Minshuku Omuraya
Accommodation
4.29
Minshuku Omuraya
Owners family
Sample guestroom
Sample supper
Bath
View from guesthouse
Lunch box
Outdoor hot springs
Description
At-home Minshuku
Minshuku Omuraya is a guesthouse run by the Omuraya family in the middle of the Kawayu Onsen hot spring village. This friendly accommodation has a welcoming “at home” atmosphere with many repeat visitors. There are three separate buildings at Minshuku Omuraya, one of which allows pets. Many of the rooms have river views. Guests are free to use the hot spring baths in the river in front of the establishment.
※ Note for those with cat or dog allergies: There are cats and a dog in residence in the lobbies of the main building and the annex.
| Full Name |
Minshuku Omuraya
民宿大村屋 |
|---|---|
| Area | Kawayu Onsen (Hongu) |
| Type | Minshuku |
| Address | 1406-1 Kawayu, Hongu-cho, Tanabe City Wakayama Prefecture, 647-1717
〒647-1717 和歌山県田辺市本宮町川湯1406-1 |
| Map Code | 478 227 175*72 |
| Maps | |
| Check-in | 14:00 - 18:00 |
| Check-out | 10:00 |
Rating & Reviews
4.29
Guestroom
Baths
Meals
Location
Reception & Service
Date: Apr/2026
New Zealand (Female, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
Lovely friendly people. The onsen and reception area in the hotel are a bit dated/untidy. Onsen in the river was amazing.
Date: Apr/2026
France (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2026
Germany (Male, age **)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2026
United States (Male, age 60-69)
3.80
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2026
Japan (Male, age 70-79)
3.60
- No subject -
バス停に近く、便利な場所にある。 また目の前に川があり、川の中の露天風呂も近く、眺めも良かった。 本館の和室に泊まったが、古いがきれいに掃除されていた。
Date: Mar/2026
Australia (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2026
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
A great location to start the next part of the walk. The onsen was lovely and the food authentic and amazing. Very helpful staff in the dining area.
Date: Mar/2026
Switzerland (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2026
United States (Female, age 40-49)
4.80
The full package!
Excellent food, a selection of onsens, and a Japanese room experience. Starting with food, it's so helpful to get the three meals. They accommodated our vegetarian + dashi diet, which I really appreciated. Dinner and breakfast were a beautiful spread--really enjoyed them. Lunch-to-go was cute and yummy (though too much plastic packaging...so common for Japan). You're signing up for a Japanese room with this place, which is nice for the authentic experience, albeit--in my opinion--not as comfy as a Western bed. The mattress was hard (as the Japanese mattresses tend to be) and the pillow seemed to be filled with rice (not always the case with a Japanese room in other places). Bring an eye cover if you don't want the sunlight in the morning. Appreciated having all the different onsen options--private, mens/womens, outdoor. We only had time for one and opted for the private one--happy to have the option to do the onsen with my husband instead of with a stranger or on my own. Super relaxing after a day of hiking. The aesthetics of the onsen aren't particularly nice, however. I don't recall there being a shower option other than adjoining the onsen, but why should there be. We did a three-day hike, and we arrived at this place straight from Tanabe City by bus (left at 6am). We brought our one suitcase with us on the bus. We had just enough time to check in and drop off our suitcase in the common area before taking the bus in the other direction to Yuonime Onsen. We did the clockwise hike from there to Hongu. And then the bus from Hongu back to the hotel; the timing with that bus worked well for us too. So do note that it's not that great to walk from here to Yuonime Onsen by foot (though you technically could), but at least for us, it was totally fine with how the buses worked out. The common areas are cute (but not at all fancy) in the way that some hostels are cute. There are cats, coloring books, and a ukulele, depending on which building you stay in. There are two buildings. The staff was very helpful. We had very little time to catch the bus the next morning (oops), and they helped us out in a pinch.
Date: Feb/2026
United States (Female, age 50-59)
4.60
- No subject -
Excellent food and the staff did a great job in explaining the process. Our family enjoyed the river bath where we could soak together in our bathing suits. Going off-season with less people was a definite plus.
Date: Jan/2026
Canada (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Great stay
Staying at Minshuku Omuraya was amazing. The location close to the outdoor onsen was perfect and the dinner was one of the best I have had. Would highly recommend.
Date: Dec/2025
United States (Female, age **)
4.60
- No subject -
This is more of a traditional ryokan/hotel rather than a home-stay type of accommodation. The staff were always quite busy which meant that one-on-one attention was not as good as some other places. The room itself is very basic Japanese style with VERY thin walls, so better hope for quiet neighbors. Great location right by the river, but then again, the entirety of Kawayu onsen consists of one street, all the accommodations are less than 2min apart from each other by foot. The onsen in the hotel was nice since it was private.
Date: Dec/2025
Argentina (Female, age 30-39)
3.60
- No subject -
The accommodation is a somewhat old building, but it has all the necessary amenities. It has an indoor onsen that could be better maintained. The rooms face a stream that acts as a large outdoor onsen. There are hardly any places to get food in the village; dinner and breakfast were provided by the accommodation and were fine. On the day of my departure, they offered to drive me to the Hongu Taisha area, which I am very grateful for. Thank you so much for hosting me!
Date: Dec/2025
Singapore (Female, age **)
4.60
- No subject -
Nice minshuku
Date: Dec/2025
United States (Female, age 20-29)
4.60
Overall a good place for a trip
Their guest rooms are spacious enough, but the charging plugs are a bit hard to find and might be hidden behind the table. There is a small toilet in the room, but if you want to use a larger washbasin, you have to use it in the middle of the floor. Their hot spring has two private indoor hot springs and an outdoor one. The indoor one looks a bit uncleaned but is generally quite good. The outdoor one is a bit far away, requiring crossing a bridge and then going down a stone staircase. However, the environment is very nice and the pool is quite large. It's worth a try. Their dinner and breakfast were very sumptuous, with a wide variety of dishes. The location of the homestay is very good, right by the river. The nearest bus stop is just a dozen meters away. The service is good and will show you about the overall facilities and usage details.
Date: Dec/2025
Japan (Female, age 40-49)
3.20
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2025
Canada (Female, age 60-69)
4.60
Great meals
I loved all meals especially the lunch box. The baths however are in very bad conditions but clean.
Date: Nov/2025
Japan (Male, age 70-79)
3.00
- No subject -
部屋ににおいがある。 食事は美味しくない。（肉、米）
Date: Nov/2025
Spain (Female, age 50-59)
4.80
- No subject -
We have had a very, very comfortable time in the Minshuku Omuraya. We'd like to thanks the staff for their help and kindness and our sincerely congratulations to the people in the kitchen. Fabulous meals.
Date: Nov/2025
United States (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
- No subject -
Guesthouse host picked us up at Kumano Hongu Taisha at the end of our hike. Guesthouse entrance is very cluttered and chaotic. Tatami futons are thin. Private onsen and ensuit toilet are very much appreciated.
Date: Nov/2025
Israel (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Great guesthouse
Great guesthouse with a nice indoor onsen. There is also a public onsen outside by the river. We have missed the bus on the morning and the owner helped us to find a ride to our starting point
Date: Nov/2025
Australia (Male, age 50-59)
4.40
Best stay in the Hongu Taishi area
Awesome outdoor river onsen, great food, top rooms, friendly staff and great location. Plus a washing machine! Access to local area easy by foot and short hikes. Bus stop for Tanabe at front door.
