Suzaki Ryokan

Simple, standard ryokan in the middle of Chichibu village, very good value. Rooms typical Japanese style, quite nice, view onto a little garden. Very powerful aircon, and good sound isolation. Totally silent, slept like a baby. If you need total quiet suggest you tell them so they don't book you into the room right next to the rotenburo. One little problem was the pillows which were unacceptably soft, so I asked for a harder pillow and they concocted one by packing two small sobagara pillows into one pillow case and tightening it with a knot. Not ideal but did the trick. Suggest you call ahead or bring your own pillow. Food was standard ryokan fare, nothing to rave about but good enough. The rotenburo is small but neat, the indoor bath a bit shabby but again, it does the job. Ensuite toilet and bathroom tiny as is the custom in these lands. Suggest you use communal bath, as, again, is the custom here anyway. Nearby mountains make for good hiking, the valley and stream behind Lake Sakura (cf Urayama Dam) quite lovely for cycling and a dip in the cold stream.