Back to hotels in Nozawa Onsen

Kiriya Ryokan

8714-2 Oaza Toyosato, Nozawa Onsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun, Nozawaonsen, Japan
 Scout Verified - We've been here!
 Scout Verified

Scout loves

  • This old-style Japanese ryokan fits perfectly with the charm of historic Nozawa Onsen.
  • Every guest receives personal attention from the owner, Ko.
  • There is a magical garden area with snow-covered rocks surrounding a fishpond.
  • Dinner here is worth experiencing. It features a Japanese style of cooking called Kaiseki.
  • The owner's five cats have free reign of the lobby area and are very friendly. 

Scout tips

  • English TV is not available.
  • There is a free washer and dryer as well as a drying room for ski clothes.
  • Wi-Fi is free in the lounge area and it’s available in the rooms for a charge.
  • Respect and follow the instructions for when your dinner will be available. Drinks are usually ordered ahead of time.
  • The Ryokan has a curfew of 11pm. 
  • Like many Japanese hotels, parts of the building are showing signs of wear and tear.
  • Kiriya Ryokan is a very authentic Japanese experience which may pose challenges to some travellers. Read our story about Staying in a Japanese hotel.
  • We don't reccomend staying here if you are allergic to cats!

SCOUT REVIEW

Stepping in to Kiriya Ryokan is like stepping back in time. Steeped in tradition, it’s like a ryokan straight out of Kyoto – except luckily for us skiers it’s located right in the heart of Nozawa Onsen village.

Expertly run by Ko (who speaks fluent English) and her husband, the business has been in the family for 130 years. The oldest part of the current building structure is 70 years old.

Ko and her family offer a highly personalized service that makes it feel like you’re a guest in their home, rather than a hotel guest. You can even have a snuggle with one of their five cats that loll about in the lobby or the "cat lounge" The website has a full profile of each cat (they are all rescue cats) and they have "healing" benefits. 

Breakfast is included in the rate and it includes a choice of Japanese or Western dishes. You also have the option of having dinner at the ryokan – consisting of an exceptionally delicious Japanese banquet (Western-style options may be available in the future). 

There are just 15 rooms at Kiriya Ryokan, each furnished in the traditional Japanese style with tatami mats and futon beds (although these is one Western option). The traditional and some standard rooms do not have showers – guests use the onsen to bathe. Additionally, the hotel is within easy reach of some of Nozawa’s great public onsen.

We especially love the corner rooms that have gorgeous views of gardens covered in fluffy snow – it’s incredibly peaceful.

One thing about Kiriya Ryokan is that will be hard to leave and go back to normal hotels. You will definitely miss Ko’s hospitality, the fine food, the comfy futons and, of course, the cats.

Who should stay here

Kiriya Ryokan in Nozawa Onsen is perfect for those who wish to have a very traditional Japanese ryokan experience. The garden view rooms are particularly romantic.

Available: This selection is currently available for this price. Once you submit an inquiry our agents will confirm your booking via email and send you an invoice for a deposit. You will need to pay a 25% deposit within 7 days (unless otherwise specified) to secure the booking.

On Request: Our agents need to confirm availability of this room. Once you submit a request we will endeavour to get back to you by the next business day to confirm availability (some properties may take longer). If prices are listed they are the exact prices for your dates, room selection and room occupancy. Where prices are not listed we will confirm the price when we confirm availability. In either instance, you are not committed to your selection until after we confirm availability and price. Once you agree to that confirmation, you will be sent an invoice and will need to pay a 25% deposit within 7 days (unless otherwise specified) to secure the booking. If your requested room is not available, we will present alternative options.

Share with a friend

Send a link to this page to a friend. The email addresses you enter will not be stored or used by us in any way.

Loading

Looking for something different? We can find exactly what you need.
Contact us by phone or fill out this simple form.

We've been there. We're here to help.

We've been there. We're here to help.

Chat

Stay ahead with Scout

Subscribe to the Scout newsletter - a regular roundup of news from the slopes and magazine articles.

Due to the current uncertainty of future travel surrounding COVID 19, our regular T&Cs are overridden by individual supplier cancellation policies. We will clearly communicate all cancellation policies prior to confirming any booking, so you can be confident with your plans and book risk free.

Clear Dates
Clear Dates
Clear Dates
Clear Dates