Date: Nov/2025
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
A great stay for trekking Kumano kodo
This place is just next to the bus station and next to the river and suspension bridge. We really enjoyed our stay, tried river onsen. Each room provided bath rope, and the shared bathroom is very nice, spacious and with all amenities available. The breakfast and dinner served are superb.
Date: Oct/2025
United States (Male, age 20-29)
4.40
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2025
United States (Female, age 20-29)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2025
Switzerland (Male, age **)
4.60
Very relaxing stay around Kawayu Onsen
Our host was extremely nice. She spoke English well, and really tried to help us when we needed something. The food was very good and more than plentiful. The access to the outdoor onsen was really the highlight of the stay. It is really just next door, and was extremely relaxing. Access to the naturally hot water inside the residence was also great.
Date: Oct/2025
Taiwan (Male, age 30-39)
3.20
房間老舊設備簡陋
預約回復花了太長的時間。 入住時櫃檯沒有人，也沒有相關訊息指引。 房間老舊，設備簡陋，廁所非常的小。公用浴室昏暗。 晚餐豐盛美味，早餐烤魚的爐火力不夠，無法把魚烤熟。
Date: Oct/2025
Italy (Male, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2025
Netherlands (Female, age 40-49)
4.40
The onsen at the river.
Owners are very kind! Nice place to start.
Date: Jun/2025
Germany (Female, age **)
4.00
Nice open air bath
The Japanese room was plain, but I had all I needed. I enjoyed the outside bath at the river. The food was very good.
Date: May/2025
Thailand (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
Very recommended!!!! The room is great, location is great. Foods are perfect!!
Date: May/2025
Netherlands (Male, age 30-39)
3.60
- No subject -
Large comfortable room, but the rest of the minsuku is very basic and a bit messy. The food (traditional Japanese, with lots of fish/seafood) was a lot and delicious! Great location next to the river and close to the bus.
Date: May/2025
Italy (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2025
Hong Kong (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2025
Mexico (Female, age 60-69)
3.80
Well located Minshuku
The Minshuku (hotel) was well located, 100 mts from the bus stop. The host was nice and gave us the indications in Japanese because he didn't speak English, but we like the effort he made. The Japanese Style room and the bath (Onsen) were clean but the reception was a little bit too messy with a lot of towels, slippers so we didn't know if they were clean or not. In our case, the room was located on another building and we had to walk a little bit under the rain. The wide variety of food at the restaurant was good and the waiter very nice.
Date: May/2025
Austria (Male, age 50-59)
4.20
Rustic accommodation with charm
Spacious rooms with a view of the river. Very cozy outdoor pool, where you can also adjust the temperature using a cold water supply. To reach the outdoor pool in the river, you have to walk across the street and a bridge. Very nice and delicious lunchbox!
Date: May/2025
Turkey (Female, age 30-39)
4.60
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2025
Hong Kong (Male, age **)
4.60
Beautiful minshuku in an amazing location
We enjoyed the quietness and relaxing location of this place in Kawayu Onsen. Staff was very friendly and helpful. We especially enjoyed the surprising good packed lunch box the next day.
Date: Apr/2025
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
4.80
Great food
Our Japanese style room was in the other building but we had our meals in the main building, 30 seconds walk away. The hotel over looks the river. Our room was great with its own toilet but the bathroom was downstairs off the reception area. It’s a bit dated but I was fine with that and it was never in use when I needed it. The food was exceptional but you do need to be a bit adventurous. We had lots of fish including fabulous sashimi and crab. There is an option when booking not to have fish if you so wish. There are also resident pets in both buildings but they are just in the foyer area. We spent 2 nights here so we could spend time visiting Hongu. The outdoor onsen straight across the river was amazing.
Date: Apr/2025
United States (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Our first stop
We were greater kindly and felt very welcome. They spoke enough English that we were able to navigator through. We had a Japanese Style room overlooking the river which was beautiful. If you are not used to the Japanese style rooms I would recommend a western as you are sleeping on mats on the floor. The dinner and breakfast served were like a five star five course meal. Beautiful presentation and so yummy! Sashimi was served with each meal and it was incredible. The onsite onsen was just what I need but I did prefer the outside one that was open to the public. It was right on the river and was just beautiful in the evening and in the morning. There are holes dug out all along the river because the water just bubbles up from the ground. So neat. The rocks were warm and there was a place where it mixes with the river in a deeper hole and would be great in the summer. Did a couple of cold plunges in the clear water of the river. Loved every minute of being at this location!! It was great. No issues with tattoos at the inside or outside onsens.
Date: Apr/2025
Canada (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
Welcome to traditional Japan
Town of 50 people, all on a single road following the river. Quiet as can be. A place where you basically visit town in 2 minutes while walking down the road, it also a place where you can be giving a shovel to dig yourself a hole on the rocky river bed to enjoy the gifts of Mother Nature: hot water to help you recover from a long day. Enjoy the private onsen in the hotel or dug in the river bed, meditate, relax. Facilities are a bit older but comfortable. My room was in the second building. Dinner was more than generous and delicious: could not finish it all. But the bento for the next day will remain as one of my precious and vivid memories of this trip. The quality of the food, the amount of food, and the attention to its presentation were extraordinary. So much care was put into this meal. I still smile thinking about it. Buses from Hongu are rare and far between, so better to check their schedule upon arrival,in Hongu and plan one’s visit accordingly.
Date: Apr/2025
Hong Kong (Male, age **)
3.60
Not a good accommodation but dinner is delicious
Basically no service. As there’s no elevator, you have to carry luggage to second or even third floor. Quite difficult after walking for seven hours during the day. Onsen is not attractive. But there’s still plus side: they provide delicious Japanese dinner, and the guest house is close to open public onsen at river.
Date: Apr/2025
United Kingdom (Female, age 30-39)
4.00
Good food and great access to some outdoor onsens!
Simple rooms, plenty of good food and you can walk over to the onsen in the river super easily. There weren’t many showers / baths which meant we had a bit of a wait, and just be aware that it’s a bus from the walk itself.
Date: Mar/2025
United States (Male, age 30-39)
4.60
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Feb/2025
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
4.60
Quirky and Fun
Very friendly and kind hosts. Allowed early check-in. Offered us room options. They had lots of extras like colouring books, beautiful coloured pens and pencils. Hot chocolate and tea and coffee provided, towels for the onsen, safe to lock up valuables. Very helpful when serving our food, showing us many cultural experiences and culinary specialties. Very helpful with arranging luggage transfers. I wish I could have stayed longer. We loved the cats living here and all the guests with their pet dogs. Very well behaved. A really fun place to stay where we felt really cared for in every way.
Date: Dec/2024
United Kingdom (Female, age 30-39)
4.60
Delicious food, very reasonable price
The room was spacious and comfortable, and the food was outstanding; so much variety and fresh ingredients. I visited in the winter months, so was able to enjoy the river onsen under the stars, which was a really special experience.
