Imagine that your Japanese grandmother lived deep in the mountains, across the street from a rare vine bridge across a gorgeous mountain river. And that she kept a hot bath waiting for you. And that she was expert at preparing and presenting local dishes for breakfast and dinner. And that her son was friends with the best tour guides and taxi drivers in the area. That’s what it feels like to stay here.

I only wish I had stayed more than two nights.

Lovely Japanese style room. The futon were comfortable and the shared bathroom was very clean. There were multiple toilet facilities as well so even though there were others staying, we never had to wait. The owner was so kind and wonderful. Despite not having dinner booked, she whipped up a meal for us and breakfast was also gorgeous. The location was excellent for seeing the vine bridges. It was a few minutes walk down the hill and she provided flashlights to go have a look in the evening as well. It was also handy to have a parking space as the vine bridges charge for parking.

The stairs are a bit steep and narrow. If you have a very big suitcase I would recommend leaving it in the car.

The quaint inn is about a six-minute walk from one of the valley's features, the Vine Bridge. Nearby are Biwa Falls and access to the Iya River. We loved the atmosphere of the little inn and the lovely lady who ran it. If you like big concrete hotels, stay away, but if you like the quaint atmosphere of a small country inn, this is the place.

Transportation can be a problem as it is located way deep in Iya Valley. Bus run but not frequently. It costs about 3,500 yen from Oboke Station by taxi because we missed the last bus at 5:08 p.m.

We came to Japan 10 years ago and had an excellent time. This time was even better and my family agrees that the Iya Ryokan was the best place we have stayed in Japan. We love the woman who showed us around, chatted with us, and served amazing breakfasts and dinners. We wanted to take her with us! Such a beautiful location.

I can't think of anything that would make this place better. It was the perfect authentic stay.

I really looked forward to breakfasts and dinners - everything was delicious. I wish the owner was my grandmother so that i could eat her food every day. The room was spacious and clean. The view from the room is spectacular. The location is also very convenient and near the bus stop and an onsen. I did not face any issue with the shared shower.

Doors are thin so you can hear everything in the corridor.

The family owners were welcoming and helpful. Breakfast and dinner were delicious and filling each day. Our rooms were just big enough to accommodate our crew. So close to the vine bridge, it was an excellent starting point for our adventures.

Competing for access to the shared bath is a little tricky. Some of the family struggled with the rice-filled pillows a bit. Other than the lack of their own onsen, there's not much to quibble with. Really a pleasant place.

My stay was great - the room was well appointed and spacious, and the included breakfast in the morning was delicious. The host was welcoming and friendly, and assisted me with the bus timetable and recommendations for my time in Iya. I would stay here again.

Not a comment about the ryokan, but it is located at the top of a windy road with a decently steep incline - it's not long and manageable to walk up in comfortable shoes, however travellers with mobility impairments or heavy luggage should be aware and might opt to take a taxi.

The food was the stand out. So glad that we chose this Ryokan. Location is 5 min walk to the Vine Bridge. Ample parking for guests. We were not used to Japanese style accommodation, but so glad we chose it. Make sure you take the option with breakfast and dinner. You will not regret it!!

Location was perfect, very near to the Vine bridge at Iya Valley. Meals were great and tasty. They had a home cooked vibe. This ryokan basically feels like visiting grandma.

The taps didn't put out clean water after a while. It was rusty pipe water. I suggest stocking up on bottled water before coming. Also everything nearby closes super early, don't expect anything to be open after 5pm.

very small ryokan, only few rooms, which gave a personal feeling. the location was great, minutes' walk from the wine bridge. the owners were super nice and prepared the kids food they like. The traditional food was very tasty, and we really liked it. The room was big and had we needed. shower and toilet super clean. excellent value for money

really few minor things: no washing machine, the stairs to the room are steep, i thought there was an onsen nearby.