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Customer Reviews: What did customers like about Shimaya Ryokan?
Displaying 1-30 of 54 comments
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 A really affordable ryokan with classical japanese rooms and a nice bath. The owner was really commited to customer satisfaction, offering advice on our plans. His english was good even if it was a bit limited. He had a binder full of comments from previous guests and a dedication to make up for it though. He even brought us to the monkey park and to a Sake destillery, drove us there and was only a phone call away. We loved our stay there.
11 November 2008
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Mr. Yumoto has his heart on the right spot. He wants to make everybody happy! I love that. I felt really welcome!
5 November 2008
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the owner is very friendly.He recommends you what to do e.g perfect hiking trip to the mountains.He takes you to the monkey park, even to outdoor onsen bath.
14 October 2008
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The room, japanese style, is very cute. Ichirou, the owner of the hostel is friendly and helpful, he can recommend you best places around to drop by.
2 October 2008
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Two of us stayed at Shimaya Ryokan for two nights at the end of September 2009. It was a fantastic experience. The owners were extremely welcoming and friendly. Mr Yumoto has a wealth of tourist information available at the hostel (plus free internet) which he is more than happy to take you through, and he will offer invaluable advice on places to visit during your stay and good places to eat locally. There is an excellent onsen (traditional Japanese hot spring bath) at the hostel which we were free to use privately whenever we wanted. It's an excellent way to finish the day after a long journey or walk in the mountains! The traditional tatami rooms were fantastic - clean and comfortable. Mr Yumoto drove us to the monkey park and then gave us details on where to take the local bus up into the mountains for walks once we had finished with the monkeys. The place is really beautiful and definitely worth a visit - it's only two hours or so from Tokyo by train. There are plenty of restaurants in the area all offering good food at great prices (we followed Mr Yamoto's recommendations and he was spot on) and Shimaya offers a fantastic breakfast; a choice of Western or Japanese. All in all an excellent two nights seeing a very different side of Japan. Our thanks go out to our excellent hosts.
29 September 2008
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Mr. Yumoto and his family are great, very helpfull and kind.
He drove me to the monkeypark, Great Fortune Kannon and trainstation and gave me good traveladvice. The rooms are perfect, comfortable and clean and the onsen is a great bonus! I would stay here again.
26 September 2008
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First, the traditional concept of the Ryokan : Big quiet rooms, green tea, personal washrooms and on-sen bath available 24-7, japanese breakfast and availability of the staff. Mr Yamuto's connections around the neighborhood will make your stay even more enjoyable.
Second, the fact that Yamuto-san & familly make every effort possible to accomodate patrons. Friendliness of the staff comes as a natural thing.
Third, having the monkey park, hicking trails and outdoor onsen baths at close range (Yamuto-san will actually give you a ride to theses places) makes it even more enjoyable.
20 September 2008
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The owner was kindly gave us a ride to the station in early morning. And the automated piano in the dining rooms is incredible
4 August 2008
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Absolutely the landlord who was a really helpful and nice man. He drove us around in the mountais and taught me kanji ^^ The japanese bath (ofurou) was also great and the rooms where clean.
10 July 2008
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everything, especially the owner, mr. Yumoto-San!
11 June 2008
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We loved the rooms and the baths.
2 June 2008
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Owner, Yumoto-san, is incredibly friendly, helpful and available. The dinner, available upon request, was excellent, though not cheap. The lodging was an exceptional value.
19 May 2008
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The owner is a friendly guy if a little pushy
23 April 2008
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First of all the kindness of the staff!! Incredibly friendly and helpfull.
I would like to recommend this hostel to everyone. They drove us up all the way to the monkey park and picked us up. As well to the train station. The hot tubs are nice!
21 April 2008
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Very friendly owner, who picked us up from station on arrival and also took us to monkey park and collected us afterwards. Fantastic onsen and a hearty breakfast.
14 April 2008
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The owner was extremely helpful. He drove he to the monkey park and then picked us up later on. He also drove us to the train station when we left as well. The rooms were lovely, very traditional japanese.
14 April 2008
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It was like home, so quite, comfortable and friendly. I loved the location near good restaurants and the hostel had a fabulous dinner that no one should miss...for an american it was heaven. I was going to stay one day but extended to another night. Thank you for all your hard work. Carole Jicha
12 April 2008
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Yumato-san and his lovely wife couldn t do enough to make us comfortable. A little attempt at communication was greeted with great politeness and pleasure and we left feeling like we had made friends and been honoured guests. The room was large by Japanese standards we had experienced and clean. The onsen in the hotel was wonderful and it was possible for us to book private use - as did a family who were staying there too.
