Shima-Onsen Toshimaya

The hotel located next to Shima River; where you can hear the nature sound. Staffs were very nice and helped us from check in to check out. Very clean facility.

Just the smell in the room when we got into our room. Once we open the windows and AC, the smell gone and we kind of adapted to it.

ご飯がとても美味しかった 温泉のお湯も良く気持ちよかったです スタッフの対応が素晴らしかった

飲み物の持ち込みができず、自動販売機も無かった お風呂が少し小さかった

子供頃に毎夏行っていた豊島屋さんへ数十年ぶりに、家族で行かせてもらいました。外観やお風呂は面影がありましたが、中はリノベーションされていた、とてもお洒落で素敵な老舗旅館に変わっていました。屋上のテラスもとても素敵でした。スタッフもにこやかに挨拶をしてくれて気持ちがよかったです。温泉もお料理もサービスも最高でした。また泊まりたいです。

特にないですが、強いて言えば、老舗旅館なので、エレベーターがなく、階段のみなのでお風呂やお食事処への移動があり、高齢者には大変でした。高齢の母の為に、露天風呂があるお部屋にしたのは正解でした。母はお部屋の露天風呂で十分楽しめました。

Onsen in terrazza

Staff con poca conoscenza inglese

Dinner was not as good as expected compared with nearby hotel

スタッフのみなさんが親切丁寧で心地よく滞在する事ができました。ロケーションも最高でした！

特にないですが、階段の上り下りが少し大変でした。

Ein absolutes Highlight unserer Reise. Die Zimmer mit den privaten Onsen sind ein Highlight und der Blick auf den Fluss. Hier erwartet einen absolute Ruhe und wunderschöne Natur. Der Ort selber hat uns mit am besten gefallen, sehr idyllisch. Der Aufenthalt in diesem Ryokan ist eine tolle Erfahrung, die man unbedingt gemacht haben sollte.

Es war unser erster Aufenthalt in einem Ryokan und somit auch die erste Erfahrung mit einem Kaiseki Dinner. Das Essen war sehr hochwertig, war aber nicht ganz unsers. Dafür kann das Ryokan aber nichts, es war für uns nur ungewöhnlich

Excellent service, they helped us with our allergies and adapted. All the stuff very kind 😊

Wir wurden sehr freundlich Empfangen und fühlten uns sofort wohl. Wir waren als Familie unterwegs mit einem Kleinkind und hatten eine eigene Badewanne auf dem Balkon. Das Hotel ist etwas teurer jedoch jeden Jen Wert. Vor allem das japanische Essen ist sehr fein. Ich würde sofort wieder buchen

Nichts

The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming and helpful. They were a lovely group of people.

The futons were a little uncomfortable and I wish they had been somewhat thicker. Otherwise there is nothing to complain about this property. It is wonderful.

Easy bus ride from the Nakanojo train station. Hotel is a 1 min walk. Overall, it was exactly as expected. Building looks a little run-down from the outside but inside it's well kept (but old). Likely needs a fresh coat of paint and a deep clean, but otherwise fine. Rooms are cozy. Make sure you get a room with a river view—the sound of the waterfall as you fall asleep is what you are paying for. Staff seems to be entirely Nepali or Northeastern Indian. It doesn't bug me, as they speak great English in addition to Japanese. I liked that the meals were not in your room—in other ryokans (I've stayed in a bunch by now) the constant fussy and obsequious service and knocking on the door gets old fast. It's good to have a separate place to go to eat. Meals were delicious. Honestly, dinner and breakfast of full-on 和食 is more than enough for me. In-room bath was wonderful and the continuously flowing hot water is a big bonus. Downstairs bath also great. Loved watching the waterfall while I soaked. There's a little combini next to the hotel if you want to buy alcohol and snacks. You can walk around Shima Onsen town in the evening. Will keep you busy for an hour or two. There's a pizza place in town if you want to skip the dinner at the ryokan. Would happily return or recommend to friends that want a low-key onsen ryokan experience.

Nothing!

Everything

Not applicable

Exelante expérience onsen plus le dîner je suis très ravi merci Le personnelle était très aimable et gentille encore un grand merci

Ein in jeder Hinsicht großartiges Erlebnis. Das Zimmer und die Futons waren extrem gemütlich, das Bad wunderbar erholsam und das Essen ausgiebig.

