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Reviews of Ishiba Ryokan

2.5 out of 5
Ishiba Ryokan
Mototeramachi 55, Hirosaki, Aomori-ken

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 44 out of 80 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 26 out of 80 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 80 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 80 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 80 reviews" "

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

8.8/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Awesome, atmospheric place to stay a mere minutes walk from the park made this the perfect place for visiting to view the blossoms. The hospitality of the host was also unmatched with great recommendations of the area!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wendy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Warm and Welcoming Ryokan
We had a thoroughly relaxing overnight stay at Ishiba Ryokan. The owners’ hospitality exceeded expectation, even driving us to a local restaurant. The on-site onsen was soothing and the traditional beds comfortable. It was a wonderful experience.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our stay took us back in time due to the ryokan’s historic past. It’s rustic charm, welcoming owner and helpful staff made for a memorable experience.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Steve

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The boss is very kind to send us to the train station. he also give us a welcome drink likely if you inform early he will be able to provide you transport if he is free walking distance to hirosaki castle
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Budget traveler
Perfect central location to Hirosaki Castle and sights. Very walkable. This is wonderful for the budget traveler looking to experience a traditional Japanese ryokan.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sean, Irvine, CA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Just to get the only negative out of the way, keeping a 100+ year old building updated isn't easy. For example, the indoor plumbing is exposed in the restroom. That's really all I have for a negative comment. Moving on... The people running this place really left a good impression on me. Very attentive. They kept tour information handy, so my first day's adventures were thanks to what was at the front desk. I wasn't just handed the tour guide, we walked through it together. I was told the cafe at one of the gardens is really good, so I ate there, and had to agree. Also, because there was a festival going on (Neputa), those who wanted to go were walked to two rows of reserved chairs 15 minutes before things got started. Oh, and the seats were conveniently located between a couple of food stalls. The room was nice as well. The standard futon, tatami mats, and tea set (and hot water container delivered outside your door twice a day). I also had a nice view of a little garden.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

PhoebeT, Sugar Land, TX

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Unaware this ryokan is considered a "nationally designated important cultural property" until we saw the plague on the wall outside the main entrance. The young manager/owner(?) is very courteous and insisted driving us to restaurants for dinners even though they are 10 - 15 min. walk away. He also drove us to the train station early in the morning so we can catch our connection. We truly appreciate his Japanese hospitality. Another unexpected thing was that one early early morning, we found mama-san (old lady) cleaning our shoes left on the shoe racks at the hotel entrance. I felt embarrassed but also very pampered. Definitely excellent service and an experience not found in hotels. Have already recommended this ryokan to my friends and family.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Scott, Seattle, WA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A True Historical Experience
I was looking for an authentic Japanese ryokan experience, and Ishiba Ryokan is it! Built in 1879, it is a designated historical property, and although it has updated electrical and plumbing systems, it still has the ambiance of an old Japanese inn, with old wood and creaky stairs in the original wing (there is an additional wing with slightly newer rooms as well) and rooms with tatami mats and futon for bedding. So comfy! It is definitely not one of the super-premium, high-priced, estate ryokan with its own sushi master and kimono-clad staff. It is family run and friendly, perfectly located near the Hirosaki castle park, gardens and old samurai residences. For large groups, there is a dining room, and a kaiseki Japanese breakfast is extra by request. The communal bath is clean and not too hot (I have been scalded by the bath in other inns), and the rooms all have views of the simple but beautiful courtyard. And next door is a tiny private bar with a 1960s Rat Pack theme! Highly recommended!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2018

8/10 Good

elaine, Honolulu, HI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice ryokan and super nice people in Hirosaki!
Since we stayed at Ishiba Ryokan in September, the weather was lovely and we didn't need any space heaters, unlike some of the experiences of other guests. We did need the air conditioner, however, which was a bit tricky to turn on (no remote control, just a switch on the air conditioner itself), simple and functional. When we arrived at 3 p.m., we were greeted by a long-time staff who had been with the Ishiba family for years. Our check-in was conducted completely in Japanese, in our room, over a cup of freshly brewed green tea, sitting on zabuton cushions--and we understood about 5-10 percent of her explanations, LOL--but filled with a lot of smiles and kindness. And Ishiba-san welcomed us in the evening when we returned to the inn, treated us to apple cider and apple wine at the bar just a few steps away. Thank you, Ishiba-san! And thanks for recommending the loveliest place for apple pies and coffee! The inn is only a 5-minute walk to the gardens and castle. I would love to see this town in spring and autumn with all the splendid colors of nature. We plan to be back. We've met some of the friendliest and nicest people in Japan in Hirosaki.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2017

10/10 Excellent

Ryan, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place to stay for the cherry blossoms.
A neat and tidy Ryokan in Hirosaki. Staff was extremely friendly and very helpful with any questions regarding food and things to do. Would definitely go back again.

