Yugiriso Hotel

Breakfast was amazing, and the bath had both indoor and outdoor areas. It could get crowded since the inn has quite a few rooms, but they provide lotions, combs, and foot massage tools. The staff were friendly and helpful. Our room was spacious, with its own toilet and sink with a mirror. We could leave our bags before check-in and after checkout, too. There was a little souvenir shop where I bought more of the sweets they’d served with tea when we arrived. A lovely traditional stay.

The staff were kind and helpful, and both the indoor and outdoor onsens were relaxing and well maintained. But the place badly needs an update. The rooms, bathrooms, walls, and carpets all felt dark, grubby, and unpleasant. The walls are thin enough that we could hear staff working far down the hall early in the morning, so sleeping in wasn’t really an option. Smoking is allowed in the bedrooms, and the lingering smell bothered us. The toilet room was musty and dingy as well. WiFi only works in the lobby, not in the rooms, if that matters to you. For over ¥15,000 for one night, I expected better. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The meals were a highlight: we had both a traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast, with generous portions and good quality food. The lady hosting us worked hard to make us comfortable. If you enjoy Japanese food and traditional service, the room meal experience is lovely. If you don’t, this probably isn’t the place for you. Staff came into the room for meals and to put away the table and lay out the futons, then left us to ourselves. It feels like a small family-run business, with a traditional atmosphere. You pay when leaving, which was different from the other hotels we stayed at. Breakfast is at 8 or 8:30, and they set up about 20 minutes beforehand, so this isn’t a place for sleeping in. After checkout, we could leave our luggage as long as we picked it up before 1300. The onsen is open nearly all day and night, closing for half an hour in the morning and again at night for cleaning. There are indoor and outdoor baths. The room also has a western toilet and a regular bath and shower if you’d rather skip the onsen, though being at a ryokan made us want to try it. Getting here by bus takes a while, but it’s convenient for Owakudani. Thanks for the experience.

The open-air onsen, sitting in a rock pool, was fantastic. It’s communal and separated by sex, so couples shouldn’t expect to bathe together. The location is great, about a minute’s walk from the lake, with Mount Fuji and beautiful shinto shrines visible in the distance. Dinner costs a lot and is optional, but if your budget allows, I’d say it’s worth having. There were so many dishes that it felt like a private banquet. On arrival, they show you to a traditional Japanese room and give you robes to wear. The whole stay felt like stepping into another time, and it became one of my most memorable travel experiences. If you’re spending a couple of nights at the lakes while in Japan, check this place out. I’d take the dinner advice too.