Beautiful property and overall incredible experience. The staff was outstanding and the food was next level! They were able to accommodate my vegan diet and I got to enjoy some of the best food I had in Japan. The food was fresh, local and beautifully presented. Wonderful onsen experience!

Nothing

食事場所が個室で終わりの目を気にせずプライベートで食べれるところが一番良かった。

露天風呂のお湯が止まっちゃって長く入れなかったこと

員工很親切，因為有樓梯還協助搬運行李，非常感謝。 晚餐與早餐，用許多當地食材，大家都用得很開心。 房間與室內湯屋、大浴池的湯泡起來都很舒適。 晚餐兒童的懷石料理份量可以再增加。 大浴池希望可以提供保養品。

We had a wonderful time at Shima-onsen - it felt a little bit like a fairy-tale! The room was gorgeous, with a giant window overlooking the river, as well as a beautiful private onsen. The shared public baths are also absolutely spectacular, a little corner of relaxation that feels almost magical, with the most beautiful view of the river. Everything was very clean, the staff were very friendly and welcoming and the food was amazing - super tasty and beautifully displayed! I wish we had stayed longer!

Everything was perfect!

Excellent dinner and breakfast The hotel is traditional and beautiful The rooms are confortable we especially appreciated the private onsen. The public onsen is nice. The personal is great

Nothing Everything was perfect

The location was beautiful beyond words! The staff was lovely and very helpful with any and all questions and the facilities and the room were perfect. The meals provided were great and so was the entire experience. The sounds of the river right outside of the window of our room was perfect and easy to fall asleep to.

Nothing, it was all perfect.

We enjoyed our stay at this traditional onsen hotel next to a gushing river in the beautiful Shima valley. They provide excellent and copious breakfast and diner meals in the traditional kaiseki multi-course style. Their onsen has both indoor and outdoor pools, and from the outdoor pool you can see and hear the local river gushing by with is very atmospheric. The staff were lovely and very attentive. They helped organise a canoe trip for us in the local reservoir.

Be aware that breakfast and dinner happen at specific times, and it messes up their schedule if you are late. For dinner, there's a choice of either 6pm or 6.30pm.

外国人の若い女性店員さんが多いですが、接客が丁寧でとても素敵な方々でした！！ お部屋からのロケーションも最高で、清潔感のある旅館でした！！

深夜帯も大浴場が開いているのですが、浴室上部の窓に網戸もないため、トンボや蛾などの虫が沢山いました。虫がとても苦手なので、終始怯えておりました。。網戸をつけて欲しいと思いました。。。

スタッフさんの対応が丁寧でとても気持ちよく利用させてもらえました。

We loved the Shima Onsen Toshimaya! Was an amazing onsen to relax at after the amount of travel to get to Japan & Shima Onsen. Everything about Toshimaya was exceptional-staff, room, onsen & the special ryokan dinner & breakfast. We would highly recommend staying a night or two! The family room was perfect for our family of four. Arigato gozaimasu!

The only complaint was there was not enough places to hang our towels to dry. We kept using our private onsen so the towels were pretty wet.

フロントは日本人のスタッフのみだったのが食事の時は外国人実習生と思われる人のみで、丁寧な接客だったが料理の説明をやっと話せる程度なのでコミュニケーションは取れなかった。ビュッフェではないので会話が出来たらもっと楽しい食事になると思います。日本人スタッフを数人配置してフォローをしたら良いのかと思いました。 お部屋はとてもよく、清掃も綺麗にされていました。ただ、お部屋に温泉があるので扇風機かうちわを部屋に置いていただけるとお風呂上がりに便利だと思います。 とても良いお宿だったのでまた利用したいと思います。ありがとうございました。

The location was beautiful, the onsen were luxurious, and the rooms were lovely. Kaiseki dinners were delicious.

There were a few hidden fees, like an extra cost to get a bed for our daughter made up, and I’ve never before stayed in an onsen ryokan that charged extra to use the private bath. They are also very strict with the check-in times.