Date: Nov/2024
Canada (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
would love to come back and stay longer
This is a minshuku operated by the whole family. Great location, close to bus stops and right across to the open-air Onsen . The food was delicious and well -served. I added the lunch box for the second day, too.
Date: Nov/2024
United Kingdom (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
Accommodation
Beautiful location next to the river.
Date: Nov/2024
Hong Kong (Male, age **)
4.80
omuraya
large room in annex overlooking river; easy access to open-air riverside onsen. host yoshiko and other staff very friendly and helpful. excellent dinner. staff prepared early breakfast (6am) so that i could catch bus before 7; plus delicious bento box. hope to return soon.
Date: Nov/2024
United States (Male, age **)
4.60
Very nice place to stay
Great onsen experience, good food, friendly staff, close to the bus stop.
Date: Nov/2024
Taiwan (Male, age 30-39)
4.40
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2024
Canada (Male, age 70-79)
2.80
Suspected bento food poisoning
Our dinner, breakfast and my bento were fine. My wife’s gf bento caused her all kinds of grief 2.5 hours after ingestion- cramps, vomiting, fainting, diarrhea.
Date: Oct/2024
New Zealand (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Stay here if you can!
Amazing rooms in one of the nicest areas, with spectacular food (if you're a little adventurous). They even have a cat :)
Date: Oct/2024
Australia (Female, age 30-39)
4.80
- No subject -
We had a wonderful time at Minshuku, thank you for your hospitality and flexibility for providing us with meals before we had to leave early in the morning.
Date: Oct/2024
China (Male, age **)
3.40
hot spring water isn't warm
The bathroom is very small, and the hot spring water isn't warm, it feels cold.
Date: Oct/2024
China (Male, age **)
4.20
Great Minshuku, lovely staff
It is located right next to the bus stop. Room is clean. Food is delicious. Very helpful staff. I did not notice that bathroom is shared when making the booking. Bath is small but cozy.
Date: Oct/2024
Australia (Male, age **)
3.80
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2024
Denmark (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Authentic stay with the best meals on our entire trip in Japan
The owner was very courteous and friendly - he didn’t speak English, but we understood each other well anyway. Supper and breakfast was the best meals I have had on my entire trip around Japan, and the lunch box was as also really good. The views from the balcony on the river was breathtaking. We stayed in a Japanese room and the futons were very good to sleep on. The most memorable stay in all of Japan!!
Date: Jun/2024
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
4.80
Wonderful stay next to a riverside onsen
We had a wonderful stay at Minshuku Omuraya after a long day of hiking. The accommodation was very comfortable in a fantastic location opposite a riverside public onsen with fabulous views which we enjoyed for quite some time. The staff were very welcoming and we enjoyed an outstanding traditional dinner and breakfast in the dining room where the staff helped us with the cooking at the table. In the morning we were given our bento boxes for our hike, the best of our trip! Highly recommended.
Date: May/2024
Switzerland (Male, age 40-49)
4.40
Nice place at an unusual onsen.
The accommodation was at a great location. The dinner was really nice, with some really great staff.
Date: Apr/2024
Germany (Female, age 60-69)
4.80
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2024
United States (Female, age **)
3.50
Friendly helpful hosts
Enjoyed our stay and Minshuku Omuraya. The meals were very good, tasty and a nice variety. Service was always helpful, gracious and warm. Enjoyed the ice cream challenge which made our time here special.
Date: Jan/2024
Canada (Female, age 30-39)
4.60
Perfect location
Right across the street from a bath set up in the steamy hot river, the hotel was very quiet, clean and friendly. There is also a private bath you can use on a first-come basis, which is great if you’ve got tattoos! They also pointed us to a very tasty and reasonably prices restaurant 100m down the street which made us a vegetarian meal.
Date: Jan/2024
Canada (Male, age 20-29)
4.60
Good views
Room had a great view looking towards the rest of Kawayu Onsen, I enjoyed sitting by the window near the tea table to enjoy the cool breeze and views. Being solo, the room was very spacious and having my own sink was very convenient. Food tasted great, the hosts serving me were very friendly and made effort to communicate with me despite not knowing english very well. Lunch box was tasty and very well packed, you could tell a lot of effort was put in the prepare it.
Date: Dec/2023
United States (Female, age 40-49)
4.75
Like a Japanese 'Cheers'?
This accommodation had a buzzing vibe of hospitality and vitality. There were lots of Japanese guests chatting happily with one another and the Guesthouse ladies. They provided a beautiful layout of food and showed us how to grill our own fish at the table, etc. There is a cat that hangs out in the lobby and lets us pet them.The room was spacious, the bed cozy and it has a beautiful view of the river. My only irk was the lighting was a little florescent for me but we mostly had the lights off and sat by the windows. If you want to shovel your own hot-spring hole, it seems you should walk past the bridge to where you can see steam rising around the corner. I'm glad I stayed here and got to experience this social scene!
Date: Dec/2023
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
4.60
Minshuku Omuraya - Review
Located in Kawayu Onsen. We stayed here for 2 nights to take a break from the Hike. Good Natural Onsen and does not smell of Sulphur as in the Other Onsens in this area. Thoroughly enjoyed staying here and the staff and owners are very friendly. Highly Recommend this place.
Date: Dec/2023
Singapore (Female, age 30-39)
4.80
- No subject -
Very friendly and helpful staff! Even went out of her way to show me the bus stop and timetable in the cold at night.
Date: Nov/2023
Singapore (Female, age 30-39)
4.40
Amazing location and wonderful staff
I love the food and enjoyed my stay here. The staff is supper friendly and helpful as well. I would love to come back someday. Thank you so much!
Date: Nov/2023
New Zealand (Female, age **)
4.00
Lovely location - pretty tired
The location is perfect for those on the KK route. It's in a small onsen village with lovely river side public pools. The rooms are tired, not very attractive and pretty average. The futons are rock hard - so we used other futons from inside the cupboard. Its saving grace was that the food was really lovely and I was grateful that they catered really carefully for me being gluten intolerant. We stayed two days and menu was thoughtful and varied. The dining staff were great, but it was very hard to get service in the accommodation area and really hard to find anyone to answer questions or help. The lobby is really messy and overpacked - so it's not a very welcoming first impression.
Date: Oct/2023
Republic of Korea (Male, age 60-69)
4.80
Accommodation evaluation
Almost good
Date: Nov/2023
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
Excellent hospitality.
Beautifully located. The hoss were very helpful and the food was exceptional. Outdoor Onsen was great too.
Date: Oct/2023
China (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2023
Denmark (Male, age 70-79)
4.60
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Oct/2023
China (Female, age 50-59)
4.80
Good meal & onsen
Outside onsen is wonderful. Meals are excellent.Thank you.
Date: Oct/2023
China (Male, age 40-49)
4.60
Good for All
Great staff is help me a lot！
Date: Sep/2023
Australia (Female, age **)
3.40
Best feature - the river
When the accommodation (quite far away from any kind of town) says there are cats & dogs in the foyer, they aren’t kidding. Unfortunately there is a bit of an animal smell that permeates the building. Guests also bring their animals to dinner. Or accommodation wasnt the most welcoming or the most comfortable but it had 2 redeeming features: 1. The kitchen staff were absolutely lovely and the food was delicious & plentiful. 2. The river & outdoor onsen were a special highlight of the whole trip.
