Bettei Sora no ue

The road gets quite narrow near the end, so take care driving. We stayed in a children's room for our five-month-old daughter’s first trip. The room was clean, the staff were very welcoming, and we had a wonderful time. A couple of small things in the room could use attention: there was a brown stain about the size of a 1-yen coin on the back of the baby table, and quite a lot of dust on the ventilation fan, which seemed like it hadn’t been used. The rice portions were small, but there was a satisfying variety of dishes, so it’s worth thinking ahead about meal timing if you book meals. Everything tasted delicious. The hot spring water was mild, and seems suitable for a child’s first onsen visit as long as they don’t have skin issues. We especially loved the surprise plate for our daughter and the photos taken when we arrived and at dinner. We received the pictures in a frame on our way back. It was a really great inn, and one I’d like to visit again.

The walls seemed thin, since we could hear voices from the next room. That was bothersome, and I don’t think this place suits anyone looking for a quiet stay. The water in the private open-air bath was extremely hot, so we couldn’t stay in for long. The instructions said to adjust it with the shower, but the shower wasn’t working. I asked the staff to fix it, and although they tried, the problem wasn’t resolved. We stayed in the special room with an open-air bath, "Sora," from March 28th to 29th. It cost 96,800 yen with two meals, which isn’t cheap. The facilities and stay fell short of what I expected for that price, and I was quite disappointed.

The private open-air bath in the room was nice, but the food let us down. There weren’t any elaborate dishes, and it didn’t feel like a chef had made them. For the high price, the whole experience felt half-baked and just average. There are quite a few hotels with similar ideas these days, and I hope this one does better.

We were happy to find a hotel that only allows children under one year old, and brought our seven-month-old on the trip. There are just four rooms, or four guest groups a day, so it was very quiet. We barely crossed paths with other guests and could relax without worrying about them. The staff were so kind. They greeted us at the car and helped with our luggage, even though the rooms are only accessible by stairs and there’s no elevator. Many of them seemed to like children, which made us feel comfortable. The rooms were spacious, had child-friendly amenities and great views, and came with private bathrooms, so we could enjoy ourselves without worrying about other people. We drove there; the roads were a bit narrow, but the view made it worthwhile. I really want to go back, but my child will be one by then, so we won’t be able to stay there anymore. It was a very special memory, though. Maybe we’ll return when our second child is born, haha.