施設とサービスがとても良かったです。小さな子供も周りに気を遣うことなく過ごせて、凄く良かったです。

This was a tastefully designed, classy yet friendly ryokan. My room was Japanese traditional with tatami floors. Every item in it was beautifully designed. My own private hinoki bath on the balcony had a breathtaking view of the hillside and stream below, and the entire time I enjoyed the sound of the water flowing. The food was very good, they served a beautiful kaiseki meal that went on forever (it seemed). At the cafe, they served their house blend coffee called Mori-no-coffee which I enjoyed while sitting in one of their comfy chairs with an art book on my lap. The staff was courteous and nice too, it was truly a perfect day.

The place did not have an elevator, so I saw some older/heavier folks struggling.

Beautiful place facing the river Very attentive staffs that makes us feel welcome Place is small enough that you can enjoy the entire outdoor onsen to yourself The private onsen in the room is like icing on the cake

The shima town where the property is quiet and almost felt like it’s deserted, could be a season thing, not entirely sure.

We had a room with a private wooden bath, so we could bathe whenever we desired to! Not only was the room extremely comfortable and quiet, but the service was great too. The person, making sure our stay was as comfortable as possible was very kind to us as well, despite the language barrier. This was our last stop on our Japan Trip and it made the whole trip so much better, being able to hop in a private Onsen whenever! There was also an Additional Onsen you could rent out for an hour for 3000 Yen. It includes two different baths, one indoor and one outdoor and was definitely worth the price. The Food was incredible as well. We arrived by car, our luggage was carried up for us and our car was parked properly, so we really had nothing to worry about other than to find the place and relax our night away! It's a little off the beaten path. I'm not sure if you can reach the hotel easily by Train but it's quite simple with a car if you're confident in driving in Japan. There's a lot of beautiful scenery around too, such as a huge dam at the top of nearby valley, with an adorable little restaurant. I highly recommend the room we had for couples if you would like a romantic evening together!

This is just a personal issue, but I don't like eating large breakfast in the early morning. It was good, but we couldn't finish our meals, since we've been used to waking up at around 9-10 AM ish and only eat like one meal a day.

Toshimaya is a small ryokan, very family and couple oriented. The staffs were all helpful and reliable to help with anything. What makes the experience great was that the view of the river just right beside the Ryokan, even when bathing in Onsens, the outdoor has a nice Snow forest view, along with the calming sound or the river flows. It just make the stay and bathing so much more relaxing and refreshed. I am glad that the staff were able to cater to our late arrival and delay our dinner for half an hour, due to transport troubles during our journey to the hotel. The team even sends a car to pick up our luggage from the bus stop, because the road was having a snow slushie, and it was hard to walk, even though it was just a stone throw away from hotel. Will definately come back again for the stay, it was worth it though its just a night here.

As it is in winter, walking around the Ryokan could be very cold as there is not enuff heater placed around, so do wear some thermal if scared of cold. The Indoor public bath area can get super misty and hard to breathe, in that case just head to the outdoor onsen to enjoy it, with better ventilation and view.

雪の中の露天風呂は最高でした

This was a fabulous overnight trip! I booked on the day and took the highway bus from Tokyo Station to avoid transfers and chill out. I was dropped right out the front of the accommodation where a staff member was unexpectedly waiting to welcome me. I could not fault the service. Staff were so polite and helpful, doing their absolute best to explain things to me when I didn't understand the Japanese signs and such. The rooms are lovely but simple, in-line with Japanese style. The private onsen was so relaxing in the winter chill. You can see the snow on the trees while you soak. The meals were also a whole experience. You wear the provided yukata and get a semi-private space to dine in. At dinner it felt like the courses were never-ending with new dishes coming out one after the other, all immaculately presented. While I was busy eating, a staff member prepared my room for the evening by setting out the futon and the in-room tea set. There were thoughtful little details throughout my stay- could not recommend this place enough! One night was sufficient for me, but if you are driving or coming in a warmer/drier season, you may like to make the most of the hiking trails and neighbouring sights.

The place was beautiful, clean and peaceful. The staffs were really friendly and helpful. The room was spacious, clean with its own open air bath, and a beautiful view. Everything was arranged perfectly and the food was delicious. I will definitely visit this place again.

Nothing, everything was perfect.

Gorgeous room and onsen. Great good and service!!

Nothing…. It’s great!!