Date: Aug/2023
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
- No subject -
Fantastic supper, breakfast and bento boxes. Everyone was very friendly and all facilities were fine. It is very close to the bus stop.
Date: Jul/2023
United States (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
- No subject -
nice place they were really helpful and picked us up, and the food was a huge meal very tasty.
Date: Jul/2023
United States (Female, age **)
4.80
- No subject -
My room was adequate but simple compared to the other guesthouses I stayed at. There was no low floor chair to sit on and the one table that was pushed into the corner, the surface was filled with the hot pot, tea/cups, literature, etc. I had little to no room for my use. The hotel listing shows a picture of a lovely dining room, warm colors, shogi screens on both side, coffered ceiling, low tables with floor mats, a really lovely scene. I'm not sure where that dining room is but it's not in this facility. We were in a western-style dining room, bright lights, white walls and the always on TV. This was a disappointment as I based my selection in part on the pictures that the guesthouse offered. The food was fine. The staff was friendly and attentive but no one speaks English here. A younger women greeted me and provided some orientation when I arrived but she never appeared again.
Date: Jun/2023
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
4.20
Friendly and cheerful
From kindly collecting two drowned and tired rats from the Taisha information centre, to shared beers and songs over dinner, many thanks x
Date: May/2023
Australia (Male, age 60-69)
4.40
Great location, excellent food, lovely people
We were really impressed with the Omuraya. The staff were instantly welcoming, the room was spacious and overlooked the river, so a nice place to have a beer at the end of a day's walk. The food was terrific! Lots of it and good flavours, lovely service. It's a good location to do out & back walks and the highlight was the onsen in the river bank - hot enough, sitting in a beautiful setting and then cooling off in a clean, cool river.
Date: Apr/2023
Canada (Female, age 20-29)
4.60
Must-stay for the food!
Food was delicious. I was even given the option of a bed or tatami!
Date: Mar/2023
Thailand (Male, age 20-29)
4.80
- No subject -
Excellent food and service. I have nothing but good things to say about that place.
Date: Mar/2023
Japan (Male, age 70-79)
3.40
- No subject -
バス停の前でとても便利でした。
Date: Jan/2023
Australia (Female, age **)
3.80
An OK place to stay, a couple of things to be aware of that may not suit everyone.
This minshuku is located very close to the river onsen which was an interesting experience. It doesn’t usually allow check in until 5 pm which is rather late given how dark and cold it is by that time in December. We were pretty tired after a 17km walk and had to find somewhere to sit for a couple of hours in the cold waiting for it to open - my fault for not taking more notice of this but be aware. The room was OK, the onsen was good. The food was very good, enjoyed having our own hot pot to cook. The minshuku is now attached to the one next door which is a pet friendly hotel. People brought their dogs to dinner - I don’t mind but some people might not be so keen so worth being aware of.
Date: Dec/2022
United States (Male, age 30-39)
5.00
Friendly service in front of the best river ever
This was the highlight of our trip to Japan. They upgraded our room (maybe because we had a baby) and we ended up with a massive tatami mat room with a separate sleeping area for the baby. The reception was so friendly and spoke great English. The food was beyond incredible and it was literally right in front of a hot spring river. Couldn’t ask for anything more!
Date: Dec/2022
Australia (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Beautiful stay with amazing onsen by the river
Loved our stay here. The food was delicious and the room was great.
Date: May/2022
Japan (Female, age 50-59)
4.00
- No subject -
お料理とても美味しく、熊野弁当も手がこんでいて皆によろこばれました。 スタッフの皆様も親切でした。 ただ、お風呂のお湯が非常に熱く入なかったのが残念です。
Date: Oct/2019
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
3.20
- No subject -
川の露天風呂は楽しく、熊野古道弁当は美味しかった。 夕食と朝食はどうもいただけない。
Date: Nov/2020
Japan (Female, age 60-69)
2.80
- No subject -
可愛い猫と犬がいて、癒されました。
Date: Mar/2021
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
4.60
熱めの源泉かけ流しが気持ち良し！
食事のため2号館に移動するのが面倒でした。 でも、お風呂はすごーく熱くて気持ちが良かった！温泉なので何度も入ってしまいました。 食事もしっかりしていて、美味しかったです。 また、朝は雨だったので請川の登山口まで車で送っていただき有難う御座いました。
Date: Dec/2020
Japan (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2020
Japan (Male, age 20-29)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2020
Australia (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Amazing experience in the Onsen town
Such an amazing hotel and beautiful natural onsen in the river. Our only regret is that we didn't stay another night here. The food was mind blowing after a long walk and staff were so attentive and helpful.
Date: Mar/2020
New Zealand (Male, age 30-39)
4.80
Beautiful Ryokan
Thank you very much for the beautiful accomodation! Ryokan style with amazing rooms and the most incredible meals!!! Very helpful. Reception may not speak much English (this is a plus for me as I like the challenge and practice of trying to speak Japanese). Very friendly!
Date: Jun/2019
Japan (Male, age 70-79)
3.40
- No subject -
１．荷物を宿から宿にサービスで運んで貰い助かった。 ２．接客が良かった。特に、おかみさん
Date: Jan/2020
India (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
- No subject -
Can't give anything lesser than a 5 star rating. The innkeeper was a motherly figure, extremely hospitable. After a few days elsewhere, missed my train and hence reached late, the dinner was a welcoming spread. Inspite of being a vegan, I was very happy with their food services. Shared baths are good and they have free WiFi too. Room was a simple tatami mat room with roll-up beds. Was clean and comfortable. The innkeeper dropped me to the trail head at Ukegawa, which was an added bonus. Would definitely recommend.
Date: Nov/2019
Canada (Male, age 50-59)
4.80
A bright light on a dark night
We arrived late on a cold dreary about-to-rain night. They fed us a full dinner! Choice of Japanese or Western rooms (we chose Japanese). Nice room with lots of blankets. And about that food! Breakfast and dinner were wonderful. And the box lunches they made for us were excellent. The baths in the building are nice enough but this town is really about the hot river itself. You really have to rest in the pools and cross the bridge to the shaded onsen. So glad we stayed two nights! Would happily stay here again.
Date: Nov/2019
United Kingdom (Male, age 60-69)
4.20
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2019
Germany (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
- No subject -
First class
Date: Nov/2019
Singapore (Female, age **)
4.60
Review of Minshuku Omuraya
Excellent meals! Highly recommended if you are a foodie! The rooms were clean and cozy and the host was extremely friendly.
Date: Oct/2019
Canada (Female, age 60-69)
4.20
Beau séjour en toute simplicité
Nos hôtes avaient le souci du détail et ont tout fait pour rendre notre séjour agréable et ce, malgré la barrière linguistique!
Date: Oct/2019
Canada (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Special effort
We arrived near dark and buses were not running frequently. The owner and her daughter came to the station to pick us up. It was so appreciated after such a long hike day. The food was fabulous. It was maybe a bit larger portions than we could eat but so delicious and they accommodated special food needs wonderfully. Many thanks.
