Ξενοδοχεία Romantic σε Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

"The room was tiny; we could only unpack our luggage in the hallway right by the door. The breakfast selection was extremely poor, so I wouldn't recommend booking it separately. They don't provide any toiletries. On the bright side, there's complimentary coffee and hot water available all day on the first floor, and they offer decent ice cream at 8 PM. At nearly 1000 a night, it's definitely not good value for money."

"The room was quite spacious, and the massage chair was a pleasant surprise – very comfortable to use. The room introduction was quite detailed, and it was my first time experiencing a traditional Japanese onsen ryokan. The tatami mats were interesting, and I slept well. The entire hotel felt like a museum; despite its age, it had a lot of character. I felt like I got a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, which I really appreciated. The service, apart from being led to our room with traditional Japanese bows and the room introduction, was mostly self-service. However, this was my first time staying at a 'one night, two meals' ryokan, so I'm not sure if all onsens are like this. We also didn't have large luggage, just our bags, so maybe that's why we didn't notice any issues with luggage service. On a positive note, the front desk immediately knew which pair of shoes were ours when we checked out, which was good service. On the downside, the room's air conditioning unit was so well hidden that it took ages to find, and I was cold for quite a while. The phone either didn't work or I couldn't figure out how to use it. Also, we booked the private onsen from 8 PM to 9:30 PM. After relaxing for a bit, it was already close to 11 or 12. The public onsen closed from 12 AM to 1 AM, so we couldn't use it. We needed about 8 or 9 hours of sleep, and breakfast was scheduled for 9 AM. After breakfast, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM, the public onsen was closed. When we asked, the front desk informed us that check-out was strictly at 11 AM and we couldn't use the public onsen after checking out. So, we missed out on the public onsen, which was a real shame and couldn't be negotiated. In any five-star hotel in any country I've traveled to, it's usually possible to discuss using facilities after check-out. But it seems traditional onsen ryokans are all this rigid. While that might be how Japanese people are, for a hotel of this price, and for clearly inexperienced foreigners (we were even reminded we wore our kimonos the wrong way), when asking about meal times, couldn't they have kindly informed us that we needed to plan our breakfast, dinner, and onsen times accordingly? The food was light and flavorful. I don't eat seafood, and they were able to adjust the meals to my preferences. Communication two months prior was very responsive. However, for us, it was a bit too plain; Japanese people would probably love it. This was my first trip with my husband after giving birth, and I had been looking forward to the onsen part for a long time. I was very happy on the check-in day, but not being able to use the public onsen on the second day was still a big regret."

"Really loved my room! The location was amazing — it’s close to beautiful attractions in Kobe like Kobe Port Tower and the ropeway, and it’s also near the shrine. Super convenient since there’s a Donki, restaurants, and even a sauna nearby. Honestly, it felt like the perfect place to stay. The amenities were high quality, and the service was excellent too. I especially liked that you can even book a massage in your room — such a nice touch after walking around Kobe all day. 9/10 😍❤️❤️"

"This was my second time staying here. My first visit, two years ago, was absolutely wonderful, which is why I specifically went out of my way to come back for another experience. Unfortunately, I left feeling a bit disappointed this time. There were so many people checking in, and it seemed like the hotel wasn't prepared to handle the crowd, leading to us standing and waiting for a long time. It was a stark contrast to the enthusiastic service I received last time. The lady who helped us this time clearly wasn't very familiar with the procedures, and her English wasn't great, making communication a bit tiring. I really miss the girl who helped me check in two years ago; she was fantastic, spoke excellent English, and handled everything perfectly. All in all, this visit was a bit of a letdown. Everything else was fine though; the room was spacious, and the surroundings were beautiful, especially with the cherry blossoms in full bloom nearby."

"This was by far the most satisfying and best value-for-money hotel during my trip. It's also in the Sannomiya area but on the Old Settlement side, which is a stark contrast to the lively food street across from it. The old district has a very 'old money' feel. The hotel itself is very new, and all the facilities are impeccable. For the price, it felt like a real steal! Huge thanks to the OP who shared about this hotel on Xiaohongshu before my trip – I decisively switched to this one, and not only was it cheaper, but the experience was also perfect."

"You could choose from a selection of amenities, and there was a welcome drink and snacks. Breakfast was also included, which consisted of a set of five small, toasted bread rolls and a beverage, allowing us to enjoy a warm breakfast. Being on the first floor, the noise from footsteps upstairs, outside, and in the hallway was quite bothersome. The bed seemed to be broken; one side was severely sunken, making it very uncomfortable to sleep on, which was disappointing. My husband's side was fine, however. We stayed here for a business trip as a couple. Aside from the noise issue, it was cheaper than a business hotel, and the bathroom and room were more spacious. So, I think it might be more comfortable to choose a non-business hotel when traveling as a couple. The staff were also very attentive."