Hoshino Resorts KAI Kinugawa

First of all, when we arrived, there wasn’t anyone to greet us or help with the luggage. When taking the cable car, we also didn’t see any staff available for assistance. At check-in, some of our group members were feeling unwell and asked if we could have dinner a bit later, but the hotel said no — so we felt it was a bit inflexible. The room itself was fine, but the open-air bath wasn’t quite warm enough and the space felt a bit small. The water in the public bath could also have been warmer. During dinner, we would have appreciated more explanation about the dishes. A few of our group don’t eat eel, and we had informed the hotel in advance, but unfortunately no alternative was offered — we were just told that vegetarian options were available if we didn’t eat eel. The dishes themselves weren’t as refined as we expected; we’ve stayed at three Kai resorts before, and most of the time the meals were hot pot. At the self-service tea and coffee counter, only powdered milk was provided — fresh milk would be a nice addition. The cultural activities were fine, though mostly in Japanese; it would be great if more English could be used where possible. Overall, at this price point, the value for money doesn’t feel very high. There are many hot springs in Akita, Saga, Ishikawa, Gifu, Kagawa, etc., that are more upmarket and charge around the same price. We’re sharing this in the hope that things can be improved in the future.

Really nice hotel. The onsen was wonderful, and I enjoyed the nighttime activities—especially learning about ‘益子燒’.

Nestled along the shores of Lake Chuzenji, some rooms offer breathtaking views of the lake and the majestic Mount Nantai. The Japanese-style rooms are spacious, featuring tatami flooring, scenic areas, and comfortable beds, perfect for enjoying the beautiful autumn leaves! A special thanks to the two staff members, Lisz and Yuka, for their excellent service and fluent English in introducing each dish. They were truly professional!