Ryokan New Ougiya

The meals were a highlight. Dinner was brought to my room, and there was a big selection from appetizers through the main course. The sashimi, hot pot, tempura, chawanmushi, Western-style dishes, and final rice were all carefully made and delicious. They make onsen eggs at the factory next door, using the hot spring water, and serve them at both breakfast and dinner. They were especially good, and breakfast was delicious too. The inn upgraded my booking from an eight-tatami Japanese-style room to a larger 14-tatami room at check-in, and gave me one complimentary use of the private open-air bath. I was touched by the unexpected thoughtfulness. I chose the inn partly because its water comes directly from the source. The small inn has only 16 rooms, and its large public bath was small, but it uses a mix of its own bicarbonate spring and the shared simple spring from Tsuchiyu Onsen. The water felt moist and smooth. The private ceramic open-air bath was lovely as well. Before breakfast we went to the large public bath and the family bath, which is open anytime it’s available. I was told the family bath has the inn’s most concentrated water, and it was extremely hot, probably over 45°C. Staff warned us and said to check the temperature and add water, so we did. We bought some onsen eggs to take home. A fantastic inn, and one we’d like to visit again. Thank you!

We’d like to stay here again, and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a hot spring trip with their dog. The staff serve all meals in the room for dinner and at the dining venue for breakfast. If your dog can stay alone, you can leave it in the room during breakfast. The homemade meals use local ingredients and come in hearty portions. The hot spring eggs served at breakfast are apparently made with the inn’s own water. There’s also a drink vending machine on site, but no nearby convenience store or vending machine. After walks, we came back in through the rear entrance, where there’s a hot spring foot bath for dogs to wash their feet, with special towels provided. The room was very clean and had no dog smell, as it’s deodorized with ozone after each stay. Guests have to put “manners belts” (pet diapers) on dogs in the tatami room, sold for 100 yen each. Cages are also available, though my Shiba Inu jumped over them easily. The shoji-covered windows have no blackout curtains, so streetlights and the hotel’s electronic signs kept the room bright even in the middle of the night. That could be improved. The hot spring flows freely. The underground water is 62°C, while the large bath is 43°C and the private bath is 45°C. You can add water with a hose if it’s too hot, but I found it right and just got in. It’s not concentrated, so you can soak several times. The water was a little hot, simple, colorless, clear, tasteless, and odorless. Nearby Takayu Onsen is a sulfur spring, so this water has a very different composition. It’s relatively rich in bicarbonate ions and metasilicic acid, which is good for skin, and my skin felt smooth afterward. The pH is 7.49.

The inn makes a strong impression right from the entrance, with nearly a thousand “wooden mustard seed boxes” welcoming travelers. It feels like a natural expression of local culture and the area’s connection to the land, rather than something set up as a photo opportunity. There are eight hot springs with different water qualities and independent sources, so I could bathe whenever I wanted without crowds. With so few rooms, the baths often felt like private pools. The water was hot and clear, pleasantly warm, and never felt heavy even during a long soak. The exterior is an old building, but inside it’s remarkably modern. My room was spacious with soft lighting, a comfortable balance of old and new. Dinner was generous and memorable: chicken hot pot, horse meat, sashimi, ribbonfish tempura, and honeycomb salad. Each dish tasted sincere, with no unnecessary additives, and the flavors felt pure and rooted in the season and place. This inn doesn’t chase extravagance or rush to impress. Through the baths, food, and space, it gives you time to rest properly. I’d want to return when I’m looking to relax and enjoy myself.

A lovely inn that was great for kids too. The hot springs came in a good range, and the food was delicious. The children especially liked the homemade onsen eggs and pudding.