お部屋は清潔だし、畳も綺麗でした！部屋の浴室も温泉の黒ずみはありますが、清潔でした。ただ館内はエレベーターがないので、膝の悪い母は移動が少し大変でした。

夫婦2人で泊まらせていただきました。 お部屋は清潔感があり、温泉もとても良かったです。 事前に説明があったので私達は気になりませんでしたが、浴場や食事は下の階にありエレベーターがないので、足腰の悪い方はなるべく下の階の部屋にすると良いと思います。 外国人スタッフが多くおり、たどたどしい部分もありましたが、とても頑張っていて、しっかりしていたので嫌な気持ちにはなりませんでした。 不満は特にありませんが、強いて言えば浴場や部屋の備え付けのドライヤーが安そうな物だったので、もう少しいいやつだったらなーと思いました。

We just checked out after a two night stay at this ryokan and it was absolutely magical. This must be one of the most scenic onsens in all of Japan, and the private baths are heavenly as well. We had our toddler with us and they were very accommodating. Food was delicious. Also the level of service is something we’ve never experienced. They won’t let you lift a finger.

The food was great and so filling that after breakfast we would usually skip lunch because we wouldn't get hungry until dinner. The room was lovely and nice and spacious. The private bath and outdoor shower was a great. We also walked up to the town to explore and the stores had some great souveniers so it was definitely worth wondering around the area as well.

Shima onsen is in a fairly remote location which is part of its benefits as a country escape but it does mean that the travel time is fairly long when visiting to/from Tokyo. There is also limited transport options with a single bus running to and from the train station and no taxis, so you need to be organised to make sure you leave on time.

A rare authentic ryokan.

We booked the room with a private onsen for our honeymoon. We arrived with our rental car and were greeted by the valet whom parked our car. We were then seated to a separate table where a lady (who I assumed is the manager) talked a bit of English and explained the rules (onsens) and times (breakfast and dinner). She then walked us through our room (no elevators btw). The room was a beautiful traditional Japanese Ryokan. It is right next to the flowing river. I wouldn't recommend opening the window though due to the insects. The bathroom is very nice and the shower is outdoors next to the private onsen. The beds on the tatami will be set up for you while you are having dinner. The dinners and breakfasts were delicious and yes very exotic (horse/deer sashimi, boar soup and tiny deep fried crabs). The flavours and portions were abundant. The lovely and friendly lady that served us for dinner explained everything very well and she was a happy personality. Overall, I loved the whole traditional experience and felt very relaxed throughout the stay. Definitely recommend if you are coming here to unwind and eat delicious food.

There was a bit of miscommunication with our luggage. We thought he said he will bring our luggage in our car to our room, but that was not the case. So the hotel driver drove up with us in the hotel car to their parking (like very fast Tokyo drift style haha) and got our luggage. We were fine at the end and he apologized for the confusion. Also, the temp of the onsen water was too hot for use during the day, it was bearable early morning. Maybe it's better during snowy winters.

This was one of my favorite places on my Japan trip! This hotel is isolated so it may not be for everyone. You won't find Conbinis nearby, but my husband and I loved the isolation. The hotel is built right next to the river, so we booked a room with a private onsen inside and we had an amazing river view. They light up the river at night so you can see it as you enjoy your onsen dip. The meals are presented in a traditional Japanese style course which was delicious. I'm also thankful that the staff can speak English. The staff was super friendly and accommodating.

The staff went out of their way to ensure that i had an enjoyable stay. In particular the staff at the dining facility took the time to explain the meals in great detail.

None

Beautiful and excellent service.

This was the first traditional stay we did in Japan. I love how they stayed true to their tradition. The location was perfect for nature lovers. It felt like we were in another world. The private onsens were beautiful. We were greeted with smiles and hospitality, and a young lady who spoke english well guided us with what to do. Thank you so much!

none

Our room was fantastic. Location with out door bath in the room over looking stream was perfect.

