Yoshinotei

The food was delicious, and the hotel was nice!

I ended up missing the open-air bath after dinner. The food was so good, and the hot water bottle tucked into my futon was so warm, that I fell asleep before it closed. Sadly, the outdoor bath isn't open in the morning. I even bought a pair of chopsticks to take home, lol, and the shiitake mushrooms they served with tea in the room made a great souvenir too. The kaiseki meal was delicious, and the head chef was wonderful. Both the rooms and shared areas were well kept, and the facilities had been renovated appropriately. The Tenryu River view was pretty limited, which was a shame, though I suppose that's just how it is.

The hot springs and food were good, but the rooms seem to be hit or miss. My son's family had a room with a nice view that didn't feel dark, and even the single flower in their vase was different. Maybe theirs was a cheaper room, though I can't say for sure since my son invited us, lol. Room 20, the single room tucked around the back corner, is one I'd avoid. A big tree blocks the river, and there's a cemetery if you look left. The window view is awful. The inn itself is old, and although the tatami and sliding doors had been replaced, the dark green walls made the room feel like a zashiki-warashi might show up. I couldn't relax there. It felt straight out of the Showa era.

We had a lovely trip staying at Yoshino-tei, and both the dinner and breakfast were delicious. My husband and I have really warm memories of the stay, and we'd definitely come back when we're in the area. The building and interior are showing their age, but everything was very clean and cared for. There were fresh flowers in the rooms and hallways, which felt soothing. The staff were very polite and greeted us with wonderful smiles.