Date: Oct/2019
Australia (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Fantastic place to stay
One of the larger places I stayed during my 10 night visit, but the service was still very good and personal. Good comfortable, clean room. Food was awesome! The hot spring batch was a real treat too after a long day of walking.
Date: Aug/2019
China (Male, age **)
5.00
Good location and good meal.
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2019
United States (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
The lady of the house has a lot of charm and warmth. She sets a warm tone for the minshuku. Guests here actually interacted a little before dinner (uncommon in Japan), speaking to each other in a mix of Japanese and English. The gregarious atmosphere extended to the dining room where copious, beautiful and delicious meals were served. This minshuku also provides BENTO service option which I recommend (place order at Kumano Travel site).
Date: Jun/2019
Australia (Male, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2019
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
4.80
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2019
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
4.80
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2019
France (Female, age 50-59)
3.40
Stay at Omuraya
Friendly welcome, good services and meals.
Date: Jun/2019
France (Male, age 50-59)
4.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2019
Malaysia (Female, age 40-49)
3.60
- No subject -
Great location by the river. Food also excellent.
Date: May/2019
Germany (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2019
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
3.60
Good Place to Start the Trip
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2019
Netherlands (Female, age **)
4.60
- No subject -
We’ve had a great stay in this peaceful town. The service was great, as well as the meals.
Date: May/2019
New Zealand (Female, age 50-59)
4.60
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2019
France (Male, age 60-69)
4.40
Everything perfect, hosts nearly perfect
Reception by the owner's daughter, she speaks english and this helps. Meals, in the nearby restaurant were delicious, and so was the breakfast! The baths inside, were too hot, and quite small place, but Kawayu has an outside onsen which is just in front of this place, which is very pleasant The room is just perfect, and they have private toilets... At reception, you can have coffee or tea, or even chocolates and cakes for free, we appreciated the attention Warning: there are a lot of cats inside, they are very quiet, but this could cause some difficulties to some people..
Date: Apr/2019
United Kingdom (Male, age 50-59)
4.60
Great food!
Some of the best food we had in Japan. And the bath is great. But even better to go over to the river and bathe there in the morning
Date: Dec/2018
Italy (Male, age 30-39)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Dec/2018
Australia (Female, age **)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Dec/2018
United States (Female, age 30-39)
3.00
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2018
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
4.00
Again great service.
Especially appreciated was providing us breakfast at 6,30 am so we could take the 7am bus. Also the food awareness concern for one of our group with regard to MSG. This applied to thoughtfulness and a special menu at dinner and with lunch boxes for this stay and for the delivery they made 5he day previous. Very good personal service and responsiveness.
Date: Jun/2018
United States (Male, age **)
5.00
Balcony with a view
The service here again goes beyond image, after a hard day of hiking in the rain, soaked to the bone, the reception was amazing. They dried your boots, made you feel welcomed, and took wonderful care. You dont have to worry about anything here. The food is good and the lady and older man at the front desk is so very sweet.
Date: Apr/2018
France (Male, age 60-69)
3.80
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2018
United Kingdom (Male, age **)
4.00
Lovely place to stay
Lovely place with small but spotlessly clean room. Meals were good but could have been better. The indoor bath is a bit run down but still good.
Date: Apr/2018
Canada (Male, age 60-69)
4.20
Nicely done!
Outstanding Japanese meals!
Date: Apr/2018
Belgium (Male, age 30-39)
3.40
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2018
United States (Female, age **)
5.00
- No subject -
Impressed by the portion of the meal - maybe too much for average person but perfect for Kumano Kodo hikers. Has its own private onsen, which is nice.
Date: Dec/2017
Taiwan (Female, age **)
4.60
good location
it's near the bus stop very convenience.
Date: Nov/2017
Canada (Female, age 50-59)
4.75
Pet friendly
A westerner may assume they mean dogs but there are actually alot of cats here. Adorable! The cats don't go in the rooms though so it's not a problem for allergies. The public onsen in the river is just across the bridge. The natural water is so hot that you need to add river water by plugging in the pump. Splendid!
Date: Nov/2017
China (Female, age 30-39)
4.80
nice experience in Kumano
it's really a nice experience to travel in Kumano area, the staff of travel centre give me a great help for the luggage storing information. the hotel is also nice, it's Japanese style room, and near by the river, the public bath room with hot spring，everyone are friendly, i love the food of dinner and breakfast so much! i was thinking to try the hot spring in river, but we travel in Nov and it's a little early for the hot spring at wakaya, the boss of hotel tell me the hot spring in river will open in Dec. we only try the hot spring in a small pool outside of the river with swim suit, but i'm very enjoy it, you can see the stars, it's really nice.
Date: Nov/2017
Canada (Male, age 20-29)
5.00
Hard to Find a Better Comparable Experience
After having spent a month in Japan and staying in numerous ryokans, I can comfortably say that Minshuku Omuraya is one of the best ryokan experiences one can have. The rooms are comfortable with adequate space, extra bedding, and private toilets. The baths can be privately used (including by couples, a great bonus) and are well equipped and comfortable. The buildings themselves feel cozy and welcoming, with numerous amenities available to make guests feel happy and at home. The location is perfectly nestled within Kawayu Onsen, a beautiful and quiet mountain onsen town, and directly across the bridge from the public open air onsen. The food is incredible, with both dinner and breakfast being massive and delicious meals with great additions like personal barbecues and hot pots. Most importantly, the owners and staff are incredibly friendly, speak great English for foreigners, and go over the top to make sure your stay is comfortable and enjoyable. I could not recommend this place more.
Date: Nov/2017
Singapore (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Great place and family!
A comfortable and cozy place to stay at, and the family was warm and very kind. Thank you very much.
Date: Sep/2017
Singapore (Female, age 50-59)
3.40
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Sep/2017
Spain (Female, age 40-49)
4.40
BEAUTIFULL AND CONFORTABLE
VERY CONFORTABLE, CHARMING PEOPLE, BEAUTIFULL VIEWS, FANTASTIC MIXED BATH, DELICIOUS FOOD, IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO STAY
Date: Sep/2017
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
4.20
- No subject -
一人で初めての熊野に。川湯温泉の河原に架かる吊橋の直ぐ近くで、海パンを貸して頂き、河原の岩風呂に。食事は鮎の塩焼きが子持ちで、とても美味しかったです。部屋にトイレあり便利。大勢泊まられていて、熊野古道を歩いている雰囲気の外人ご夫妻も。
Date: Aug/2017
Japan (Female, age **)
2.40
- No subject -
猫がいることはわかっていましたが、玄関で紐で繋がれていてその紐が邪魔で玄関での出入りがしにくかった。また民宿なのに料金が高すぎる。食事がすごいような事を書いてありましたが普通でした。川にある岩風呂の説明とかもなかったし満足感はありません。熊野本宮まで車で送って頂いた事は感謝しますが、何か配達がないと行ってもらえないようでした。
Date: Aug/2017
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
4.60
おもてなしを堪能
蒸し暑い夏場の熊野古道を歩いてきた身には、体に染み入る温泉、臓腑に染み込む色とりどりの食事、心が和むおもてなしでした。 ハイシーズンながら、一人旅にもまったく差別のないお部屋、食事を提供されていると感じました。夕食はひとりで食べきるのに1時間以上かかりましたし、日本人も外国人も、家族・グループ・ひとり旅も十分に楽しめる種類と趣向がありました。 川湯温泉は、私事ですが熊野古道踏破に取り組んでいる関係上、2年連続での宿泊になりましたが、3度目も来たいですし、知人にも薦めたいです。
Date: May/2017
United States (Male, age 30-39)
4.60
Great place to unwind
We stayed here for two nights after walking the Kumano Kodo. It is right across from the river and had beautiful views from our room's enclosed balcony. We could hear the sound of the water and birds chirping. The meals were excellent (the most filling we had in Japan) and they did a great job of accommodating our complicated vegan and gluten-free dietary needs. The only downside is the main shower room which looks a little grimy and stuffy due to the hot spring tub. I saw them cleaning it, so I know is actually clean, but the natural minerals from the water had built up over time giving it a worn appearance. It was also extremely hot- test it first before sticking your foot in. This was not a huge issue though as we enjoyed using the natural hot springs by the river.
