such a wide selection of dishes. You also get a nice view from the hotsprings.

Although this property is aging, and it rained a lot while I was there, I loved it. The staff is very friendly, cheerful and helpful. My room was huge! There was a closet, a desk and a table with two chairs. There was also a large window, so a lot of natural light. The communication about my arrival time at the Oboke station went smoothly, and someone was there to pick me up as promised. I chose to have two breakfasts and two dinners at Sunriver. Both were amazing. The dinner server explained all the dishes with the help of a printed English menu. A free shuttle leaves three times every morning for the boat dock and station. The public bus stops nearby, too, but it doesn’t run very often. If you arrive at Oboke station, take a photo of the bus schedule before you get in the van. The English version is posted just outside the station doorway. The onsen is on an upper floor. Because the windows steam up, there isn’t much of a view. It was similar to other hotel onsens I used. Perfectly fine, but not extraordinary. The charge for two nights and four meals was exactly what I paid for one night in a tiny room near Tokyo station.

We booked a stay at a ryokan that offered an open-air bath, which included breakfast and dinner. We found the staff to be lovely and very accommodating. The hotel had an extensive selection of pretty yukata for women, with various obi colours available. The room we booked was a Japanese-style room. While the room itself was nice, it did have a slightly outdated feel. The futons provided were thick and comfortable. We were initially unsure how to set up the bedding, but the staff took care of it for us and noticed our beds were ready after we returned from dinner. The dinner showcased local dishes, adding to the overall experience. While not something extraordinary, it was satisfying and very filling. However, in comparison to other ryokans, the buffet-style instead of the traditional Japanese-style. This suited us, as we’ve been yearning for a break from Japanese food. Breakfast was mediocre, and the hotel offered a variety of both Western and Asian cuisine alongside a selection of hot and cold beverages.