Reviews of Sanso Amanosato 5 stars

The dinner was superb, with super talented chef and knowledgeable sommelier. The staff were friendly too.

Nop

Overall we really enjoyed our stay in the hotel itself. What we liked especially: 1. The rooms & Onsen facilities - the rooms where beautiful and private, with a nice terrace that others couldn't see into. The Onsens could be used privately without an extra charge and for however long you wanted to. 2. The property overall is very new and beautiful & relaxing. We felt a lot like staying at a Safari Lodge! 3. The food was delicious and very beautifully prepared. I think this is also what you primarily pay for - a Fine Dining Meal in a nice place.

While the Staff was very helpful, we had a really tough time communicating a lot of the time, which resulted in the wrong orders, etc. I don't expect perfect English but given the price, I was a bit frustrated at times. The biggest issue we had with this property however, is that it's not actually in Koyasan. This was mostly an oversight on our part, but it did come up in our research for Koyasan and the pictures make it seem like it's closer too. If you want to go see the temples or cemetery, it's a 35-40 mins drive away. We ended up spending a lot of money and time in taxis, which took away from the hotel experience. Overall, this is a nice hotel but I think the price-value is a bit skewed. At almost $800/night, we expected excellent service, drinks or at least some drinks included with dinner, and a better location. And while the food was very good, it wasn't the best food we've had in Japan. If you have a car or at just interested in a relaxing time away in a modern Ryokan, this is a nice place, but I think there's still better price/value options out there.

From the moment we arrived, our stay at this stunning hotel was nothing short of extraordinary. Nestled in a scenic and peaceful location, the hotel immediately set the tone for a peaceful and rejuvenating retreat. One of the standout features was the private onsen baths—a luxurious and tranquil experience that allowed us to unwind in privacy. Another standout was the breakfasts and dinners. Dining at the hotel was a delight. Each meal was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. From traditional local dishes to exquisite gourmet options, every bite was a treat for the senses. The service was impeccable. Every staff member we encountered was genuinely warm, attentive, and always eager to assist. Whether it was accommodating our special requests or simply checking in to ensure we were comfortable, their hospitality exceeded all expectations. Mr Nakazawa and Ms Nishikawa in particular went above & beyond. Our room was spacious, elegantly designed, and incredibly comfortable. Koyasan is about 30 mins from the hotel and is a lovely town to explore as well.

N/A

Perfection. Best hospitality on earth. Impossible to describe in words. Best any four seasons or Aman. Service is stunning, literally wow !

Peaceful, beautiful ryokan. 1 BR is huge with great amenities. Property is lovely and the food is top notch. Presentation was spectacular. The three onsens got a lot of use!!! Staff is super responsive and take great pride in their work.

A bit remote without a car.

We really enjoyed our stay here. Everyone was really welcoming the onsens are great and for private use. The food was amazing. The room had all the possible comfort you can imagine. This stay was not cheap but worth the money.

Nothing

This is far more than just a hotel stay—it's a truly exceptional experience. Everything at Sanso Amanosato is superlative. From the extraordinary rooms to the exquisite 12-course gastronomic dinner, the sumptuous Japanese breakfast, and the serene sauna/onsen experience, every detail is thoughtfully crafted. The meals are nothing short of spectacular and could easily earn a place in the Michelin Guide. Considering all that’s included, the daily rate is absolutely worth it. I guarantee—you won’t regret it.

Everything was perfect.

Comfortable room and lovely food

Limited English spoken. Not a suitable place for visitors not speaking or reading Japanese ( room amenity controls and onsen availability via a Japanese iPad system). We didn’t find the decoration of the public areas particularly attractive.

Sanso Amanosato was the highlight of our trip to Japan. Nestled in nature, this luxury retreat offers outstanding service, spacious rooms with private wooden baths, and several beautifully equipped private onsens. We were warmly welcomed with champagne, and all in-room drinks were complimentary. The dinner was exceptional, and the breakfast, served in a wooden box, was just as refined. The hotel organized free transfers from Hashimoto Station and to the must-see village of Koyasan. A truly unforgettable experience.

Nothing !

I lived in Japan for years and have traveled back many times for work and to visit friends. This is by far the best ryokan experience I have had in all of Japan. The staff was attentive, the facility top notch and the food amazing (Michelin star level food). Easy access to mystical Koya san.

Every aspect of our stay was fantastic and well above my expectations. The multiple private onsen, the multi-course dinner and breakfast, and the staff were all amazing.

Service was excellent. Liked the smart automation in the rooms. Private onsen is nice. Cleanliness is excellent Meals were amazing. Mattress is hard like a rock. Pillows not so comfy.

The service was incredible from beginning to end. A staff member was already waiting at the local train station to pick us up, and the ride up to the hotel was comfortable and picturesque. The room and on-site amenities were incredibly clean, high quality, and large compared to other hotels that we stayed at. The individual private bath rooms were immaculate, and it was a pleasure experiencing the onsen with the complimentary drinks. Both meals that we experienced were great, the traditional Japanese breakfast was very good, and the multi-course dinner was very high quality and shared the region's specialties. The rice served was the best that I had anywhere in Japan, and a staff member even kindly made our leftovers into a rice ball that could be enjoyed in our room. I would recommend this location to anyone staying near Kyoto or Osaka and looking for a high-quality trip into the mountains.

Nothing - the experience was exactly what we were looking for.

The location was superb- in a tranquil setting, surrounded by mountains. We loved everything about the property. The staff were attentive, clearly proud of the work they do and were really helpful and friendly. The food, as everyone mentioned, was certainly the highlight. We used the private Onsen every day because we enjoyed it that much! The Suite was cosy, with all the necessary amenities and more, and the view from our terrace was great. All in all, the 4D3N stay at this gorgeous property was memorable and we cannot thank the staff enough- and especially the chef- for making our stay such a wonderful one.

Nothing!

The most luxurious and comfortable stay we had in all of Japan, and without a doubt the most service-minded staff we have ever met in the whole world! They were available anytime to improve our experience in any way they could. The food was Michelin-star worthy and the menu changed every night with inspiring dishes throughout.

Amazing facilities - there are three different onsen baths that are available to reserve while on property. The room was spacious and clean, service was top tier. Food was impeccable from the chef. It was 2 hours away from Osaka/Kyoto and an amazing retreat away from the busy city life. Will hopefully revisit again in the future!

We loved everything: spacious and beautiful bedrooms, excellent food (worth at least one Michelin star) offered by Chef OHIGASHI in parallel of great wines and sake list, 3 five stars private onsen, excellent personalized service, by Micky? and Matsumoto? the international great classy sommelier with a great sense of humour (sorry if i lost your names, please correct me in answer). You really feel more than at home in this unique independent hotel, where the owner has invested heavily to offer the best experience to his guests, in every details and spirit of excellence!

to not stay longer but we will come back!

food was very good, private onsen, staff very helpful

Cozy hotel on the way to the Koya san, a place to relax after or before a night trip to the mountain. Offers luxury bungalows with a stunning bathrooms and spacious bedrooms, 3 small private onsens on the site and a very good restaurant, serving japanese/western style dishes of a very high quality. The personal did everything possible to make my stay perfect, even offered me a free transfer to the mountain Koya and back.

Nothing, it was a perfect experience