Yuzankaku

We loved this place, and the people working here were so friendly. I was almost hesitant to write a review because I don’t want over-tourism to spoil it, but it’s so good that I want others to know. We travel around Japan a lot, and this was the best value we’ve found. For about $160 a night for two, it included Japanese breakfast, three hours of happy hour drinks and snacks, plus a 90-minute dinner with all-you-can-eat food and drinks, including huge amounts of crab and other seafood, local sake, beer, and shochu. You also get a room and access to three hot springs in the building. That price would barely cover a few drinks and overpriced appetizers in NYC. The hotel has a faded mid-century, Rat Pack era charm, with marble hallways, Greco-Roman baths, a giant golden phoenix in the lobby, and spacious Japanese-style rooms. Its heyday was in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, during the bubble years, when the whole hot spring town was booming. The town declined after that, and some buildings beside the hotel are now vacant and rundown. But the center has been revitalized, with an old-fashioned hot spring, boutiques, and cafes. The new bullet train started coming through last year, making it easy to reach from Tokyo. The station is called Kaga Onsen. The wider Kaga Onsen Station region is full of hot springs, including lots of "soto yu" public baths to visit during the day. We took the local bus around nearby Yamanaka Onsen and Katayamazu Onsen, and had a really good time. This area hasn’t been overrun with tourists like some other parts of Japan. On weekdays especially, we often had the hot springs to ourselves. Basically, anywhere in the Kaga Onsen Station area should be great. I’ll attach some photos and videos so people can see for themselves. Highly recommend! One thing to know, tattoos aren’t allowed.