I stayed at Hotel Kitano-ya near Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture. The room had a private hot spring, giving a great sense of privacy. The room was spacious and comfortable. Highly recommended for a stay. The dinner course was mainly crab. It included crab sashimi, steamed abalone, yellowtail shabu-shabu, simmered blackthroat seaperch, charcoal-grilled Japanese black beef, and the main dish was grilled crab cooked right in front of you on charcoal! It was quite a large portion, almost too much to eat. The breakfast was also generous, including charcoal-grilled Japanese beef. At the front desk, there were free take-out coffee services available to bring to your room, making it a very relaxing place to stay!

Hotel Kitano-ya @ Kyoto Amanohashidate Accommodation fee: ¥17,050~ per person From November 6th, this year's Matsubagani crab fishing season has started! We stayed at the inn to enjoy the crab. The crab plan is available from November to March only. It's a luxurious plan where you can enjoy Matsubagani crab in a full course meal. You can have the crab in various cooking styles such as sashimi, hot pot, grilled, steamed, tempura, boiled, porridge, etc., with about 1.7 servings per person. The rooms were recently renovated in early November and were very clean. Amanohashidate is one of Japan's three scenic views with a beautiful landscape, making it a recommended travel destination. On this day, we chose the plan: "Last year's winter, No. 1 popular plan at our inn" Crab Full Course. We stayed in a Japanese-Western style room with a view of Amanohashidate for ¥48,400 per person.

I visited on September 1st (Thursday). It is a 7-minute walk from Amanohashidate Station, but they kindly picked me up with a shuttle bus because it was raining. The room was modern with low beds, a balcony with wooden chairs, and a cute open-air bath with a small roof, so I could enjoy it even in light rain. For dinner, they served warm dishes one by one, with a gentle taste that brought out the flavors of local ingredients. It's great that even solo travelers can stay here.

A family of three went on a trip to Amanohashidate. They checked into the Hotel Kitano-ya, which is located on a hill overlooking Amanohashidate, and enjoyed the hot springs. The room came with a spacious and comfortable outdoor bath. The highlight of the trip was the luxurious dinner that awaited them after their soak in the hot springs. The dinner included a Matsuba crab and amberjack shabu-shabu course. The goal of the trip was to enjoy the hot springs and gourmet food, so they were excited to try the amberjack shabu-shabu, as well as enjoy the last crab of the season. The dinner was elaborate and delicious, with dishes like crab tofu, assorted fresh fish, boiled crab, chawanmushi, amberjack shabu-shabu, stone-grilled special beef steak, and seasonal tempura. They were too full to finish the crab rice and soup that followed, but the staff kindly offered to bring the dessert to their room. The dessert consisted of strawberry ice cream and mandarin orange jelly, which they enjoyed despite being full. Overall, they had a delightful and satisfying dining experience.

I visited at the very end of the crab season. I tried the crab course menu, which included crab sashimi and the incredibly rich and delicious crab miso tofu. I enjoyed the grilled, boiled, hot pot, and tempura crab dishes. The boiled crab, in particular, had a strong sweetness that was very tasty. The final crab porridge made with crab broth was dangerously delicious and I couldn't stop eating it. I often visit in the summer, but the dishes during this season are truly delicious. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

When traveling to local gourmet spots, it can be a bit difficult to find accommodations other than business hotels. This was the case when I visited the Tango region in northern Kyoto Prefecture. While there are plenty of ryokans available, most of them offer full board plans. Especially during the winter season with abundant seasonal menus like crab and yellowtail, ryokans make good profits. Only full board plans were available. It can feel a bit lonely returning to a business hotel after enjoying a meal at a Japanese restaurant. I wanted to stay at a hot spring ryokan if possible, and that's when I came across "Kitanoya" inn. Located on a slightly elevated area a 10-minute walk from JR Amanohashidate Station (with shuttle service available), this casual hot spring inn offers a view of Amanohashidate, although not with the best scenery due to the road in between. They had a one-night stay with breakfast included, so I stayed here for two nights. The large communal bath includes indoor and outdoor baths. The garden bath is quite nice, with rock and round baths adding to the atmosphere. I stayed in room 217, which had a private outdoor bath on the balcony. The indoor bath was small and not inviting, but the self-fill outdoor bath did not get warm due to the cold season. When I mentioned this to the front desk, they offered a complimentary private outdoor bath named "Genbu no Yu," which was fantastic. It had a terrace and a hinoki cypress-scented tub that could fit three people. Breakfast is served in a large hall-like area for groups, lacking privacy, but the food was surprisingly good. Grilled mackerel with pickled vegetables, black chikuwa from Miyazu, and vegetable tempura (onion) were served. There was also hot tofu, squid sashimi, homemade bonito flakes, and clam miso soup. On the second day, breakfast featured sukiyaki-style pot with Tajima beef. In the end, choosing this inn was the right decision. The staff's hospitality exceeded that of a casual inn, making me feel well taken care of.

