Tatsunokuchi Onsen Matsusaki

My much-anticipated end-of-year trip turned into a terrible day. It was so uncomfortable I couldn't sleep. The food was delicious, so it was a real shame. We booked a room with an open-air bath, but the shower had no hot water. Then, the aromatherapy treatment my husband and I booked on the day of our stay was extremely unpleasant. First, when the treatment began, the waiter asked, "Where are you from?" I replied, "Saitama," and he replied, "That's tough... Muslim? From Kawaguchi." I understood he was referring to the Kurds, but I live quite a distance from Kawaguchi, so I was annoyed and wondered why they were talking about Kurds. I love aromatherapy treatments and even graduated from therapist training school, but I was subjected to many of the treatments I was told not to do, and I felt so sick I almost threw up. I get treatments at various spas two or three times a month, but this was the first time I'd experienced such an unpleasant experience. Curious about the situation, I asked, "Do you work at this inn?" and he replied, "I don't understand what you're talking about." Next, I asked, "How long have you been working here?" and she told me she was a 40-year veteran, but her technique and customer service were below average. Aromatherapy treatments are supposed to have an appropriate amount of oil applied, but she applied a huge amount and simply glided her hands over my skin. Also, every salon I've had treatments at (I think I've had treatments on about 100 people) has always made sure my breasts weren't visible, but this one was completely exposed, which bothered me. In the pre-treatment questionnaire, I listed my concerns as "shoulders" and "scapulae"—and since my feet were tired from traveling, I also listed "sole of the feet"—but I was also very concerned that she barely touched them. If you want the treatment you want, don't make me fill out a questionnaire. It's a waste of time. I had many other concerns, so I said, "That's a lot of oil," and she continued talking about Ayurveda, saying, "I'll use more Ayurveda." When I asked, "I didn't book an Ayurveda appointment, did you?" she unexpectedly asked me, "Was it weak?" At previous massage parlors I've been to, I'm always asked "How's the pressure?" during the treatment, so it was strange that I wasn't asked even once here. I looked at the massage menu in my room and booked an aromatherapy treatment instead of an Ayurvedic one, which was disappointing. Not only was I unable to sleep, I was also feeling unwell and in a bad mood, so please be careful if you're thinking of booking a massage here.

I stayed here on September 8th after being recommended by JTB. There was a wooden bath in the room, which was very relaxing. The hospitality was excellent, and it's an inn I'd definitely like to visit again.

It has an elegant image. The customer service and hospitality were worthy of its high ratings. I'd definitely go here again.