Yumenoi

The onsen baths were roomy and so relaxing, and the rooms were comfortable and spotless. The food was amazing, too. They went out of their way to accommodate my vegetarian diet, though I’d suggest giving them advance notice so you don’t have to mention it at the last minute like I did. The staff were lovely and friendly, and their English was good, which we appreciated since we don’t speak Japanese. We had a fantastic stay and would recommend the hotel to anyone nearby looking to unwind.

We felt welcome and at ease, and they even prepared a multi-course meal for my vegetarian partner although it wasn’t on the menu. The baths are spacious and nice, and we also really liked the private bath. We were able to communicate in English, too 🙏

The views, rooms, and service were incredible, and this was the part of our honeymoon in Japan that we treasure most. Dinner was authentic and pretty damn good, though it may not suit every Westerner. I hardly speak Japanese, but the staff at Yumenoi took wonderful care of me. My wife and I will be back soon, and this place is why we’re visiting Japan again. A couple of things could make the visit easier. The directions for getting from Himeji to Yumenoi by train and bus could be clearer on the website. You can take a bus from Himeji that passes Yumenoi, or use the free Yumenoi bus, which stops at a smaller regular train station in town. Also, the hotel is on a big mountain, with the service entrance on one side and the main entrance around the corner. Google Maps led us to the service entrance, and on our first visit I walked up the mountain on the wrong side. A “DO NOT ENTER” sign there would help. The right entrance does have a Yumenoi sign. Try one of the Japanese-style rooms with the cedar bath. It comes with a little porch and your own hot spring bathtub.

I only tried the onsen facilities, which were very nice and fancy. There were at least four outdoor baths, including two with special properties, plus one large indoor bath. The changing stations had facial and hair products, a blow dryer, and a straightener-curling iron combo, which came in really handy. It’s a bit far away, but easy to reach by car, and you can still get there by bus.