Refresh In Hirugami No Mori

It rained all day, so we missed the famous starry sky we’d come to see. I was glad there was a playroom for kids. Parents could easily nod off while watching, but there were exercise machines, including treadmills or bikes, and a table tennis set. Most of it was pretty old, though it kept my five-year-old busy.

The meals were the highlight of the trip. Dinner and breakfast were both so, so good. The morning market and a walk by the river were pleasant too, and there’s a convenience store about a 15-minute walk away. The hot spring is small but good quality. As some of the first foreigners in town, I had trouble explaining what I needed at the front desk, and there were logistical issues due to traffic down. I was in room 206 next to the smoking room, and the nonstop talking from midnight to 2 am kept me awake and really annoyed me. Service overall was okay.

The facility is pretty old, but the onsen is amazing. You can soak while looking up at the starry sky at night.

A really good place for families. The food is great, and there’s an actual water park inside, plus an onsen.