Date: May/2017
Japan (Male, age 30-39)
4.20
2号館の洋室がすばらしい
2号館の洋室を取っていただき、デザイナーズホテルのようなとても綺麗なお部屋で過ごすことができました。川湯温泉に入るための水着も貸していただき、温泉も満喫できました。 バス停からも近く便利です。欲を言えば川湯温泉全体に言えることですが、コンビニのような売店があるとより便利かと思いました。
Date: May/2017
Singapore (Female, age 40-49)
4.20
My favourite minshuku with onsen after the kumano hike
The minshuku provides the best meals to re-charge the energy spent in the kumano hike. The variety and quantity is "WOAH"-beyond words. And the service is also commendable.
Date: Apr/2017
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
0.00
- No subject -
Wonderful stay. Were here two nights. Meals fabulous, people beautiful, little English but always a smile. Complimentary tea, coffe, snacks was very welcome. Onsen by river an experience.
Date: Apr/2017
United States (Female, age 20-29)
4.40
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2017
Spain (Female, age 60-69)
4.60
A relaxing place with very few tourists....
A very recommendable Minshuku, very friendly staff and fantastic meals. The building itself is not very beautiful, but our room was perfect and very cosy. Unfortunately, at the time we were there, there was very little water in the river and we couldn't really take the bath in the river. But the onsen of the hotel was very enjoyable.
Date: Mar/2017
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
3.60
熊野古道2泊3日 発心門～熊野本宮大社、大門坂
部屋については当初和室となっていましたが、洋室の立派な部屋が空いているとのことで変更していただきました。平日なので宿泊客は少ないと思っておりましけど、長期宿泊の方が結構泊まっておられて食堂もいっぱいでした、ただ料理が標準での契約でしたので量的に少し物足りませんでした。すぐ近くに仙人風呂がありましたが前日の雨で入浴禁止となっており残念でした。翌日熊野本宮大社迄ご主人が車で送っていただき、とりいの店迄案内していただき感謝いたしました。
Date: Apr/2017
Switzerland (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Terrific Minshuku
As my second stop on the Kumano Kodo trail, it was a sheer delight to stay at Minshuku Omuraya and soak my exhausted muscles in the nearby Onsen. The room, overlooking the river and forest was beautiful and comfortable, the hosts extremely friendly and the meals to die for (being vegetarian was not a problem at all)! Atmospheric and authentic Minshuku.
Date: Feb/2017
Japan (Male, age **)
4.40
民宿大村屋さん
すごく安心できたし、落ち着ける民宿で、すごく満足しました。 民宿の方も、すごく優しかったです。 夕食は、ビックリするボリュームでした。 さらに、あれほどの食事なら、旅で来た者からすると、 食材の紹介が欲しかったです。 忙しいかもしれませんが、和歌山、田辺をアピールすること にもつながると思います。 仙人温泉へ行くと行ったら、ショーツやタオル等を準備してくれました。 これも、情報提供してもらえたら、あり難かったです。 自分は、アウトドア用のショーツを持参しました。結果、不要でした。 お弁当は、評判通り、最高でした。 総合的に、満足しました。
Date: Nov/2016
Japan (Female, age 30-39)
3.60
ゆっくり癒されました
11月上旬に1人で利用させて頂きました。 民宿を利用する事は初めてでしたがとても快適に利用させて頂きました。お風呂が狭かったものの鍵もかけられて源泉掛け流しを堪能しました。ちょっとお湯が熱かったですが。。とても温まりました。良かったです。 みかんのサービスがとても嬉しかったです。猫たちも大人しくとっても可愛かったです！ 夕飯も朝ごはんもたっぷり頂きました。お弁当が本当に美味しく熊野古道道中で疲れが飛びました！良い旅の思い出ができました。ありがとうございました。
Date: Nov/2016
Switzerland (Male, age 40-49)
5.00
Super friendly staff, delicious meals, quiet place
We stayed one night in Kawayu onsen. We were greeted by the friendly owner, who explained us how to use the onsen in the river. The dinner was really fantastic, one of the best we had during the trip. Same for breakfast. And at checkout, rather that taking the bus (our initial plan), the wife of the owner proposed to drive us with her car to the starting point of the pilgrimage hike. We couldn't have asked for a better service. This hotel is really highly recommendable!!!
Date: Sep/2016
Japan (Female, age 30-39)
4.60
Great room, cute town, huge meals!
You don't have to worry about going hungry at Omuraya as the food is plentiful! It was the first time since coming to Japan where I couldn't finish the dinner served! The bath was fabulous, but even more fun were the free outdoor hot springs by the river in front of the minshuku, though bring a bathing suit if you don't want to be naked in public. The obento lunch box is definitely worth it- and was such a treat on our first day of our pilgrimage.
Date: Apr/2016
Australia (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Loved it
I loved my stay here- lovely location
Date: Apr/2016
New Zealand (Female, age 30-39)
4.40
Two Nights Stay in April
We had a fantastic stay at Minshuku Omuraya. We had no Japanese and our host had no English. Although their daughter was learning English and helped us check in. Despite this it was no problem and they were very pleasant people. The food was fantastic!! The lunch bento box is almost too good to eat. We decided to stay in the Japanese style room and I found the futon quite hard but my husband enjoyed it. It has to be tried though. They weren't full so we had absolutely no problem using the indoor onsen whenever we wanted to. They provided lots of extras like washing products and the onsen was hot and perfect for a good soak. The property is a little dated but don't let this put you off, I would rather stay there than in a resort hotel to get a more authentic experience. The property is located right next to the bridge which can be crossed over the river to an open air onsen right on the river. It was fantastic and despite a major storm swelling the river the day we arrived by the afternoon of the next day it was able to be used. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip as it was off the beaten track and not commercial feeling at all.
Date: Apr/2016
Spain (Male, age 60-69)
2.60
- No subject -
The location is excellent. The pension is a little bit dirty. Staff is very pleasant with the guests.
Date: Feb/2016
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
3.20
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2015
United States (Female, age **)
3.40
A Dog Friendly Place to Stay
We were grateful that we were able to stay here with our tiny dog. Thank you for letting us hike and enjoy the Kumano Kodo with our four-legged best friend! The lunchbox was by far the best meal we had here. The lunchbox was AMAZING! If all the food had been as good as the lunchbox we would have given the food 5 stars :)
Date: Aug/2015
Spain (Female, age **)
4.60
Local tourism
Don't speak much English but they help you in every possible way. Local tourism. You can also enjoy an unforgettable journey in river Onsen and outdoor hot springs. The owners are nice and the minshuku is very big.
