Irorian

We had limited options in the Muikamachi area as it was a long weekend (with everybody from Tokyo hitting the snow) and going by the photos of the Irorian we had fairly moderate expectations. So what a wonderful surprise to enter such a lovely space and be greeted so warmly by the staff in this gorgeous traditional ryokan. For a start, for those relying on a GPS to get there, take the route that passes the Muikamachi Ski Resort - the other option is a long skinny road that was blocked by snow. Having said that, it's EASY to get to - not far out of town but backing on to a lovely treed area. We can't comment on the food as we didn't eat there but next door there is a wonderful, warm delicious Italian restaurant that we would highly recommend. I'll let the photos tell the story but a few notes: - the lighting in our room was the usual horrible green/blue fluro glow you get so often in Japan but after we 'borrowed' one of the lantern lamps just outside in the hallway it was perfect. Plenty of room for the 3 of us (couple + teen). - the Irorian has all the facilities you need for your stay, including Yukata, toiletries, etc. Plus the bonus of a drying room for any ski gear, a cute little gift shop and a restaurant (book meals in advance). - the photos of the onsen area don't do it justice. The outdoor onsen was lovely. Once you're warm enough to sit on the rock edges, you can gaze out onto snow-covered fields and trees. The showering area is great and right next to 2 indoor onsens, one larger and one smaller one (that seemed to have bags of healing herbs soaking in it). Perfect after a long day on the slopes. - they added taxes to our 'total' quoted booking fee from booking.com so make sure you're clear about inclusions. All in all, a great stay!! Hopefully the photos I've added give a clearer idea about the quality of the lodgings :)