Matsushima Ichinobo

8.9

This Ryokan has an overall rating of 8.9/10, based on 277 reviews.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
🥇 1st	竹泉荘 Chikusenso Onsen	9.7/10	225
🥈 2nd	Komatsu-kan Kofu-tei	9.2/10	1,097
🥉 3rd	Tokinenoyado Yunushi Ichijoh	9.2/10	56
4th	THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch	9.2/10	39
5th	Sakunami Onsen Yuzukushi Salon Ichinobo	8.9/10	533
6th	Matsushima Koumura	8.9/10	325
7th	Matsushima Ichinobo Current ryokan	8.9/10	277
8th	Minami Sanriku Hotel kanyo	8.8/10	2,207
9th	TAOYA Akiu	8.8/10	1,347
10th	Saryo Souen	9.7/10	8
11th	Shinyu Onsen Kurikomaso	8.8/10	65
12th	Yumoto Kissho	8.6/10	1,025
13th	Kaze no Sawa	10.0/10	1
14th	Sakan	8.4/10	722
15th	Simamegurinoyado Sakai	8.4/10	152
16th	Ryokusuitei, source Kagari-bi à Sendai Akiu Onsen	8.4/10	0
17th	Ryokan Sanjirō, l’auberge du kappa	8.3/10	402
18th	Akiu Fuga	8.1/10	189
19th	Rantei	8.0/10	1,052
20th	Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Kounkaku	7.8/10	865
21st	Shintomi-tei	7.6/10	373
22nd	Sansatei	7.5/10	220
23rd	Hotel New Mitoya	7.3/10	64
24th	Hotel Kameya	7.5/10	503
25th	soraichi	4.0/10	215

Check-in from 3:00 PM

Sea Views Garden Setting Hot Spring Town Public Onsen Open-Air Bath Indoor Bath

Location

981-0215 Miyagi, Matsushima, Takagihama 1-4, Japan

Staff 9,0/10

Facilities 9,0/10

Cleanliness 9,0/10

Comfort 9,0/10

Value for money 8,0/10

Location 9,0/10

Bayfront Onsen ViewsOpen-air baths overlook Matsushima Bay, with especially memorable sunrise and moonlit scenery.

All Rooms Face BayGuest rooms are positioned toward the bay, making the signature scenery part of the stay.

All-Inclusive StayRates include meals, hot spring access, and added in-house perks for easier planning.

Convenient Station ShuttleShuttle service from Matsushimakaigan and Matsushima stations helps smooth arrival without a car.

Matsushima Sightseeing BaseWell placed for enjoying the famous bay area and nearby Matsushima attractions.

Mixed Room StylesOffers both bed-based western rooms and Japanese-style futon rooms for different preferences.

Recommended stay1-2 nightsScenery and the resort routine are the strongest stay driver here: arrive by mid-afternoon, use the baths and sauna before dinner, enjoy the all-inclusive lounge and evening music, then see sunrise bathing, breakfast, the garden, and nearby Matsushima sights the next day. A second night works if you want a slower pace or to split town sightseeing from on-property relaxation.

Trip-planning verdict: Best used as a scenic Matsushima resort stay for 1 night, or 2 nights if you want slow baths, meals, garden time, and light local sightseeing rather than a packed regional base.

Know before booking

Weak long-stay baseMatsushima sightseeing is rewarding but limited in density, so 3+ nights here can feel stretched unless you already want resort downtime.

Not private-bath focusedVerified bath facilities are shared public onsen and spa areas; do not choose it expecting a reservable private onsen setup.

Dining timing mattersThe property experience is anchored around dinner, breakfast, baths, and lounge hours, so late arrival reduces the value noticeably.

Seigaiha (on-site)

on-site

Main dining venue with made-to-order buffet for dinner and breakfast.

Sea View Lounge (on-site)

on-site

Relaxed lounge for cafe time, bar time, and night drinks with bay views.

Wine Cellar (on-site)

on-site

Small pairing-focused wine and local drink selection linked to dinner service.

Distances are approximate and calculated from the ryokan coordinates. Travel times may vary depending on route, traffic and schedules.

Useful access points Stations, stops, airports and practical travel advice.

Best way to arrive For most travelers, arrive via Sendai Station, continue by local JR train to Matsushima or Matsushima-Kaigan, then use the ryokan’s shuttle if available or take a short taxi. If flying into the region, Sendai Airport is the most useful airport and usually connects best via the airport rail link to Sendai Station before transferring onward.

