Shinyu Onsen Kurikomaso

A private onsen with a cozy, homely feel.

The rooms had been renovated a few years ago and were incredibly clean. I came to Kurikoma-so during the fresh greenery season, after looking forward to the visit for a long time. The bath for overnight guests is spacious and has a wonderful view; it seems likely to stay open even when the general open-air bath for day visitors is closed. For a mountain location, the food was surprisingly varied and delicious. The grilled char with miso was the one letdown. It was cold and only mediocre, despite the reputation, so tempura might be a better choice. I even met a local who had stayed there nearly 70 times. It's a truly wonderful inn.

In my opinion, it'd be nice to cut back a little on the potted plants and make the paintings and posters easier to see. It's a shame that the general open-air bath will no longer be available from November, leaving only the private open-air baths. I also wish bathing hours ran until 11pm. The hot spring water was good, and I could soak for a long time without getting tired. The room door was a bit tricky to lock.

Staying overnight is the way to go. The sunrise from the private open-air bath is a must-see, and the slightly warm bath overlooking the snow is perfect for a long soak. The Sendai beef at dinner was excellent. The grilled rock trout with dengaku miso was delicious too, and I could eat it from head to tail. Since it's family run, you can chat with them about all sorts of things on weekdays, which makes it a great deal.