Numajiri kogen lodge

Many people come for the polished service you'd hardly expect in the mountains, with distinctive guest rooms and course meals made from Tohoku ingredients. There's also an acidic sulfur spring that flows freely, so you can enjoy it any time during your stay, alongside the hot springs. Mountaineer Junko Tabei once owned the lodge. It was inherited by Okawaso of Ashinomaki Onsen, Aizu, and reopened in 2019.

It was cold outdoors, but inside the lodge was warm from the gas and wood stoves, making it really cozy. We were there on a weekday and, perhaps by chance, there was only one other person staying. The food was lovely too, with dishes I wouldn't normally have tried. We could relax in the lounge as well. A really wonderful lodge!

I loved the room's atmosphere and the quiet highland setting was relaxing. Having a bath in the room that I could use whenever I wanted was nice. The indoor bath was smaller than I'd pictured, which was a letdown, but the lodge itself felt comfortable. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to spend most of their stay in the room.

We came in winter, and the hot springs were amazing. The place was stylish and clean, the food was delicious, and I was impressed that drinks were unlimited. No surprise that a Japanese mountaineering legend cared so much about this lodge.