Tanakaya
9/10 Exceptional - Based on 22 reviews
Tanakaya is a compact, family-run ryokan in Ikuji, Kurobe, established in 1911 and set around a 16,500 m² traditional Japanese garden. The property maintains nine guest rooms across a main building and an annex; every room faces the garden and is arranged in a traditional Japanese style to emphasize tatami living and seasonal views. The inn operates as a small, worked-through business with personal service: private dining rooms are used for evening kaiseki meals and breakfast, and staff note practical amenities for families and guests with mobility needs.
The ryokan centres on a local hot spring that feeds an indoor main bath whose orientation and glazing let guests look out over planted bamboo and garden features while soaking. Day-use bathing is offered alongside overnight stays, and the property describes the source as a legendary spring with historical associations; the bathing facilities are presented for shared use rather than as universal in-room private onsens. As a ryokan with onsen in Toyama, Tanakaya pairs the bathing experience with kaiseki cuisine focusing on Toyama Bay seafood and seasonal produce prepared by a chef trained in Kanazawa.
Practical services include a complimentary shuttle pickup for staying guests from nearby stations, free on-site parking and largely private dining, plus small touches such as coffee brewed with local spring water and a selection of locally made gifts. The setting—quiet seaside plains near Toyama Bay—makes the inn a straightforward base for coastal and local sightseeing. For travellers seeking a compact, garden-front ryokan with onsen in Toyama Prefecture, Tanakaya presents a measured blend of traditional rooms, communal bathing and seasonal, privately served meals.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Tanakaya
Positive Reviews
Warm, attentive staff and hospitality
Multiple guests praised the exceptionally friendly and helpful staff — attentive service, thoughtful gestures (including station pickup for those who contacted the hotel), remembering children’s names, and making guests feel welcomed and honored.
Outstanding cuisine
Many reviews highlight the food as a major strength: multi-course, fresh local ingredients, plentiful variety, and memorable presentations. Several guests called the dinners and breakfasts superb or among the best they’ve had.
Authentic traditional ryokan atmosphere
Guests appreciated the classical Japanese style, traditional rooms, and a sense of stepping back in time. The ryokan’s decor, private dining setting, and overall traditional experience were repeatedly noted as genuine and special.
Clean, comfortable rooms and relaxing garden
Reviewers reported well-cleaned, spacious, and comfortable guest rooms with cozy futons and a pleasant indoor garden or courtyard for quiet walks. The property’s cleanliness was repeatedly emphasized despite its age.
Relaxing onsen experience
The onsen was described as peaceful and restorative; several guests found the baths suitably hot and soothing, and enjoyed slow, relaxing time in the hot springs and the tranquil surroundings.
Negative Reviews
Aged facilities and fixtures
Multiple guests noted that the property is older and some equipment shows wear — examples include older room fittings, dated water fittings, and an overall vintage appearance that may bother those expecting modern facilities.
Shower and bathing convenience issues
Several reviewers mentioned limitations in the bathing/shower setup: some rooms lack private in-room showers, communal shower areas are older, and shower temperature control can be difficult (very hot water and separate cold taps), requiring extra effort to adjust.
Accessibility challenges
The ryokan has many steps and level changes; reviewers reported that this makes movement difficult for wheelchair users or guests with mobility issues.
Limited on-site amenities
A small number of guests suggested additional amenities would be useful (for example, a small shop), indicating on-site services are limited compared with some larger hotels.
Occasional minor food expectation mismatch
While overall food received high praise, one guest mentioned the rice (claimed as local Koshihikari) did not meet their personal expectation — suggesting occasional variability in specific meal components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rooms in the main building and the detached annex generally accommodate 2–5 guests, with traditional tatami and futon bedding; the ryokan has nine guest rooms in total.
Yes — Tanakaya uses a natural hot spring with public baths that overlook the garden and are cleaned daily for guests to enjoy.
Private onsen baths are available in the detached ‘Kikuhouan’ annex (a stone-bath fed by the spring); main building rooms use the shared public baths.
A complimentary shuttle is offered for staying guests from designated stations (for example Shin-Kurobe, Ikuji, and Kurobe-Unazukionsen); advance reservation by phone or email is required.
The nearest airport is Toyama Kitokito Airport — take the airport limousine bus to Toyama Station (about 25 minutes), then transfer by train to Ikuji Station and use the ryokan shuttle or local bus to reach Tanakaya.
The ryokan provides information in English and accepts English enquiries, but Japanese is the primary language on-site; advance contact by email is recommended if you need English assistance.
Meals focus on seasonal Toyama Bay cuisine served as traditional kaiseki and are presented in private dining rooms or in-room where requested, with attention to local seafood and seasonal ingredients.
Tanakaya is a good base for local highlights such as Kurobe Gorge and the coastal Ikuji area; the ryokan is also close to roadside stations and local fish markets accessed by the Ikuji Loop Line.
Check-out is at 10:00; check-in generally begins at 15:00 — for half-board plans check-in is typically until 18:00, while room-only or breakfast plans may allow later check-in (please confirm at booking).
Pets are not permitted, though the ryokan can recommend nearby pet hotels; for supplies there are local shops and a nearby Michi‑no‑Eki (roadside station) served by local buses — reception can give exact directions.