Sagashiokosen Sagashiokan

A nice place to get away from the city, and it's an affordable taxi ride from the station. There's a private room onsen if you bring a pretty girl or handsome lad, but there isn't a private onsen in the rooms. If you don't speak the local language, you might run into problems.

The food was mostly vegetables and delicious, and I was very satisfied. Opening the window early in the morning brought in cool air and lots of birdsong. It was my first time hearing a brown thrush, also called a Nue. It was quiet, and I liked the folk-art feel of the building and the smooth bath water, which is highly alkaline. But the bedroom smelled a little moldy, and there was some dust in the corners. The private bath changing room had an unpleasant smell too, as others have mentioned. I wish they could address it. The place is closed on weekdays, so it took me a while to visit. I wonder if they're short-staffed. It's a shame, since everything else is so good.

I stayed in late September and could really unwind in the quiet, nature-filled surroundings. It was a peaceful place to refresh both body and mind while taking in the changing seasons.

With a river flowing right in front of the room and a steep mountain just beyond it, the setting feels wonderfully removed from everyday life. This isn't part of a chain, but has the character of a long-established independent inn at its best.