Date: Jul/2015
Italy (Female, age 50-59)
3.60
Fine
Everything here was fine but the hotel is probably in need of some renovation. The bath area was small but luckily there were few guests staying. The food was good, including the lunch box, and staff were helpful. This was not our first choice because everything else was sold out.
Date: Jul/2015
Japan (Female, age 20-29)
4.50
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jul/2015
Australia (Male, age 20-29)
3.80
Minshuku Omuraya
This was definitely great value in comparison to the other accommodations. It's also right next to the beautiful river wight he outdoor onset which is a plus!. The food here was good, but it's hard after my stay in Minshuku Tsugizakura which had amazing food. The baths downstairs were the dirtiest i encountered in Japan though, so best just do the outdoor onset outside. I wish i had dinner at a later time ( i didn't ask if it was possible) as it would have been awesome to have my outdoor onset during sunset - it was already too dark after dinner.
Date: Apr/2015
United Kingdom (Female, age 20-29)
5.00
Spectacular!
Kawayu Onsen is a fantastic place and Minshuku Omuraya was one of the best we have stayed in during our trip. The staff are extremely warm, friendly and welcoming; we highly appreciated the hospitality shown to us and would like to thank them for making our stay so enjoyable. Breakfast and dinner were delicious; the inside baths were lovely to use. I also loved the bookshelf right outside the dining area where you can sit on a couch, have some tea and coffee and peruse through the many interesting books displayed! Our room was lovely with a fantastic view of the village. The outside onsen was lots of fun to use - and we very much enjoyed digging our own onsen! All in all, a phenomenal village and a splendid minshuku. We will definitely return and we highly recommend.
Date: Nov/2014
Singapore (Male, age 20-29)
3.60
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Nov/2014
Italy (Male, age 30-39)
4.00
More a little hotel than a minshuku
Evenif it's not seem a minshuku but a little hotel home-runned is confortable and with good facilities. The staff is very helpfull, very good meal and onsen water in the bath-tube. Maybe in winter, with the large rotemburo open, is even better.
Date: Aug/2014
Canada (Female, age 40-49)
5.00
Excellent - enjoyed very much
Host did his very best in explaining food and baths for us in English. Was very much appreciated and helped immensely.
Date: Aug/2014
France (Male, age 50-59)
4.40
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Jun/2014
Singapore (Male, age **)
4.20
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2014
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
5.00
What a find!
Our stay in this friendly and absolutely brilliant traditional guesthouse is all that we asked for in our trip to Japan. We are a mature aged traveller visiting Japan, first time for hubby, second time for me. We just couldn't get over the view from our enclosed balcony. Hubby immediately took photos of the room and the view of the onsen and the river from the balcony of our room. After a quick rest, we went for a walk and felt overwhelmed by the peaceful surrounding. Back we went again to our room to get ready for dinner. It wasn't dinner but a feast that greeted us. Similarly with breakfast, it was traditional and such a healthy meal. I just love this place. I wished we could stay longer for two nights were just too short. A week would be heavenly. Although, this looks like a small village, there was plenty to do. Plenty of walks to do to be followed by a dip in the onsen. As for the family members that run this place, they are such delightful and friendly people. They make us feel at home, even though there is a language barrier. However, the daughter speaks fluent English. Definitely will return to this guesthouse and this village.
Date: May/2014
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
2.80
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: May/2014
Germany (Female, age 50-59)
3.20
- No subject -
after reporting about my aching hips and knees I got a free change from japanese to western room in the other building (thank you), river view from the room, onsen/bath not very sympatic, meals in a restaurant beneath a big and loud TV, so they arranged to serve my meals at my room, not perfect but nice (thank you).
Date: May/2014
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
3.60
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Apr/2014
Australia (Male, age 50-59)
3.60
Great hospitality
Minshuku Omuraya is set on the river in Kawayu Onsen. The hotel is clean, although the reception area a bit untidy; the staff were very friendly and helpful and some English is spoken. The tatami room (guest room) was clean and comfortable, and the meals were very well prepared and presented (traditional Japanese). Our only disappointment was that the baths are a bit small and are in need of a bit of renovation. It should be noted that the guesthouse has two buildings which may differ inside. Kawayu Onsen itself was also a disappointment with the outside bathing areas not as shown in the tourist information.
Date: Feb/2014
China (Male, age 40-49)
4.40
- No subject -
I arrived at really late at night, so I didn't visit the Onsen near by (which I should have), this hotel is excellent. The room were big and food were excellent!
Date: Jan/2014
Australia (Female, age 50-59)
3.60
Lovely view of the river
It's obviously a very popular place judging from the number of guests for both night that we were there. While the minshuku has a small onsen bath I think most people come for the river onsen experience. Our room faces the river and it's really lovely sitting by the small alcove watching the going ons in street below and the river. Stuff were very nice and helpful, particularly the old man working in the kitchen.
Date: Jan/2014
Singapore (Male, age 30-39)
4.40
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Dec/2013
Ireland (Male, age 30-39)
4.20
Good food and curious river
The food was good and the staff friendly. Make a point of going swimming in the river.
Date: Nov/2013
Australia (Female, age 40-49)
4.40
- No subject -
lovely accomodation, food was really good and the lunch box the best
Date: Sep/2013
France (Male, age 20-29)
4.20
Petite marche sur Kumano et decouverte de Kawayu
Acces : Pas de probleme particulier a part que nous avons eu quelque difficulte pour dechiffrer le nom des bus et pour retirer de l'argent (compatibilite VISA) a Shirahama. Hotes : Un ami parlant japonais a ete fort utile a Kawayu. L'hote de Kiri no sato parle parfaitement anglais. Les bains : les bains naturels de kawayu et yunomine ont ete une bonne experience. Les bains de l'hotel Omuraya sont tres petits et ne permettent pas reellement un usage collectif. Repas : poisson matin, midi et soir. accrochez-vous bien :) Emplacement : parfait. On a passe un bon moment et nous avons pu sympathise avec des habitants de la peninsule.
Date: Sep/2013
Japan (Male, age 20-29)
3.60
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Aug/2013
China (Male, age 50-59)
3.60
- No subject -
We used this minshuku for night stay after the two days Kumano Kodo trail. Access is difficult from Hongu Taisha: long additional walking distance - few connection by bus. Friendly atmosphere inside the hotel.
Date: May/2013
Malaysia (Male, age 60-69)
3.20
- No subject -
Very friendly owner thugh limited english. Service was gfood though we feel a bit unfortable as our room is next to cemetery.
Date: Apr/2013
Canada (Female, age 40-49)
4.40
- No subject -
No guest review.
