Bessho Onsen is a quiet hot spring town located just outside of central Ueda City. As the oldest recorded hot spring town in the region, it has attracted plenty of locals and tourists who want to experience bathing in its healing waters. To make the most of their stay in Bessho Onsen, an overnight stay can give you a memorable experience.

One such place is Ryokan Hanaya, a traditional ryokan in Ueda. The property opened 1917 and has been embodying omotenashi, the Japanese concept of providing exceptional service and care to guests wholeheartedly and sincerely. The ryokan comprises several buildings, all connected through a corridor, and prides itself on being a Designated Tangible Cultural Property, capturing the romanticism of the Taisho era through its careful preservation and meticulous renovation.

As a traditional ryokan, Ryokan Hanaya features Japanese-style tatami rooms with wooden ceilings, chabudai tables, and zaisu chairs, giving it a historic feel. Shoji sliding doors lead to a small area where you can sit comfortably while enjoying the garden views. For guests who prefer modern conveniences, Western-style rooms are available, with luxurious carpet and soft lights that illuminate the rooms’ wooden accents. At Ryokan Hanaya, no two rooms are alike, so guests are given a unique stay.

But for guests who want the ultimate ryokan experience, Ryokan Hanaya offers special rooms with added bonuses. One room in particular, the Sakura Palace, is a faithful recreation of a residence of a former high-ranking samurai. The room features a mairado, a type of door in Japanese architecture that’s unique to most bukeyashiki (former samurai residences), two shoin study rooms, and a tokonoma alcove that housed traditional artworks. Sakura Palace exudes luxury in simplicity, evident in the craftsmanship of the pillars, the Saru-chyo ceiling (made from wood with its corners cut into a hexagon), and thin and delicate shoji screens.

Other special rooms are equipped with open-air baths, decorative shoji screens, mosaic-tile bathtubs, and a combination of Japanese and Western touches in the rooms. Each of these rooms offer a special and memorable experience in the ryokan.

The ryokan takes its culinary inspiration from the fleeting seasons, finding the best ingredients for the season, creating a feast for the eyes and tastebuds. That said, guests are given something different each day depending on the availability of the ingredients. However, some of the dishes served include mineoka tofu, an assortment of fresh and steamed fish, grilled trout, and Shinshu Wagyu, known for its stronger flavor yet sweet aftertaste.

A special Katakuri kaiseki course takes guests on a culinary adventure from spring to summer. It also follows the ryokan’s concept of using seasonal ingredients prepared and plated to showcase the diversity and delicacy of Japanese cuisine. In spring, enjoy a festive set of seasonal vegetables, Shinshu wagyu beef porridge, and sweetfish rice. While in the hot summer days, savor a hearty serving of tofu, trout, spring stew, and Shinshu wagyu sukiyaki hotpot.

Additional meals like horse meat, Shinshu premium wagyu steak, braised carp, and premium beef tataki can also be ordered at an extra price. You can also order a special sake tasting set featuring three types of sake, or a special wine set as a light snack.

Dinner starts between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm.

Breakfast

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at the ryokan, which starts between 8:00 am and 8:45 am. You can choose between an omelette, rolled omelette, and a soft-boiled egg as a pick-me-up before spending the day outdoors or before going to the hot springs for a dip.

Cultural and Outdoor Experiences

Ryokan Hanaya prides itself in its hot springs, which are 100% natural spring water that provides plenty of health benefits: from muscle pain to blood circulation. There are three onsen facilities in the ryokan, each offering a distinct charm and experience.

The marble bath exudes sophistication and elegance with its dome-shaped ceiling and warm lights that filter through the stained glass windows. It is open for men from 3:00 pm to 9:45 pm while available hours for women are from 10:00 pm to 10:30 am the next day. On the other hand, the young grass bath is a more spacious onsen with large glass windows and a bathtub made of Izu stone, giving it an earthy green color. This is open for men from 10:00 pm to 10:30 am the next day and women from 3:00 pm to 9:45 pm. An open-air bath is also available, allowing guests to take a relaxing soak while enjoying the sounds of birds chirping and the gentle breeze. There are separate baths for men and women, and are open from 6:00 am to 10:30 am and 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

At Ryokan Hanaya, you don’t have to venture far to find the best cherry blossom-viewing spots! The ryokan has an on-site garden where you can comfortably enjoy the view of the delicate sakura petals falling. The beauty of these gardens also extend to the rest of the seasons, where guests are treated to the sight of colorful azaleas and hydrangeas in summer, bright and fiery leaves in autumn, and romantic, snow-capped trees in winter.

Ryokan Hanaya has dining areas that set the perfect atmosphere for intimate gatherings like birthdays or anniversary celebrations. For small groups, a spacious dining hall with a temple-style lattice ceiling is available, combining Japanese and Western styles. Another dining room is also available, featuring wooden beams and warm interiors.

If you prefer a smaller group, a private room can comfortably accommodate 7 to 10 people, while bigger groups can use the middle hall, with 95 tatami mats which can be divided into three rooms and can accommodate up to 40 people.

You may also confirm with the host or staff if they have personalized services or special meals available to make your special day even more memorable.