It was one of the best modern traditional Ryokan Ive stayed through all Japan. The private outdoor onsen and surrounding nature is surreal

Stayed in August 2025

Be aware there are two norikura bus stations (for some reason). They are on different sides of the mountain and very far away so please do your research how to get here correctly. I went to the wrong one and had to take 4 more buses to finally arrive.

This is probably one of the best hostels in Japan. Super affordable. Beautiful nature all around. Hot springs in the hostel. amazing common areas where I met amazing people. I highly recommend.

Stayed in June 2025

Nice Hostel, extremely kind staff.

Stayed in May 2025

I slept with the bed curtain open to have more fresh air, so maybe having some kind of ventilation in bed units would be great.

The place has great atmosphere! It is super cozy and you can feel that the staff has thought through everything. The open-air bath was amazing and it's really great that all the baths are booked for private use so you can use it as a couple or even if you have tatoos. All the common areas were clean and had everything possible - the kitchen was very well equipped and it was no problem to cook a proper dinner if you had the ingredients. I was also presently surprised to see some plant-based curries among some products you can buy on site. They also have a shuttle bus to closest restaurants and information on their menu including notes on whether they have vegetarian menu. I was travelling alone and booked a bed in hostel-type room and it exceeded my expectations. The bed itself was pretty spacious, the room had a sink and a mirror and most of all I was glad to get a lot of space for my luggage as it is usually a problem in such rooms, but here I had more than I needed. The location is great even if you are travelling by public transport and perfect for a stay before going up Norikura Mountain. I would definitely like to stay here again and maybe I will come with my boyfriend next time.

Stayed in July 2025

the onsens were amazing. nice breakfast, nice staff and great location, very cozy enviroment which provided a comfortable stay.

Stayed in June 2025

Not necessarily things I personally didn't like, but things that my family members had trouble with. Firstly, this location is not mobility impaired friendly. All the rooms are located on the second floor and there is no elevator or ramp up. This was a problem for my mother who has arthritis in her knees. Something to note if you have or are traveling with someone who has mobility issues. Secondly, the room I stayed in had a bit of a mold issue. We didn't visibly see mold, but could smell it every time we returned to the room. It wasn't a problem for me, but my partner ended up sick as she has mold allergies. We were staying at the height of summer, so humidity was high. I imagine this isn't an issue for travelers who come during the winter months.

Had a great stay here. The outdoor onsen especially was a delight. Yes, the water smells like eggs. It's sulfuric. But I noticed my skin felt especially soft after, so don't let the smell deter you. It feels great. The bagels they give for breakfast are delicious, and there is a free freshly ground coffee available. On one of the non-cloudly nights of my stay I was able to see the stars very clearly - I even spotted a shooting star! It was magical. The staff is young, friendly, and helpful. Feel free to ask them to make reservations for you at one of the nearby mom and pop style restaurants. And do not miss out on the gelato and coffee available at their cafe nearby! Location wise, Raicho is excellent. You're a short walk from several trails and a short bike ride or drive to some lovely waterfalls.

Stayed in July 2025

Not a criticism of the property, but I wish we had brought some food to cook as we arrived late-ish, so food options were a bit limited

Laid back, youth hostel feel. Helpful and attentive staff

Stayed in July 2025

The best part of our trip to Japan!

Stayed in June 2025

Does not include a full breakfast. Only one bagel and coffee/tea.

Great location and bath. Nice facilities, very clean and comfortable. Hot water was not working in onsen, under repair. Does not include a full breakfast, so bring some extra food with you!

Stayed in July 2025

Everything is perfect

Outdoor onsen

Stayed in June 2025

Having a private toilet would be nice.

I loved everything about this place. People were super friendly and helpful. I loved the onsen and surrounding area.

Stayed in June 2025

The staff was very friendly and helpful. The onsen (outside) was quite an experience!

Stayed in June 2025

Nothing, everything is as expected

Friendly and helpful staff, very good facilities and comfortable for relaxing. Very good coffee

Stayed in June 2025

Nothing

Staff were absolutely amazing, helped me plan an awesome adventure during my stay. Great vibes at raicho.

Stayed in May 2025

The place is not accessible without a car. Even finding a place for a meal is not easy. We spent quite some time going from place to place to look for a restaurant that is open. Some restaurants indicated in Google maps as opened were not when we reach there.

The moment we reached the inn, the vibes from the host Yuma and team was so good. We felt so welcomed and the place sets us at ease. Even the guests are more friendly. Yuma is especially welcoming and helpful, we feel very comfortable with her. The young people in the host team is excellent. On the inn, the photos put up in Booking.com does not do the place justice. My daughter was not looking forward to stay here based on the photos. But we entered the place, we were pleasantly surprised. Can consider putting different photos.

Stayed in May 2025

Nothing everything was amazing

The location was beautiful, quiet and with nice hikes around. We used the private hot springs every single day , hiked and also rented bikes from Raicho and had a nice ride around.

Stayed in May 2025

Amazing accommodation. Beautiful rooms (great soap and shampoo in the bath). The privat Onsen experience was priceless (super easy reservation table next to reception).

Stayed in April 2025

This inn is located in a scenic area with access to wonderful hiking trails and outdoor activities right from the doorstep. At the staff's recommendation, I walked to a beautiful waterfall and pond close by. The birch forests in the area and views of Mount Norikura are absolutely stunning. We found the area very peaceful with few people around when we visited mid-week. We enjoyed our time soaking in the onsen baths. As my partner has a couple of small tattoos, it was great that they were private and therefore tattoo-friendly. The outdoor bath was a particular treat. The staff were very friendly with great recommendations for the surrounding area. Our room was very large and the futons comfortable. I wish we could have stayed longer than just one night.

Stayed in May 2025

Nothing

Everything was so clean and the staff were phenomenal. They offered a dinner shuttle to restaurants for free. Onsens are an amazing way to relax after hiking. If you come to Norikura, stay here!

Stayed in May 2025

Great service . Love the e facilities onset and common spaces. Super clean

Stayed in April 2025

Nothing

The best I’ve ever stayed

Stayed in May 2025

It has great onsens and nice trekking options nearby. It was amazing stay.

Stayed in May 2025

Very friendly staff, great Onsen and great facility with all you need to prepare dinner

Stayed in May 2025

Our stay at Raicho was just fantastic, thanks to the super friendly and professional staff members and the increadible cozy guest house (the fire place was just soo relaxing). The staff was highly attentive and booked dinner reservations, shuttled us to the dinner places or also bus stops and was always on top of what we were planning to do (e.g. when we planned to rent out mountain bikes, the staff already had prepared everything in the morning on the day we went for the ride). Many thanks to the whole Raicho team making our 3 night stay a highlight of our Japan trip!

Stayed in May 2025