Enmeikan

The onsen water is slightly fizzy and not too hot. It feels really good.

We couldn’t enjoy the garden or rooftop because of the bad weather, which was a shame, but our 24-hour stay was still enjoyable without getting bored. The building feels old, though it’s clean and has a playful atmosphere. The staff were all very friendly. I loved the beauty-enhancing spring water so much that I soaked four times. The food was stylish, delicious, and just the right amount. The hot spring runs a little warm, so I’d recommend the inn if you’re comfortable with that.

The room felt spacious, with a nice view from the window, and the staff’s cheerful greetings helped me settle in. I liked the original tea served at check-in and was surprised by the good range of affordable wines. There’s also an interesting library on the third floor where I read two or three books. The meal looked lovely, with a beautiful table setting. The lukewarm carbonated sulfur spring suited me since I like to soak for over an hour. My one gripe was the futon mattress: it was a bit thin, and I would have preferred a larger one.

Stayed in May 2026. The guest room was a renovated Grade-Up Japanese-Western Style Room, clean and with a view over the Chikugo River. Still, a few things were awkward: the paper-like blinds have to be folded almost like origami to open or close, which takes time; the refrigerator sits on the floor in the entrance hall, making it hard to reach and seeming unsanitary; and restricted water to the toilet tank made flushing very weak. The bidet was out of order too. The food was a Japanese-Western mix. It was reasonably tasty for the price, though not exquisite, and the sashimi portions were disappointingly small. The building is old but clean, and service and hospitality were fine. There was a strong disinfectant smell in the hallway, and a mysterious service charge of around 300 yen on the bill. They evaded my questions about what it was for. The hot spring was the highlight. The water flows straight from the source, with a faint sulfur smell, an alkaline slippery feel, and tiny carbonated bubbles that cling to your skin. The water quality is superb. It isn’t heated, so it’s lukewarm, but you can stay in for a long time and still warm up nicely. Conversation with other guests comes naturally. The private family bath didn’t have the carbonated component, so I recommend the public bath.