Property was beautiful and the staff was very helpful and friendly even though my Japanese is horrible. The breakfast and dinner were delicious. Overall an amazing experience

I had the worst experience of my life at this inn! The proprietress and the president of the ryokan have the absolute worst customer service. Their behavior, language, and everything else is simply terrible. The rooms at this ryokan are not only small and dirty, but they are also incredibly overpriced. What's most shocking is that the president of this inn, Toshimaya, is actually an instructor at a hotel employee etiquette school in the city. He supposedly hires excellent students as staff, but as soon as they start working at his own ryokan in the countryside, they are subjected to horrible power harassment. They are trapped there, unable to escape, and this treatment leads them to become mentally ill and eventually quit. It's like something out of a horror film! Additionally, the cooks are constantly quitting and being replaced, so past reviews praising the food cannot be trusted. This inn does have a lovely riverside hot spring and a beautiful view from the windows. However, every other aspect of this place is awful. It would be better to stay at a different inn, as the neighboring ones also offer riverside hot springs and great views. Moreover, this inn lacks nearby parking. Instead, the staff drives guests' cars to a distant parking lot. Unfortunately, these drives are rough, resulting in dirty and scratched cars. Even when special requests are made in advance, this inn does not fulfill its promises. They may respond saying they agreed to the request, but don't expect them to actually follow through. To top it all off, the boss constantly shouted at the employees, causing his voice to echo throughout the inn. It was an incredibly unpleasant experience.

My husband and I checked out of Toshimaya last week, and it was one of the most incredible experiences we’ve ever had. We had decided to take a break from our Tokyo honeymoon by visiting a more rural area in the mountains, and I was blessed to stumble across Toshimaya. The inn and surrounding area is even more beautiful than photos can convey. Once taking the bus from Nakanojo Station up to Shima Onsen (the trip was much easier than I’d initially anticipated), we walked in and were greeted by the staff. An amazing employee named Yuki introduced us to the inn and went over the basics before she showed us to our room. Yuki is an asset to the team, and she made us feel welcome and at home! We stayed in the Tsuwabuki room due to our need for a private onsen. We have tattoos! The onsen was magnificent, but I especially loved the treeline view as you soak in the hot water. Meals were locally sourced as far as we could tell, and we tried some foods we wouldn’t have normally had the guts to order, like sakura niku. It was fresh and delicious! Breakfast was laid out each morning around 8am, and just as elaborate as dinner! The river that rushes underneath never ceases, and lulls your warm, yukata-wrapped body to sleep as you lie on a comfy futon, after your amazing kaiseki meal. For smokers, the tiny smoking room was very pleasant, continuously kept clean, and located in the lobby. I also want to thank Toshimaya for their kind anniversary gift and their thoughtfulness.

My husband and I checked out of Toshimaya last week, and it was one of the most incredible experiences we’ve ever had. We had decided to take a break from our Tokyo honeymoon by checking out a more rural area in the mountains, and I was lucky enough to stumble across Toshimaya. The pictures looked too good to be true, but once we were there, it was even more beautiful than photos can convey. Once taking the bus from Nakanojo Station up to Shima Onsen (the whole trip was much easier than I’d initially anticipated), we walked into the ryokan and were greeted by the staff. An amazing employee named Yuki introduced us to the inn and went over the basics before she showed us to the Japanese-style Tsuwabuki room. Yuki is an asset to the Toshimaya team, and she made us feel so welcome and at home! The rooms were clean and smelled very good! The views of the river are gorgeous and you can crack the window if you'd like a breeze or more of the beautiful river sounds. The futons that were laid out while we ate dinner downstairs were very comfortable. The tatami floor mats feel so good under your socked feet after a long onsen soak. We also had a humidifier in our room. A beautiful tea set is provided, along with a hot water kettle, and all the tea you can drink. There's a TV in the room with basic cable, but we never used it as we were preoccupied with soaking, sleep, and the occasional reading of a book. Wifi is of course available! In the dresser, you'll find your yukata (in a Shima Blue shade), jacket, and a fresh pair of socks. The yukata was so soft and relaxing, I almost offered to buy it. As we have tattoos, it was important for us to have an onsen in our room. The onsen tub here was magnificent, but even more so, the trees by the river that you view as you soak.The river rushing underneath never ceases, and lulls you to sleep on your futon after your delicious kaiseki meal. For smokers, the tiny smoking room was very pleasant, continuously kept clean, and located in the lobby. Kaiseki is served at the bottom level of the inn and you are assigned a table for the duration of your stay. The employees bring out each course and explain what everything is. If you would like something to drink, please ask the employee. We were served an array of sashimi, lots of local fish, the most amazing and rich broths and miso, many local vegetables boiled and steamed, fresh hot rice, fruity desserts, pickles, konnyaku, etc. Westerners should be adventurous, as this is a great way to try delicious and traditional Japanese food. Everything was locally sourced as far as we could tell, and we tried some foods we wouldn’t have normally had the guts to order, like horse sashimi. It was fresh and delicious! Breakfast was laid out each morning around 8am, and equally as delicious as dinner. We had one full day there and went to check out the town of Shima Onsen, which was absolutely charming. We tired ourselves out shopping for souvenirs, eating the most amazing udon, photographing the nearby bathhouse that inspired Spirited Away, drinking with other guests at the nearby convenience store, learning about the local legend of Princess Maya, praying at the shrine, and marveling at the river and waterfalls. There is nothing like taking a late afternoon soak in the tub and putting on that comfy yukata afterwards. For folks worried or complaining about bugs, you’ve got to remember that you’re in nature out there. We had to help a stink bug escape our bathroom, but we’re sure he was very grateful for the assistance. It did not detract from our experience at all. If you don’t book at Toshimaya, you’re missing out. This was a vacation that I’ll remember for the rest of my life! We hope to come back one day! I also want to thank Toshimaya for the kind anniversary gift they bestowed upon us at dinner. They gifted us a gorgeous set of chopsticks, which Yuki deemed lucky, and we agreed. Thank you for the thoughtfulness. We will cherish our lucky Toshimaya chopsticks forever!

