Akizuki Kuoritei

Dinner was Western-style, made with local ingredients, and both the flavor and portions pleased me. Breakfast was Japanese, and the salted egg-on-rice was delicious. We ate in a semi-private or private room behind the front desk, and the heaters by our feet were welcome in the cold season. At Akizuki, each building stands separately, so I could relax without worrying about other guests. The bath in my room had a steady flow of spring water, slightly thick in texture and just the right temperature. Amenities were supplied too, which was helpful.

The room was a little small, but just right for two, and I kept returning to its lovely stone bath. The spring water flowed continuously and was surprisingly clear. Staff were warm and polite, and the set-course meals were delicious and generous enough to leave me completely full. We stayed July 10th and 11th, and those two days felt truly luxurious. Next time I’d like to try a higher-class room.

The staff’s thoughtful attention made the stay especially pleasant. There’s no shop at the inn and no convenience store nearby, so you may want to bring drinks if that matters to you. The meals are hearty, though, and you’re unlikely to be hungry. They provide insecticide in the room, but summer brings plenty of mosquitoes, so I’d bring anti-itch cream. The detached rooms also seem safe for families with children, though to me it feels more suited to adults looking to unwind. My husband and I chose the inn because we wanted to relax in a hot spring bath in our room. Having a private rock bath with water flowing straight from the source felt wonderfully luxurious, and it was lovely to soak before bed or first thing in the morning. We were also given a free two-day pass, so we drove a short way to the public day-use bath. The view from the open-air bath was amazing. We checked in just after 3 p.m. and went right over, when there were very few people. The in-room bath was so comfortable that we only used the public one once. Dinner was kaiseki, with dishes we both kept calling delicious. We especially wanted more of the scallops wrapped in salmon with mustard and white sauce. There was a great variety and just the right amount, and the menu changes with the seasons, which gives us something to look forward to on a return visit. Breakfast was even more filling, so I nearly skipped lunch. The boiled tofu and wild egg on rice were gentle and tasty, and the yogurt with domestic acacia honey was nice too. The room fridge had one beer, two 500ml bottles of mineral water, and two cans of orange juice, all free. There were also two 500ml bottles of mineral water in the bathroom, plus a complimentary coffee machine at reception. With such a lovely inn in the prefecture, we’ve decided we’ll definitely come back for anniversaries and other occasions.

We came to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and prepare to hand over our home before moving to Asakura City. The excellent food, wonderful hot springs, and lovely hospitality made the anniversary special and made us even more excited about our move. We’d thought we probably wouldn’t visit a nearby inn often, but we’d like to return for anniversaries and other occasions. Thank you, and sorry for the long message. The staff were welcoming from the phone reservation onward, and I was looking forward to the visit. That feeling proved right. From arrival through dinner and bedtime, I could relax. It started raining lightly as we arrived, and they thoughtfully had umbrellas ready for everyone in our room. The room was a little small, and there were bugs in the sleeping area, which is to be expected at a mountain inn. I felt a bit scared and couldn’t fully relax there. But the attached bath was spacious and tastefully designed, and its excellent water came straight from the hot spring, so I was able to unwind in the room bath.