Ishiba Ryokan

Walking distance to the beautiful cherry blossom Festival at Hirosaki Park. Owners were very responsive and helpful.

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!

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.

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.

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

Perfect central location to Hirosaki Castle and sights. Very walkable. This is wonderful for the budget traveler looking to experience a traditional Japanese ryokan.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

First time in japan I wanted a heritage experience, something traditional. the staff was excellent in providing service.

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.

Beautiful ryokan, quiet and extremely clean. Room was spacious and comfortable. Staff were friendly and had everything prepared before I arrived.

Great location to visit Hirosaki Castle, just only 5 minutes walk from Hotel

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.