Kyounso

The rotemburo was spectacular, and sitting by the hearth in the lobby with coffee around 7am was a lovely way to start the day. We stayed in Japanese-style tatami rooms with a beautiful view. Dinner was delicious in a private dining room across the hall, and breakfast in the dining room was excellent too. It's a beautiful mountain onsen near Hachimentai National Park, and a great base for a couple of nights and some hiking in the hills.

The meals were some of the best I've had, and over our three nights we didn't seem to eat the same thing twice. The onsen was clean and relaxing. It stays open 24 hours, and it never felt crowded; even with other guests, it was easy to find a quiet corner. This was our first stay at an onsen ryokan, and Kyounso went beyond what we expected. The staff were wonderful, greeting me by name when I arrived. When we went out on day trips, someone marked local attractions on a map for us. Most signs around the building are in several languages, including English, and there's a room binder explaining onsen etiquette for guests like us who weren't familiar with it. Highly recommend.

The food was very local, and the hotspring had a traditional feel. I really liked the Japanese-western room and recommend booking it ahead of time. If you're driving there in winter, take care on the way up, since some stretches of road are quite steep.

After the bath, we relaxed in a spacious, clean hall decorated with folk crafts. The scenery around the inn was fantastic, with tall trees and patches of snow still melting. My Japanese sister drove us to a Matsukawa hot spring in the mountain forest on Mount Iwate. We especially enjoyed the open-air bath, soaking in the clear sulfur water while taking in the snowy forest views. It was a wonderful, relaxing experience we'll never forget. You really should try an Onsen, a hot spring bath, while in Japan.