Yashiokan

*This review is based on the perspective of a solo business traveler, someone who loves the Showa-era vibe, and someone who prefers quieter spaces. Date of stay: Weekday (2 days, 1 night starting Thursday), room only. There were three other guests that night. It seems to get busier from Friday onwards. [Building, Parking, and Customer Service] There were two parking lots on the left and right sides of the front door, but one seemed to be closed depending on the number of guests. The building is fairly old, but the main entrance appears to have been renovated, and the lobby was clean. It seems they operate with a small staff on weekdays, so there aren't many staff members, but they are very helpful. Since I was staying room only, I bought a bento box at a local supermarket about a 5-minute drive away and asked the front desk to microwave it. [Room] Toilet (with washlet) and bathroom available. The toilet has a washlet, but there was a slight odor coming from the nozzle, so I thought it might not be used often. I didn't use the bathroom. Shampoo is provided in individual packets, not bottles. There is also a sink. There was only one bath towel and one face towel, and no bath mat. If I had to say something, it would have been nice to have an extra towel for drying your hands. The futon was laid out in advance. The tea kettle was filled with hot water and kept warm. The balcony was quite spacious and the view was great! There were guests in the next room, but the noise wasn't too bothersome. [Hot Spring] The hot spring was available until 11pm and from 6am. There were only three groups there, so we had the whole place to ourselves. The water temperature was just right and very pleasant. I think the place is well-maintained. The shower pressure isn't very strong, so take your time rinsing. Oh, by the way, there was no hair dryer in the room, so you had to use the one in the changing room. This can be a problem when it's crowded. Maybe my room just happened to be the only one without one? I don't know. [Business Perspective] It's great. The Wi-Fi is WPA3 secure. First of all, the speed was blazing fast. 300Mbps. This makes it the perfect situation to work while soaking in a hot spring. The table is big, too. If I had brought an extension cord, it would have been perfect. The hair dryer, towels, and amenities were a bit lacking, but the comfort more than made up for that. Next time I'd like to try it with meals included. This is for business use only. Couples and families with large demands will probably need to compromise.

The front desk, including the exterior, appears to have been recently renovated, giving it a modern and beautiful appearance. The exterior of what appears to be the guest room is so old that it's easy to mistake it for a different building. I hoped the interior of the room might have been renovated as well, but I was completely disappointed. The refrigerator is an old-fashioned drinks drawer, so it doesn't keep drinks cold even if you bring them with you. The room is a very spacious Japanese-Western style, but the floor of the Western-style room creaks when you walk on it, so it's hard to hide its age. Still, the hot spring and food were excellent. While the hot spring doesn't have an open-air bath, the water temperature was just right for relaxing and warming up. The meals, both dinner and breakfast, were both very filling and delicious. My children were quite demanding, but the staff were very accommodating and welcoming, which I appreciated. The view isn't spectacular, as there's a forest outside, but the birdsong in the morning was lively and refreshing. Although it's an old, not-so-large inn, the customer service is excellent.

It was a quiet and comfortable inn. They gave me a room near the elevator to accommodate my walking problems. The room had a Showa-era feel, was spacious and well-cleaned, and the view of greenery and the sounds of insects outside the window was soothing. The landlady was very nice. The food was also carefully prepared. The duck meat and local soup were delicious. The natto served in a bowl at breakfast also showed their attention to detail. The hot spring was a little deep, and the waterfall made from Sanba stone was unusual. The water was very warming. The price was reasonable, and I would love to stay again. I returned at the end of the year. The food was very well-prepared, plentiful, and delicious. They served freshly fried tempura, and I was impressed by the thoughtfulness of the kamaboko (fish cakes) they put in the morning with a decorative knife. I think it's a great inn.

I think it was about two years ago. I went there intending to use the day-use hot springs. When I entered the entrance, I saw someone who seemed to be the manager or owner, deep in conversation with someone they knew. I waited for them to finish their conversation, but it showed no sign of ending, so I called out to them and said I wanted to use the day-use hot springs. They replied in a harsh tone, "Time's up, it's closed!" I admit it was my fault for not checking the day-use bathing hours beforehand, but I left thinking they didn't need to speak to me like that. They might be subservient to overnight guests, but that's the kind of person you'd expect to find at a ryokan (Japanese inn).

The retro-style guest rooms offer stunning views of forests and mountains outside. As you get older, quiet is a true luxury. The meals were also delicious. We ordered extra Joshu beef, which was tender and not greasy at all; my sons were very happy. Above all, the quality of the hot springs was excellent; I went in six times during my three-day, two-night stay. The shower pressure was also very strong, making it stress-free. Since it's close by, I'd like to make it my regular lodging and visit frequently to relieve my daily fatigue. I think I'll be staying here again.