Hotel Kitano-ya is a casual hot spring inn located on a small hill, just a 10-minute walk from Amanohashidate. All rooms offer a view of Amanohashidate, which runs in a straight line, and the inn boasts open-air garden baths and private outdoor baths. I stayed in a Japanese-Western style room with a wood deck that overlooks Amanohashidate. The room has a 6-tatami mat Japanese-style room and a raised bed space. Since there were three of us, the room felt a bit cramped after laying out an extra futon. The room's outdoor bath was out of order during my stay, but we were able to use the private outdoor bath "Genbu no Yu" for free instead. The bath was spacious and had a nice temperature, with a beautiful bath made of granite. The bath also had a terrace where you could enjoy the view of Amanohashidate. The garden outdoor bath attached to the large public bath is surrounded by nature and allows you to experience the changing seasons. It has been selected as one of Japan's top 100 hot springs and is effective for nerve pain, muscle pain, and indigestion. On the first night, I encountered a transportation issue after dining at a restaurant in Miyazu city. Unable to get a taxi, I contacted Hotel Kitano-ya for help, and the staff promptly came to pick us up in a wagon car, offering the service free of charge. The staff's flexibility and excellent service left a lasting impression on me. The breakfast at the inn was satisfying, with dishes featuring Tajima beef. The portion was generous, and the warm dishes were prepared freshly at the table. Despite the unexpected trouble, it allowed me to appreciate the wonderful service and hospitality of Hotel Kitano-ya.

I visited Amanohashidate for the first time and stayed at this inn. I really liked the room with a private outdoor bath, and I used it multiple times. The menu had a good variety of dishes in just the right amount, and I enjoyed them all the way to the end without getting tired of it. The homemade dessert, soy sauce ice cream, was incredibly delicious. I have already made a reservation for next spring, and I am looking forward to it. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I suddenly had some free time, so I made a last-minute reservation and went on a trip to Amanohashidate! I stayed at Kitano Hotel and had dinner there. The dinner was so-so. The room with an open-air bath was also so-so. It's a bit pricey at over 40,000 yen per person. Overall, it was okay, but I probably won't visit again. I hope they can make some improvements.

I decided to treat myself a little and went all out with a crab feast. Crab sashimi, boiled crab, grilled crab, crab hot pot, and other crab dishes for dinner. The raw crab was sweet and delicious. I'm not sure if it was Echizen crab or Matsuba crab, but either way, it was tasty. I ate so much crab that I was worried I might start hating it! The middle-aged customer next to me seemed to be on the same crab-loving boat but left quite a bit uneaten (laughs). It would be a shame to waste any, as you can't take it back to your room. You really need to love crab to enjoy this meal plan. The dessert, thankfully, did not have any crab in it (laughs). Thank you for the delicious meal. The breakfast was also delightful, served in a cute bamboo basket. When you visit, take the ropeway up and enjoy the view. Whether you see a dragon or not is up to your own interpretation.

