Hotel Futaba in Yuzawa

I can't give this a good review!
I've stayed at so many ryokans with dinner and breakfast included, but this Futaba really left a lot to be desired! First off, the guy at the front desk checking us in was so quiet, he didn't even give us the most basic information like which floor the hot springs were on; he just handed us an all-English hotel guide. Second, this is the only onsen hotel I've ever stayed in where the bathroom smelled, and even the carpet in the entryway by the toilet had a urine smell... Then, the hot spring was just a regular public bath, and there wasn't even an ice pop after soaking. Finally, when we left, the staff didn't help us bring our luggage from the lobby to the shuttle bus. I had to drag it to the bus myself, and then the staff finally came out to open the door and help us load it in. (We were the only family on the bus at the time) It's just a really hard experience to rate...

Chinese guests, beware. I felt a strong sense of discrimination against non-Japanese speaking Asian guests who communicated in English, a condescending superiority, especially from the young guy at the front desk. The environment and facilities are acceptable for the price, though it's a bit of a walk from the JR station – doable if you're young and don't mind a stroll. The hotel's dinner and breakfast had a distinct Japanese character and a nice sense of ceremony, but don't expect gourmet food.