We visited late at night just for the onsen. We were told by the staff at the gate that we had to purchase our entry tickets at a machine outside. Since the options were all in Japanese, we had to ask him for help multiple times which he provided very reluctantly.

As we would be leaving the spa after midnight, we had to pay a midnight surcharge which doubled the entry fee (this seems to be the norm) but he informed us that we would have to pay everything in cash. I asked him if we could pay the surcharge by card since we were not carrying that much cash on us and he informed us that no, they only accepted cash.

He sent us to Don Quijote one block away at midnight to change our USD to Yen. They did not have a money exchanger. We found ourselves stranded at midnight with everything around us rapidly closing... thankfully the train station was still open waiting for the last train and the personnel there helped us find the closest money exchange machine (another hotel about 3 blocks away). We hurried there in the cold where we were able to change cash and hurried back.

The best part of this? When we checked out - we had to pay the midnight surcharge to the attached hotel concierge which accepted card. ARGH!

The onsen itself was fine - it had multiple "types" of baths that you can try although directions and explanations are in japanese. It was relatively clean but could have done with more internal heating since it was freezing when walking between baths.

We stayed here for two nights in a Japanese style room. Two adults and two children. Flat pillows, hard floors (As you sleep on, trying!) Loud noise from the air conditioning, smell strange. It is strictly forbidden to bring food into the hotel. If you do, you go out! Before this stay, we stayed several nights in a Machiya (traditional Japanese wooden house) in Kyoto where it was absolutely amazing. Spa World does not know how to get a comfortable comfortable feel with Japanese style in the room.

The hotel was nice and clean. Process of leaving hotel for outing is quite strange. Lobby should be reorganized so hotel is on one side and spa on the other. The elevator did break down and I was stuck at spa for a few hours. Didn't have lounge wear large enough for me. Onsen Spa area was clean but could use refurbishment. Good selection of baths this is gender segregated and all you get is a small wash cloth. I did run into to a few cleaning ladies while changing but it is mostly men. I did get a massage while there it was great after a long day but you enter nude and she makes you put on seethru shorts that she cuts off after a few minutes. You get covered with towels most of the time so It's kind of wierd. Overall it's worth it.