We had a full Japanese breakfast for 1300yen which was wonderful - very fresh and beautifully presented. We also had a light breakfast for 800 yen which was in fact very substantial. Our hosts provided transport to and from the walking point to the Monkey Park and to other places around town. Lots of places to eat close by and Yumoto also ahd lots of suggestions on what to see in the area. We went to Obuse at his suggestion and had a lovely day visiting the Hokusai museum and wandering around, A more traditional experience than the rest of our trip so far and for us a treat.
10 April 2008
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Perfect for those seeking an accessible Japanese experience. This modern ryokan with retro quirks is well run by the friendly owners, who will load you up with things to do in sleepy Yudanaka. A great getaway from the hubbub of Tokyo - highly recommended.
6 April 2008
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The owners are absolutely brilliant - Attentive, kind and always ready to help. And help you they will, with advice on places to see and lifts to the monkey park. Mr Yumoto and his wife are possibly the best hosts you will ever experience on your travels. The accommodation itself is great value for money and the way everything is laid out makes your stay feel authetically Japanese. I particularly liked the free internet service and the spa (although you might have to put a bit of cold water in there first!). In terms of things to do, the monkey park is great and Obuse is well worth a morning/afternoon too. Check out the brilliant Hokusai museum if you`re into art/design. All in all, I can`t recommend this place enough. It`s a matter of time before Lonely Planet takes notice - Get in there quick!
6 April 2008
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Helpfulness of the owner
24 March 2008
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The owners were lovely. They do an amazing Japanese style breakfast. They also drove us and dropped us off anywhere we needed to go anytime including the monkeys, train station etc
17 March 2008
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The owner Mr Yamotoe is a great host. He and his wife did evrything in there power to make our stay enjoyable. He even drove us to the ski fields and picked us up at the end of the day. The private onsen was fantastic and free internet very heplfull. I highly recommend staying here.
14 March 2008
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Staff.
13 March 2008
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It's friendly atmosphere and the traditional nature of the hotel. The owner was particularly helpful and went out of his way to ensure our needs were met. He took us to the local monkey sanctuary for free, collected us and then took us to other local sites. He then took us to the station on the day of departure. The family onsen was also a bonus. The breakfast was excellent. It was a quite location approximately 10 minute walk from the station, up hill. It was ideal for visiting local sites, there were restaurants close by. Not a place for night life and partying but excellent for soaking up traditional Japan. My daughter has already been back with her friends.
25 February 2008
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The owner/operator is amazing. Everyone says this about Shimaya, but it can't be emphasized enough. He went out of his way to set up an unbelievable day for my partner and I. We don't speak much Japanese so he arranged for us (and drove us to in blizzard-like conditions) a visit to the Monkey Park (amazing!), a tasting at a sake brewery (again, wonderful experience) and a private outdoor onsen in the snow. Words cannot do justice to our experience here. At the risk of it being totally booked up when I want to come next, if you have a chance stay!
25 February 2008
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The host was very accomadating and offered a lot of advice on sights and activities!!! He even goes out of his way to drive you to the Monkey Park for free! Really nice and friendly !! I cant say enough about the help he provided, just excellent, it is always the little things that impress the most!!!
20 February 2008
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Simply the best accomodation I have stayed at anywhere in the world. Read on!
The room had two sitting areas, two futon beds with all the doonas and blankets you could need, and an electric mattress to keep you warm during those cold yudanaka nights! As well as that we had a fridge, TV, our own bathroom and shower, and plenty or space to store our bags and coats. This sort of accomodation is unheard of for that price. Even if you have been staying in very cheap hostels, this place is worth the splurge as it's not just accomodation, it's really an experience! Plus the money you save on the services provided makes it worth it anyway!
The Ryokan has its own onsen, which can easily be set aside for your own use, and it's very nice and relaxing. Onsen clothing and towels are all provided!
But the best thing about this Ryokan is Yumoto-san and his lovely wife, who happily drive guests to and from all the local attractions and to the station and back when need be. Their restaurant and sightseeing recommendations were brilliant, and they did everything they could to make not just out stay in the Ryokan brilliant, but in the town of Yudanaka as well. Japan is the land of brilliant service, and this ryokan has the best I've seen anywhere.
Cannot recommend highly enough.
1 February 2008
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Yumoto-san and his wife are the loveliest and most helpful people, our stay here was one of the highlights of our trip.
30 January 2008
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Very friendly and helpful owners who will go out of their way to help their guests. Happy to drive you to the train station (5 mins walk) or to the Snow Monkey Park. An absolute must see.
Excellent meals especially breakfast.
We stayed in a Japanese style room and loved it. Our first visit to an Onsen and appreciated the ability to have a private bath Japanese style.
Highly recommended.
21 January 2008
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