Hachimantai Onsen Village Pension Hinode

The hot spring was lukewarm, so I could relax in it. This might suit people who prefer not to meet others or mainly need a place to sleep. I stayed without meals. The booking site says it, but there’s no TV or fridge in the room. Guests share one small refrigerator, already stocked with alcohol and other things, so there may not be much room for your own items. Check-in came with only a brief explanation. At checkout, you leave the key on the counter and usually don’t see any staff, but nobody explained that I could simply leave it and go.

I wasn’t expecting much, but the sulfur spring bath was private when the sign was hung, so I could soak without interruptions. The room was nice too, though there was no TV or cable. I wish they at least had cable music (^ω^). I’d booked one night with breakfast included.

For business, I had a twin room to myself. It was well cared for and comfortable, with Wi-Fi. There’s no TV, which made the place quiet and gave me a welcome break from everyday life. Best of all, the hot spring is wonderful and available 24 hours. Nearby convenience stores are scarce, so staying here takes some planning. Business hotels may be handy, but this place has something they can’t offer.

At first, the elderly woman who greeted us made us think of an old-fashioned hot spring inn. The guesthouse turned out to feel more like a Western-style villa paired with a Japanese hot spring, a combination Japanese people would love. The whole Yawataira Onsen-kyo had the feel of a summer resort that foreigners used to visit, and the place was incredibly clean.