Takisenkaku Iwamatsu Ryokan

The reception staff at check-in were pleasant and efficient. The Room key has a large tag with the room number, so it’s unlikely to be lost, but it’s inconvenient to carry around. I would prefer a card key. To reach the outdoor bath, you have to go down a long staircase. It has a nice atmosphere, but I don’t think it would be suitable for elderly guests. Depending on the time of day, it can also feel a bit scary if no one else is there. With warnings to watch out for bears, it feels even more risky—almost like a small adventure. The outdoor bath changing area has only one sink and just two hair dryers, which felt insufficient. Amenities are minimal both in the Room and in the changing area. It seems they are focused on operational efficiency. The meals offered a wide variety, and everything I tried was delicious. Beef tongue, steak, and tempura were prepared by chefs behind the counter, but they were kept warm after being made in advance—so you can enjoy the upscale presentation at least. It was buffet-style: guests receive only chopsticks, with no knives, forks, or spoons provided; however, all dishes were bite-sized so it wasn’t inconvenient. Each table also had its own tabletop stove, which was nice. There was also a wide selection of desserts to enjoy. Meal times are divided into groups so that guests don’t linger in the dining hall and overlap with the next group; as part of this effort to prevent crowding, coffee and alcohol are provided free of charge in the lounge instead. I think this is a great idea. I would have liked to see hot drinks such as green tea (sencha), roasted green tea (hojicha), or rooibos tea available in the lounge as well. I was disappointed that we had to clear our own dishes after eating. Considering we paid a reasonable accommodation fee, I was surprised it was like a restaurant chain system. The building is very well maintained and clean throughout; we were able to relax comfortably in our clean Room . Soundproofing was good too—I wasn’t bothered by outside noise at all—and having an air purifier made it even more comfortable。 In particular，the Onsen water quality was excellent，and I’d like to visit again。 Thank you for your hospitality。

Solo female traveler, late 50s, and a big fan of Onsen. Thank you for the wonderful stay recently. The satisfaction level was incredibly high for the price. Upon entering the Ryokan, there was a spacious lounge area, and when I arrived at my Room, it felt like new construction—everything from the toilet to the bed and sofa was brand new and impeccably clean. I especially loved that you could enjoy ice-cold Asahi Super Dry draft beer in the lounge until midnight. The meals were also fantastic; dinner included Sendai's specialty beef tongue, steak, sashimi, and more. Breakfast featured options like "nokke-don," which were plentiful and delicious. It was great to enjoy free activities like table tennis and karaoke as well! The bath had slightly hotter water than expected but offered an outdoor Onsen with a nostalgic charm reminiscent of the old Iwamatsu Ryokan—truly atmospheric with excellent water quality. Once again, I must say it exceeded expectations for its price point!