Ryuten Observatory

Only stayed 1 night and wouldn’t care to stay longer. Room is small and had an odour. Very basic hotel stay not worth the price; stayed in much nicer hotels in Japan for far less money. Upside is it’s located a few minutes walk to train station and 10 minute walk to Kurashiki Old Quarter.

Outstanding. Likely the best feature of this property. It is highly convenient, especially if arriving from Okayama. For travelers with luggage, taking the Limited Express train is strongly recommended for ease of access. The room was spacious and very clean, making it ideal for families or those traveling with a lot of luggage. The only minor flaw was a slight layer of dust on the high ledge above the beds. Unmanned check-in was seamless, and the remote customer service team was quick and responsive. A washing machine and detergent are provided in the room, which is a fantastic bonus for longer stays. There is no dryer—plan to air-dry your clothes. The day before my check-in, I received an email allegedly from the hotel requesting my credit card details, threatening cancellation if I did not comply. I was exhausted angter 20-25 k steps from all say and, fearing cancellation at an unmanned hotel, I unfortunately provided the information. This turned out to be a sophisticated phishing scam. While thankfully nothing was charged to my card, I had to immediately cancel it, which caused a major inconvenience for the remaining three weeks of my month-long trip in Japan. While the hotel is not to be blamed the management should investigate how this leak occurred. Putting my experience here for causation for other travelers.

fantastic place. great location. great onsen