Hotel Dogo Yaya

I really enjoyed the buffet breakfast, especially the freshly made items, the salads and, of course, the citrus fruit. They also had orange juice on tap and a good choice of towels. The room was neat and tidy with a comfortable bed and a decent-sized bathroom, though it wasn't especially spacious. The hotel is close to the shopping streets and dogo onsen. Parking was a little hard to find, and the roads are quite narrow, so be mindful when driving up.

The service was next level, and breakfast was good. I recommend it, especially the amazing French toast. The staff were great and helpful. The rooms are a little dated but still enjoyable. My only complaint is the shower room grout needs redoing before anything gets a chance to grow in the cracks.

The hotel is close to the main Dogo Onsen shopping street and the major onsen houses. It doesn't have its own onsen, but it offers discounted admission to three houses, including the famous Dogo onsen. They also lend yukata and towels for an onsen visit. When you arrive, there are three taps of free-flowing mikan juice, each featuring a different variety with its own character. The room wasn't the most spacious, but felt cozy for two. Breakfast was buffet style, with some items made to order. A great value stay if you want to experience the Dogo Onsen area.

We all slept really well in our party of three. The deluxe twin layout is unusual, with a bedroom holding two twin beds and a separate tatami room where two futons can be set up, so it works well for groups of three or four. The lobby has a bar where you can sample three types of mikan juice. Coffee, tea, mikan and an onigiri/ochazuke bar are free each night from 8-10pm. It's also close to the area's main sights, including dogo onsen, dogo park and the shopping arcade. A comfortable and distinctive place to stay.