Hotel Platon

There's a sento here, which makes the place really worth it, especially since it's not expensive. The rooms are a bit oldish.

The rooms were clean, though old, and free parking was handy. There's also an EV-compatible charger. The hotel's large public bath felt bigger and more comfortable than Kashiwaya and Wakanoyu, but its water is circulated, filtered, and heated rather than flowing straight from the source. The welcome drink was tea, not coffee. At each room, guests had to take off their shoes in front of the elevator and go barefoot, or in simple slippers, through the hallways and rooms. It was a unique, memorable setup. The toilets had no washlets or heating. The hotel sits in the heart of Kamiyamada Onsen, with restaurants nearby, and offers free hot spring tours at affiliated groups. Kashiwaya and Wakanoyu have free-flowing hot springs. Their simple sulfur water had a subtle sulfur smell and a green, lush green color. At around 42°C, it was a little hot but very warming. I enjoyed an evening in the retro Showa-era Togura Kamiyamada Onsen.

The large public bath water is partly circulated, but it was a comfortable temperature and didn't smell of chlorine. The room itself is quite old, and there are stains on the chairs and other furniture, but it was cleaned well, so that wasn't a problem. The older business-hotel room has a light and outlet by the pillow, and the Wi-Fi worked well with no stress. At the front desk, black tea, barley tea, and iced tea are free, and the vending machines charge the same prices as outside, which is nice. A few things were less convenient: the desk is a bit small, the unit bath has no washlet, and the room lights run through the key. That can make charging the battery awkward on a multi-night stay or when going out. I'm also a little concerned about what's inside the refrigerator.

The place is old, and there are broken parts all over. There's a sauna regulator, but somehow no sauna room. Shoes are strictly forbidden in the rooms, so watch out if you walk barefoot. The room gets damp and can make you itchy. (･･;) There's only one coin laundry, with no dryer, and my room had just two hangers, so I gave up on doing laundry. My company booked it, so I couldn't choose, but if I were paying myself, I'd pick a better hotel.