We chose to stay at Jinpyokaku Ryokan as it was just a few minutes walk to the Jigokudani Monkey Park trailhead.  Although our main motivation in visiting the area was to view the famous Japanese snow monkeys, this Japanese style ryokan turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.

Location

Jinpyokaku is located in Kambayashi Onsen.  It is a great place for anyone planning to visit the Japanese snow monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park- it is one of the closest ryokan to the park.

Review Jinpyokaku Ryokan

There is not much in the immediate vicinity.  For food and snack, your options are one street vending machine and one restaurant, Enza Café.

Pickup and Check in

Jinpyokaku is a 10-15 drive from the Yudanaka train station.  Pickup and drop off is included in the room rate so a driver was waiting for us at the train station.  We asked him if it would be possible to stop at a nearby convenience store to stock up on some supplies and he happily obliged.  Although we didn’t really need it, we thought it was a nice gesture that he kept pulling out a step stool to help us in and out of the van.

Jinpyokaku Ryokan Kanbayashi Onsen Japan

When we arrived to the ryokan, our host was waiting outside to greet us.  She took us straight to our room instead of reception for check-in and invited us to sit at a low table.  We were not asked for a credit card as payment would be collected at the end.

Our host served tea and Japanese sweets while giving us a mini orientation.  She explained to us the proper way to wear a yukata (Japanese cotton robe) and arranged a time to return and escort us to dinner.

Jinpyokaku ryokan review

Room

Our room was a Japanese style room.  The beds were futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor.

jinpyokaku ryokan review snow monkeys

Although they called it a room, our accommodations were more like an apartment.

There is an unheated entryway as soon as you enter.  We were instructed to leave our shoes in this hallway and wear slippers for the rest of our stay.

jinpyokaku ryokan review

From the hallway, there are two doors: one for the living and sleeping rooms and one for the bathroom.

The bathroom was divided into three smaller rooms: one for the sink, one for the toilet and one for our own private onsen.

Several toiletries and a hairdryer were provided in the bathroom area.

Review Jinpyokaku Ryokan

In addition to our private in-room onsen (see photo below), the ryokan offered public single and mixed gender baths.

Staying at Jinpyokaku ryokan in Japan review onsen

The front room in the living quarters seemed to be more of a “get ready” room.  It contained yukatas, jackets, socks, another hairdryer and a mirror.

jinpyokaku ryokan review

There was a large closet to store the futons when not in use.

review of jinpyokaku ryokan near the snow monkeys

A sliding door led to the main room.  The main room is used for sleeping, sitting or watching TV.

reviews of jinpyokaku ryokan in Kambayashi Onsen, Japan

The low tables and chairs were surprisingly comfortable.  A heater is hidden under the table to keep legs toasty.

review of my jjapanese ryokan experience

Futons are set up on the floor for sleeping.  The host really thought of everything- even a hot water bottle was tucked in the covers.

Should i stay in a ryokan? jinpyokaku ryokan review

The staff sneaks in to set up the futons when guests are at dinner and stores them in the closet during breakfast.  So, if anyone likes to nap between breakfast and dinner, you probably need to make a special request.

Even though the ryokan was very traditional, the room included modern amenities: a flat-screen TV, refrigerator and free wi-fi.

Review Jinpyokaku Ryokan

Postcards, dvds and a manual about etiquette were handy.

Jinpyokaku ryokan review

jinpyokaku ryokan review

jinpyokaku ryokan reviews

Food

As in most ryokans, breakfast and dinner were included in the room rate.  Both meals were served in our own private dining room located in a separate building.

Our host met us at our room the first day to escort us to the building and to take a photo of us in our yukata.

After each meal, we would arrange the time for our next meal.  Staff would call 5 minutes before the time as a reminder.

Meals were Kaiseki ryori.  The delicious (really delicious) homemade food was prepared with fresh seasonal and local ingredients.

Kaiseki ryori dinner Japanese ryokan in Yudanaka

dinner was included in the price of our yudanaka ryokan

ryokan near Yudanaka

ryokan near yudanaka

Jinpyokaku Ryokan Kaiseki

Ambience and Service

The snow-covered grounds of the ryokan were beautiful.

yudanaka ryokan

Guests must walk between buildings to get from the room to anywhere else, including the public onsens and dining rooms.  The yukata and jacket were not warm enough for the outdoors but fortunately everything was just a minute away.

yudanaka ryokan

There were only six rooms so the ryokan felt very private.  We read in online reviews that most guests are Japanese- that seemed to be the case during our stay.

The staff spoke enough English to communicate with us.  They were really warm, attentive and discreet- the ideal mix between privacy and great service.

When it was time to check out they presented us with parting gifts: photos of us in yukatas from the first night and souvenir keychains.

Our stay at Jinpyokaku was one of the highlights of this trip- we were sad to leave.  This ryokan was in a great location to visit the snow monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park, the service was impeccable and the surrounding area beautiful.  Great place for a luxurious retreat.

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Click here to read more about what to expect when staying at a traditional Japanese ryokan.

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Index (rest of series):
Brunei, Singapore and Japan: Planning and Booking
Review: United Global First Lounge – Chicago O’Hare
Review: United Global First, ORD – NRT
Review: United Global First Lounge – Tokyo Narita
Review: United Global First, NRT – SIN
Review: Singapore Airlines Economy Class, SIN – BWN
Review: Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam (Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei)
Things To Do In Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Review: Royal Brunei Airlines Sky Lounge – Brunei International Airport
Review:  Singapore Airlines Business Class, BWN – SIN
Eating Like a Local in Singapore
Review: Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road, Singapore
Thaipusam In Singapore: Piercings and Hooks and Skewers, Oh My!
Review: Singapore Airlines The Private Room…You Weren’t Very Private
Review: Singapore Airlines Suites, SIN – PVG…Slumber Party In The Sky
Review: Air China Business Class Lounge – Shanghai Pudong
Flight Review: ANA, All Nippon Airways – Business Class, PVG -NRT
Visiting the Snow Monkeys of Japan
Jinpyokaku Ryokan (Kambayashi Onsen, Japan) (this post)
Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge – Tokyo Narita
Japan Airlines (JAL) First Class Lounge – Tokyo Narita
American Airlines AAdmirals Club Lounge – Tokyo Narita
American Airlines First Class, NRT – ORD

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