JR Takagimachi Stationstation
390 mabout 10–15 min on footabout 3–5 min by taxinot usually the main choice for visitors; local options are best checked locally
Potentially the closest station by geography, but usually less convenient for first-time visitors than Matsushima or Matsushima-Kaigan.
JR Matsushima Stationstation
1.2 kmabout 15–20 min on foot, depending on luggage and routeabout 5 min by taxihotel shuttle may be available; otherwise best checked locally
Best all-round arrival station for the ryokan itself; practical if you want the shortest final transfer and are carrying luggage.
JR Matsushima-Kaigan Stationstation
1.6 kmabout 20–30 min on foot, depending on route and luggageabout 5–10 min by taxihotel shuttle may be available; otherwise local transfer time is best checked locally
Very useful for sightseeing in central Matsushima and commonly used by visitors; good if you plan to explore the bay area before or after check-in.
Sendai Stationstation
21 kmabout 45–60 min by car in normal conditionsabout 50–70 min by JR train plus final local transfer
Main regional gateway for Shinkansen and long-distance rail arrivals; the best transfer hub before continuing to Matsushima.
Sendai Airportairport
30 kmabout 45–60 min by car in normal conditionsabout 1.5 hours overall via airport rail link to Sendai and onward JR train, plus final local transfer
Most useful airport for this ryokan; usually the simplest flight option for visitors heading directly to Matsushima.

5 reasons to choose this ryokan best points

Bay views from every roomThis property is built around the scenery of Matsushima Bay, and all rooms are positioned to face the water. That gives the stay a strong sense of place rather than just a generic resort feel.
Memorable rooftop onsenThe top-floor baths are a real highlight, with open-air and scenic bathing areas facing the islands of Matsushima. The view is especially appealing at sunrise, which makes an early soak feel worth it.
All-inclusive feels genuinely usefulDrinks, sweets, lounge time, and parts of the in-house experience are bundled into the stay, so it feels relaxed once you arrive. This works well for travelers who do not want to keep calculating every extra charge.
Better-than-average dining setupIts chef-led order buffet is more polished than a standard hotel buffet, with freshly finished plates and a strong focus on local seafood from the Sanriku area. Breakfast also appears to be a highlight rather than an afterthought.
More to do on site than usualBeyond the baths, the property adds a sea-view lounge, a large waterside garden, sauna and stone spa facilities, and access to the Kyohei Fujita Museum of Glass. That makes it easier to enjoy a full stay even in bad weather or on a slow travel day.

5 reasons not to choose this ryokan watch-outs

Less intimate than a classic ryokanThis is a sizable resort-style property, so it does not deliver the highly personal, family-run atmosphere some travelers want from a traditional ryokan. The experience feels more curated and polished than deeply intimate.
Not every bath is truly open-airSome room categories mention view baths, but those are not hot spring baths. If you specifically want a private in-room onsen, you need to read the room type very carefully.
Dining style may not suit puristsEven though the food quality looks strong, the meal format centers on an order buffet rather than a full kaiseki served privately in your room. Travelers seeking a formal multi-course ryokan dinner may find that less special.
Premium feel likely means premium pricingWith ocean-view rooms, all-inclusive service, spa facilities, and a scenic Matsushima setting, this is positioned more as an upscale retreat than a budget stay. It may feel expensive if you mainly need a simple sightseeing base.
Best if you plan to spend time insideA lot of the value comes from the lounge, baths, garden, food, and museum access, so a rushed one-night stay may underuse what you are paying for. Travelers who will be out all day may not get the full benefit.

Current position: 7th out of 25 ryokans in Miyagi.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
🥈 2nd	Komatsu-kan Kofu-tei	9.2/10	1,097
🥉 3rd	Tokinenoyado Yunushi Ichijoh	9.2/10	56
4th	THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch	9.2/10	39
5th	Sakunami Onsen Yuzukushi Salon Ichinobo	8.9/10	533
6th	Matsushima Koumura	8.9/10	325
7th	Matsushima Ichinobo Current ryokan	8.9/10	277
8th	Minami Sanriku Hotel kanyo	8.8/10	2,207
9th	TAOYA Akiu	8.8/10	1,347
10th	Saryo Souen	9.7/10	8
11th	Shinyu Onsen Kurikomaso	8.8/10	65
12th	Yumoto Kissho	8.6/10	1,025