Date: Dec/2012
Japan (Female, age 40-49)
4.00
女将のお楽しみプレゼント
説明文に、「女将のお楽しみプレゼントがついています。」と書いていましたので、楽しみにして、こちらの民宿を予約したのですが、プレゼントの事は、知らなかったようで、プレゼントはありませんでした。
Date: Aug/2012
Netherlands (Female, age 30-39)
5.00
Lovely Minshuke alongside a fascinating little river
We were really impressed with this lovely Minshuku, with our room looking out over the beautiful little river at the foot of the mountain, where you could take a hot bath in a cold river! Very special indeed. The staff was extremely kind, the food was delicious and the room spacious with a great view.
Date: Aug/2012
Switzerland (Male, age 40-49)
4.00
- No subject -
Great experience for us (family from Switzerland). We can recommend the trip to the Kumano area to everyone! The bus ride from Kawayu to Shingu was fantastic.
Date: May/2012
Japan (Male, age 50-59)
5.00
Excellent meals
To address previous reviews of this lodging: remember this is a minshuku, not a ryokan. At minshukus, you usually don't get a private bath or even toilet. The room did have a sink. Also Kawayu Onsen is a small onsen; it's not Gero Onsen or Arima Onsen. You basically have a few ryokans/minshukus next to a river. The current rate of 9400 yen/night with both meals is on the high side for a minshuku, but the dinner included plenty of variety, including a surprise dish. There was grilled river trout (two!) and sashimi (ocean fish), as well as beef and pork dishes, even tonkatsu (pork cutlet) if all that didn't fill you up. Definitely one of the best meals I've had at a minshuku. The owners were also very friendly.
Date: May/2012
United Kingdom (Female, age 40-49)
4.20
Clean and friendly but no hand soap!
This is a fairly large guesthouse with rooms spread across 2 buildings in the village. When we arrived we had to walk between buildings during a heavy rain shower but the hotel has umbrellas to borrow. I stayed here with my husband and my parents. My parents had a western room - which comes with an ensuite toilet and basin, we had a Japanese style room which only had a hand basin. The toilet was just across the hall however and the place was not busy so this wasn't a problem. What we found odd however was that hand soap was not provided anywhere. There was shampoo and shower gel in the onsen but nothing at any of the hand basins. My mum asked at reception and the lady simply gave her a bottle from the onsen. Food was nice enough with a few dishes that you cook yourself at the table.
Date: Apr/2012
Japan (Male, age 60-69)
4.60
女将さんの対応が良かった。
場所は、バス停の傍、風呂は温泉と言うことなし。 また、食事は一人では食べきれないくらいにテーブルに並んでいた。 それから、歩いて2日目ということで、足腰が痛かったので、女将さんに「近くに薬局はありませんか」と尋ねたところ、「湿布ならありますから使って下さいと」頂きました。3日目に非常に役に立った。
Date: Mar/2012
Germany (Female, age 20-29)
3.00
Good meals, but few service and strange town
Good dinner (everything was explained to us in English), big portions. The town Kawayu onsen was not very friendly towards (foreign) visitors. It consists only of 10 houses, most of them are hotels. Room sparcely equipped, no washing basin in the room. Public bathing facility very small, but for private use. We expected a smaller, more family-style accomodation, but the Minshuku has as many rooms as a normal hotel and the owners of the Minshuku also run a western-style hotel next door. We only spoke to the daughter because she was the only one who could speak English. The service was too little for the price we payed.
Date: Jun/2011
Australia (Female, age 60-69)
5.00
Excellent accommodation with superb meals
No guest review.
Date: Mar/2011
Spain (Female, age 40-49)
4.50
- No subject -
The staff was so nice and attentive, I enjoyed it very much. The lady of the minshuku and her daughter were so kind, I am also very grateful.
Price Plan(s)
| Notice |
|---|
| ■ This accommodation follows guidelines to reduce the spread of Covid-19. For Guests ■ Please follow the advice for the public outlined by the World Health Organization when visiting the area. |
Statement from the owner to the guests
Guestrooms
| Western Style | No |
|---|---|
| Japanese Style | Yes |
| Mixed Style | No |
| Other Style | No |
| Number of Rooms | 20 |
|---|---|
| Maximum Guests | 60 |
Main building: 11 rooms
Second building: 9 rooms
Western ensuite toilet: 8 rooms (main building)
● Smoking room available
※Can be deodorized on request.
| Facilities |
|---|
|
| Amenities |
|---|
|
Baths
| Shared Indoor | Onsen |
|---|---|
| Shared Outdoor | No |
| Shared Sauna | No |
| Privately Reserved | Onsen |
| Ensuite Indoor | No |
| Ensuite Outdoor | No |
- Note
Bath Hours: 6:00~23:00
- How to take a Japanese bath
Complete Japanese bath guide.
Meals
| Supper |
|---|
| Meals served in dining room from 18:30~19:30. (Japanese style) |
| Breakfast |
| Meals served in dining room from 7:00~9:00 (Japanese style) ●Western style available on request |
- Meal Options
: Possible : Not Possible
Vegetarian 
No Meat
No Fish
No Seafood (other than fish)
No Dashi fish stock
No Dairy
No EggsGluten Free With Miso & Soy Sauce
No Miso & Soy Sauce (Celiac or Intolerant)
Allergies Possible
Others No Raw Fish/Seafood
No Pork
No Red Meat (beef or pork)
No Shellfish
Vegetarianism and gluten free foods are not common in the Japanese countryside. Please double-check the meal options that are possible with each service provider to make sure that it meets your needs.
FISH STOCK: Often being able to eat trace amounts of the ubiquitous Katsuo Dashi (fish stock) makes it easier to find vegetarian options.
GLUTEN: For those who are not intorelant to gluten or Celiac then choosing Gluten Free "With Miso and Soy Sauce" will increase your options.
NOTE: It is difficult and not culturally sensitive to change meal requests, or make new meal demands, onsite when you arrive at accommodations. Meal options must be confirmed during the reservation process and respected during your visit.
Facilities & Services
| Facilities |
|---|
|
|
- Internet
- Wired LAN (Guestroom)
- Credit Card
- VISA
- MasterCard
- JCB
- AMERICAN EXPRESS
- Diners
- NICOS
- Traveler's Cheques
- Not accepted
- Language
- A little English.
- Services
- Wake-up call
- Luggage storage
- Shipping
- Notes
refrigerator in hallway (also in Room 10 of the second building)
telephone in all rooms in the main lodge
iron/iron board lending service on request (no charge)
automatic massager (no charge)
beer/juice available for purchase at lobby
mahjong set (no charge)
toohbrush sets and razors available (50 yen each)
personal massage available (4,200 yen per 40 min)
car loan (no charge, 1 vehicle available)
bike loan (no charge, 1 electric bike, 1 conversion)
Access
- Access Information
Busses run daily to Kawayu Onsen from Kii-Tanabe Station, Shingu Station and Gojo.
● 1hr 40 min by bus from Kii-Tanabe Station (bus timetable 1)
● ~1 hour by bus from Shingu Station (bus timetable 3)
● ~4 hours by bus from Gojo (bus timetable 4)
● ~10 minutes by bus from Kumano Hongu Taisha (bus timetable 11)
● 1 minute walk from "Kawayu Onsen 川湯温泉" bus stop
Kawayu Onsen
Hongu Area
- Shuttle Service
Please consult with us if you have any queries.
- Parking
Free parking available for up to 23 vehicles.
No more than 2 oversized vehicles at any one time.