Kiimiso

Free coffee and soft drinks are available without limit, which was a really nice touch. The traditional Japanese breakfast used local ingredients, and most dishes were labeled in English too. I couldn't arrange dinner in advance through my travel agent, and the nearest restaurants are a 20-minute walk away. At check-in around 15:30, there was no staff there, so I called. They arrived promptly. The room felt depressing because sliding doors shut off the veranda and blocked natural light. The outside view is only good when you open the windows. The onsen bath was hard to relax in: the water source is loud, splashes up to 1.5 meters away, and keeps the water in constant waves. Staff were extremely nice. The common areas are themed around Sanada Yukimura.

Even though it was only one night, they looked after us well. I came with a work colleague for a short trip, having booked without knowing much about the place. We were the only guests from Sunday evening to Monday morning, probably because it was early winter, but dinner and breakfast were served as usual, which I really appreciated. Breakfast was mainly rice and a special pork miso soup, plus plenty of pickles and grilled dishes. I ate my fill. I had asked for a Japanese-style room; it suited the building and location and worked fine for us. The front desk and restaurant staff were welcoming. The bath had the feel of a national lodging house, and the alkaline spring water left my skin smooth. I think winter tires would be needed if driving here in winter. I'd like to come back in warmer weather. Thank you for your hospitality.

I may have expected too much from the hot soak and curry (;;) The water was really nice, but nobody else was around, and there was no chance to get curry. A foreign staff member at the counter spoke broken Japanese. I showed him 1100 on a calculator, though I'd heard the price was 1500 yen. It came with a towel and just one drink. I had some cold tea and left. That was it.

It's small, but really pretty. The hot spring is known for its beauty benefits, and the water has a light, refreshing taste. A nice overnight stop for hikes on Mount Kongo or Mount Iwawaki, with cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves later in the year.