10/10 Excellent

Travis, Phoenix, AZ

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fantastic Family Stay in an Old Samurai House B&B
The owner and his wife were outstanding in welcoming us to their Ryokan. The House is over 140 years old, and has the rustic feel as if you were traveling in time to the Meiji Period. My children enjoyed staying on the futons and tatami mats in our room, which looked out over the snow-covered garden. Only a 5-minute walk to Hirosaki castle grounds, where my children had a great time looking at all the preparations for the snow festival. The mini-onsen on site was also fun for my 2 boys. The owner and his wife also adjusted the breakfast meal to accommodate my children's taste. Overall, very memorable for our 2 nights.

4/10 Poor

Glenn

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disappointed
Ishiba Ryokan needs a major update. None of the rooms are heated except with space heaters. On arrival, our room had an old kerosene heater running that put out a strong and noxious odour.it was so bad that for the next 2 days we had to leave it off. This meant the room was so cold we had to keep allof our outdoor gear on while in the room - same as outside. The toilet is crude and not up to Japanese standards. The shower/tub room (like the toilet) is also not heated so going in for a shower or a bath is not fun. This ryokan may be OK in a warmer season but not mid November onwards. The owner is very nice and helpful. Helped us find restaurants as there were none around and drove us to the station on departure. He also speaks pretty good English. The location is good for seeing the main reasons for visiting Hirosaki. All of the major spots can be walked to from the ryocan. The castle does not exist anymore and the castle grounds are average. The Fujita Garden is the highlight of things to see - very beautiful. The street of Buddhist shrines/temples is OK but not special. Mostly relatively new except one at the end of the street. Lived in Japan for a dozen years and return often. Have stayed in many ryokans and small hotels. Cannot recommend this place and would not return.

10/10 Excellent

Archie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Authentic, personal and friendly
My girlfriend and I stayed here for two nights before heading off to Aoni Onsen. I was on the outset a little apprehensive about Hirosaki because it doesn't appear to be a key point on a tourists trip to Japan, but this soon changed. Hirosaki was by far the most personal, memorable and welcoming place I have been to in Japan. This was exemplified by our stay in Ishiba Ryokan, where we were met with warmth. The building is historic, and the rooms extremely comfortable. For those seeking an authentic experience look no further. Yes the bathrooms are far away, but that is to be expected at a traditional Ryokan. I was sad to leave the town after the kindness received, and my girlfriend on the verge of tears. The recommendations provided by the host and his wife were spot on and he drove us to the station - he also helped me with my onward plans, calling up the next Ryokan, and writing down bus and train times for me.

8/10 Good

Wai Yun, Hong Kong

Liked: Staff & service
With hospitality, it is a super nice hotel for stay and relaxing. It is clean even the hotel is old. Some room facilities need to refurbished. We will stay this hotel again when we visit Hirosaki

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Traditional
First time in japan I wanted a heritage experience, something traditional. the staff was excellent in providing service.

10/10 Excellent

Marc, Paris

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very nice ryokan
I found this ryokan just one day before I arrived. I booked very easily here. It's well located, near the castle and the garden. It's an old house but very clean and lovely. The owner was very kind. He spoke many languages fluently : Japanese, English and French. He invited me to have a drink in a bar close to the ryokan. The room was very clean and typically Japanese. There was an onsen too.

10/10 Excellent

Rach, Melbourne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Walking distance to Hirosaki Castle
Beautiful ryokan, quiet and extremely clean. Room was spacious and comfortable. Staff were friendly and had everything prepared before I arrived.

10/10 Excellent

Chansuda, Japan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great location to visit Hirosaki Castle, just only 5 minutes walk from Hotel

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A Step Back in Time
We felt privileged to stay at this almost 150-year old ryokan, first opened by a Samurai in the Meiji period when times they were a-changin' and alternative forms of employment had to be sought. The current owner is the great-grandson.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Closest hotel to the Castle
Great old place with atmosphere, will stay there again!