Good morning. In early November, I stayed at this inn known for its outdoor hot spring baths. The night before, the rain and wind suddenly intensified, and I was a bit worried about the next day. However, in the morning, it was clear skies, and I woke up to the cries of a hawk. Let's go take a bath in the outdoor hot spring right away! The morning bath was so relaxing, listening to the soothing sound of the hawk while soaking in the hot spring was such a luxurious moment. However, the outdoor hot spring here is on the first floor, surrounded by trees, so you can't see the outside view. Despite being by the sea, that was a bit disappointing. Breakfast will be served in the annex hall. The menu includes boiled komatsuna and dried fish, homemade katsuobushi furikake, salad, rolled omelette, pickled mackerel, black chikuwa from Miyazu, vegetable tempura, hot tofu, squid sashimi, rice, pickles, clam and homemade miso soup, and blueberry yogurt. The dishes presented in cute baskets looked delicious and appetizing, and grilling chikuwa and fish on the table grill filled the air with a fragrant aroma. Despite the clear skies when I woke up, it suddenly started raining, and the outdoor view during breakfast was rainy. It seems that the weather changes rapidly at this time of year, with sudden heavy rain followed by the sun shining brightly. It was a delicious meal. Thank you for the feast.

In early November 2020, while looking for a ryokan near Amanohashidate with a room featuring an open-air bath and relaxation services, I came across this ryokan. With a 35% discount using the Go To Travel coupon and a 9000 yen regional coupon included, this ryokan seemed like a great deal. Each room at this ryokan is unique, with the first floor offering Japanese-style rooms with open-air baths, the second floor having Japanese-Western rooms, and the third floor featuring ocean-view Japanese-style rooms. The round open-air bath in our room was made from a single piece of granite, providing a spacious and relaxing experience. Additionally, each room is equipped with a massage chair, although I found it a bit too intense. For dinner, guests dine at a restaurant with a modern ambiance while enjoying views of Amanohashidate, although it was quite dark during our visit. The "Crab and Yellowtail Set Meal" included various dishes such as crab miso, assorted sashimi, crab sukiyaki, yellowtail shabu-shabu, crab chawanmushi, crab tempura, boiled crab, porridge, pickles, and seasonal dessert. Although I was looking forward to fresh crab, it was not available due to the timing of our visit. Nonetheless, the yellowtail was deliciously fatty, the crab tempura was crispy, and the crab miso was flavorful. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

It was a very satisfying crab meal! As the name suggests, I had a crab full course meal. The grilled crab and steamed crab were especially delicious and to my liking! The staff at the restaurant were very friendly. It was a satisfying stay. The open-air bath was also relaxing and made for a great trip.

A hotel located within a 10-minute walk from Amanohashidate Station. As there are no restaurants nearby, it is important to be prepared to enjoy the night at this hotel, especially since most surrounding shops close by 9 pm. The meals at this hotel vary depending on the season, so I try to write reviews with a warm perspective during such in-between times. This time, the meal included: Seasonal 3 kinds of shellfish, 4 kinds of local fish, Summer vegetable simmered dish, Grilled local fish, Sea bream shabu-shabu, Special selection of Wagyu beef on a hot stone, Seasonal vegetable tempura, Seasonal vinegar dish, Tanba rice cooked with seasonal ingredients, Soup, Pickles, and Seasonal dessert. The next morning's meal was a set menu instead of a buffet. Even though I don't usually eat much for breakfast, I found myself eating a lot at this place. The rice and miso soup were delicious. I was hoping for dried fish, but unfortunately, only mackerel was available. The rolled omelet was excellent. The open-air bath at the large communal bath had a great location and the spring quality was quite good. It was a relaxing and soothing stay at this inn.

I stayed at Hotel Kitano-ya and had breakfast there. The breakfast was served in a different dining area from dinner. The dishes were mainly Japanese cuisine and there was a wide variety of choices. The portion size of each dish was small, so I was able to finish everything. Everything was delicious!

I visited on the first day of crab season in winter 2022. It was disappointing that there were some inconsistencies in the way the grilled crabs were cooked, but I was completely satisfied with being able to enjoy more than two servings of crab dishes per person.

The morning after staying overnight for the first visit in October 2012, I enjoyed a breakfast filled with fish. I ended up having seconds of rice in the morning. It was delicious.

[October 2012 Visit] Our annual family gathering took place at "Hotel Kitano-ya" this year. We enjoyed delicious seafood from the Sea of Japan. It was a fantastic meal.