Yamanaka Onsen Kuriya Yasohachi

We booked a balcony room with a private onsen while visiting Yamanaka for the Kaga Spa UTMB race. Soaking there after the race was especially nice, and the river view through the bamboo was beautiful. The dinners alone made the stay worthwhile. Chef and waitstaff member Aiko were excellent, and each intricate dish was fresh, delicious, and beautifully prepared. There were some maintenance issues: electrical tape around one of the washroom taps, a washroom bench in poor shape, and wallpaper peeling or missing in several spots. You get just two 500ml water bottles, and extra bottles cost money. Oddly, the reception lounge has unlimited sake and wine from a dispenser, plus coffee from a bean-to-cup machine. The locals were polite and friendly, and the trails around Yamanaka were incredibly beautiful. We plan to return for the 2026 Kaga Spa UTMB.

The staff were very friendly and helpful, but I was most frustrated by not being told in advance about the renovation and receiving no discount or compensation. They still charged me extra for a last-minute room change. The hotel fell short of my expectations. While I was there, renovations completely blocked the view from the living area, and nobody had warned me beforehand or offered compensation for the disruption. I’d originally booked a standard room, then emailed to ask for an upgrade to one with a private onsen. The late change came with an extra charge, so I had to pay a bit more.

A relaxing private onsen looked out only over bamboo and the river, and the breakfasts and dinners were a whole banquet of flavors. Hiroko and Naomi were among the warm, friendly staff who did their best to accommodate us. They arranged everything from the shuttle bus to luggage service between Kyoto and Tokyo. This was the absolute highlight of our two-week trip. Yamanaka is within walking distance, a lovely town with friendly people and wonderful ceramics, and Kakusenkei Gorge is ideal for beautiful nature hikes. Highly recommended, especially for couples!

Quiet, calm, and relaxing. In the lobby there were free drinks and snacks each afternoon, and the service was so welcoming and hospitable. I want to go back! Not much is right nearby, but a quick shuttle into town got us to shops and lunch. Once the rain stopped, we walked back to the inn. The public baths were nice, with free ice cream afterwards. My wife and I stayed two nights on our first trip to Japan. Using Google Translate on my phone, I arranged for a shuttle to collect us at Kagaonsen train station. We arrived on the new bullet train service. On our balcony, we loved soaking in the 109F hot spring-fed stone tub overlooking the rushing river. The included tasting menus for breakfast and dinner were carefully prepared and served in our own private dining room. The textures and tastes were new to us, and we didn’t enjoy every one, but we absolutely enjoyed the experience. I wrote a few haikus during the stay: Water keeps flowing. Enjoy the chef’s prepared meal. Now soak and unwind. Forty Eight Point Two That’s the heat in Celsius! Ease into the tub. Rice garden lobby. Tatami feels nice underfoot. Ready to unwind. Just robes and socks now. Such a shift from the big city. Love the quiet peace.