10/10 Excellent

Akira, United States

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
One of a kind experience
Ishiba-san went the extra mile to make my stay as enjoyable as possible. I probably was one of few stayers that day, I beleive. I was on an Onsen trip in Aomori and Akita. He drove his own car to show me around the city. He even drove me to a nearby hot spring that's known only to the locals. The breakfast was yummy.

10/10 Excellent

くみこ

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
創業明治12年で、建物そのものに歴史も感じますし、城下町弘前の歴史を感じられる旅館です。 弘前の歴史をもっともっと知りたくなりました。 弘前公園からも近く、桜まつりの時期もとても便利で良いと思います。
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

サエコ

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

ミヤト

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

直徳

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

YOSHIHIDE

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

コガ

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
想像よりは古かったです。　元はお寺のような建造でした。合宿感が感じられる
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

hisao

Travelled with partner
施設は歴史を感じる良い雰囲気でゆっくりくつろげました。
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

ヨウスケ

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

みちこ

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
登録有形文化財に指定されている歴史ある古い建物だけれど、塵一つなく床も柱もピカピカに光っていて清潔な旅館でした。掛け軸・壺・螺鈿の置物・ひな人形・柱時計・屏風・太鼓橋など、博物館の中にいるようでした。客室の湯呑も朝食の器も、一つ一つが品のある良いものでした。焼きたてのお魚が付いた朝ご飯、美味しかったです。ご主人も奥さんもスタッフの方々も、温かい笑顔で迎えてくださって、とても豊かな時間を過ごすことができました。ありがとうございました。
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

ping

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

YUPENG

コスパが良い、良い、良い。
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

ひろゆき

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

たつや

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
弘前城へ徒歩5分の好立地。館内は歴史のある古建築ながら清潔で、旅先の宿として必要十分。オーナーの石場さんはじめスタッフの方は皆親切。ホスピタリティに溢れる旅館でした。
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

CHIN-LING

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
壊れている物が多く感じました 部屋内のお風呂など 使用中に壊れたらと、ヒヤヒヤしながら入りました
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
スタッフの対応がとてもよく、ねぷた観覧に行く時も、詳しく説明をしてくださいました。朝食が付いていなかったのでお願いしましたら快く受け付けてくださいました。朝食は、地元の食材が使われたもので、とても美味しかったので、ご飯をお代わりしました！帰りは、きちんと靴が揃えてありました。また弘前に行くときはここに泊まろうと思います。ありがとうございました。
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

結局止まってないのでわかりません
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Staff & service
お風呂上がりに櫛、綿棒など用意して欲しい。
Stayed 1 night in May 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
総合的には対応良し　伝統歴史素晴らしい　ガーデンビューでなく間違いあり残念なのはトイレが狭く フックなし残念
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019

8/10 Good

huichen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
雖是老建築，沒有電梯，共用衛浴……但古味十足。
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

AKIO

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
親切にしてくれました。懐かしい温かみのあるお宿です。
旦那さんがすごく親切にしてくれました。駅前まで車で送ってくれた上に、青森のりんごジュースをつけてくれました。駅まで距離があったのでとても助かりました。 お部屋は和風の温かみのあるお部屋で、ストーブを焚いて待っていてくれました。お風呂も人工温泉ながら気持ち良かったです。また泊まりたいと思いました。
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019

8/10 Good

YI SANG

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
弘前城附近的老旅館
旅館位於弘前城附近的小巷子裡，地點方便，又不失安靜。建築本身頗為古老，小庭院很幽靜，雖說房間和浴場相對老舊，但住起來整體還算是舒服的。
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

daisuke, Tokyo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
有形文化財での滞在
店主・スタッフの気配りが素晴らしく、庭のよく見える部屋で快適な滞在が出来た（外出が少ない事を踏まえて）。 ウェルカムドリンク、観光案内、快適な布団など随所に心配りが感じられ、弘前は再び訪れたい目的地になった。 130年以上の歴史を持ちながら、施設は清潔に保たれており、期待以上だった。
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
古い建物で趣がありました。お湯が途中で止まったり階段が多かったりと設備の面では100％満足というわけにはいきませんが、歴史を感じることができる旅館でした。宿のご主人が気さくでとても良い方でした。
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018