Miyamaouanbekkan yumegurinoyado hirayukan

We stayed in a second-floor room at Sianyuezhuang, which had a private bathroom. The smart toilet and sink were separated and located on opposite sides of the bedroom. To get to the hot springs, you just take the stairs down and walk through the wellness center—very convenient. We booked the half-board plan (dinner and breakfast included). Perhaps because it's located in the mountains, the buffet variety wasn't quite as extensive as those at other ryokans we've stayed at (like in Shirahama, Nachi, Amakusa, or Yufuin), nor did they offer the exquisite set menu options available at those places. On the positive side, they offer a complimentary daily shuttle bus to Kamikochi. However, the front desk didn't mention this proactively upon check-in; we only found out by asking. The bus departs at 9:00 AM, and the return trip picks up at 1:00 PM from the Kamikochi Visitor Center parking lot near Kappa Bridge. If you want to go hiking, we recommend booking a one-way trip, getting off at Taisho Pond, and walking the trail all the way back. For the return journey in the afternoon, you can catch the bus back to the Hirayu Onsen bus stop from the Kamikochi Visitor Center, and the hotel is just a two-minute walk from there.

Hirayu-kan is conveniently located close to the bus stop, making it very easy to get to Kamikochi. The rooms are quite spacious, and both breakfast and dinner are buffet style with a good variety of dishes. There are both indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, which are very relaxing.

The hot spring and massage chairs were fantastic, and the popsicles were delicious. Both the breakfast and dinner offered great value for money. I'd definitely consider staying here again next time. You can also really tell the difference with this hot spring. The hotel's courtyard is beautiful and great for photos, and it's very convenient for visiting Kamikochi.

The hotel's location is excellent, very close to the bus station. The hot springs are great, and the food is decent. The room is spacious enough. They offer complimentary tea, snacks, and ramen during limited hours, which is a nice touch. I'd recommend staying here, though the check-in process at the front desk was a bit slow, and I had to wait for quite a while.

The room's cleanliness was quite subpar. There was a lot of lint behind the nightstands, and after the rain, the room was full of dead mosquitoes and even some other bugs. We booked a room in the annex, and to get to the 3rd floor, we had to take the elevator to the 2nd floor, walk to the end, and then climb stairs. We had to carry our luggage ourselves. The main issue was the hotel's indoor slippers – they were huge and uncomfortable, and I almost fell carrying my luggage while wearing them. It was quite dangerous.

The outdoor hot springs are huge. I woke up late this time and missed the hot springs on the second floor. The male and female baths switch daily, and there are free popsicles. This time, I booked a room with breakfast and dinner. Dinner was a buffet, including a beef hot pot. It's very convenient as a stopover for Kamikochi, only half an hour away.

Very good, with a touch of ancient charm. The staff inside were also very friendly, making for a great experience. I'm not sure if it's because of the hot spring or something else, but there was a woody scent in the room.