Very authentic experience with wonderful dinner and breakfast. The staff was very friendly.

Traditional ryokan in beautiful surroundings. Private bath on the terrace, nice view. Amazing food. Good Onsen with river view

Everything was good!

Toshimaya was beautiful and we really enjoyed our 2 night stay with half board (breakfast and dinner). we booked a room with a private timber onsen bath which was outdoors, under a roof and absolutely amazing. the two basement communal onsen were also beautiful and located right next to a mountain river that made a constant sound as it flowed over a waterfall right in front of the hotel. the across to the hillside was very picturesque despite most of the snow having melted when we were there. absolutely get the half board breakfast and dinner. these were a definite highlight of our trip to Japan. very traditional with some delicacies that I imagine are a bit less common nowadays. the tatami room with big window to the hillside was mesmerising. a beautiful hotel with very friendly staff.

the hotel common areas could do with a fresh lick of paint in areas like the skirtings and some of the walls. some of the dishes in the set dinner were a bit “controversial” for us (soft shell turtle and raw horse sashimi anyone?)

The room with the private bath looking at the river was amazing. We had an exceptional Japanese style accommodation. Breakfast and dinner were satisfying and delicious. The staff was very friendly. We had a great time at this onsen hotel.

Nothing.

Incredibly comfortable, the onsen was great, the atmosphere was class rustic Japan, the meals were superb, and the beer was cheap, delicious and readily available

The private onsen had some gaps in areas where you could see some of the other onsens. The pillows were a little uncomfortable

Fantastic food, staff, and facilities.

Great highrise riverside ryokan furnished with good taste of traditional interior. Much better than many ryokans of this type which use cheaper artificial materials. The private onsen was fabulous and met our expectation.

Although the private onsen was the main reason we picked this Ryokan, the public riverside onsens were a little smaller than expected. But at some selected hours they were still very good to enjoy onsen next to river (just need to avoid peak hours going with the crowd)

Wonderful stay at this Ryokan. Staff was very friendly and our kids loved it so much they wanted to come back as soon as possible. Dinner and breakfast was also delicious. Would definitely return in the future.

Dinner was incredible.

Booked a room with private bath through Booking, but got a room without. Big let down on my honeymoon. Received an extra hour in private onsen comped, but really would have preferred the in-room tub I booked.

Staff were exceptional in the Ryokan, they looked after us from start to finish! We really enjoyed our time in the private onsen being able to relax surrounded by the sound of the river next to the baths and the dinner which followed was amazing!

The staff was amazing and the food was incredible! A beautiful stay in Shima Onsen.

Everything was amazing

お食事　味、量ともに最高でした。 温泉もとても良く何度も入らせてもらいました。 接客もとても良かったです。 気になった点はエレベーターがない点と朝食の白米がイマイチだった所です。