Yurara Kazoku No Yu

The hot springs were incredibly comfortable, and the whole thing was a joke. But the rooms were really hot, probably because each one has a large indoor hot spring bath. I still don’t understand the system that stops the shower water from running continuously. I booked through Jalan, but reception initially said there was no reservation under my name, which was really off-putting. They accepted it in the end, thankfully, though I wish they’d checked properly from the start. I also don’t understand why adding breakfast makes the price lower than staying overnight only.

We visited during the New Year holidays, when the special rate from December 27th to January 4th made prices a little higher. There are lots of rooms, so even arriving after 6 pm we got in without waiting. The room and bath were spacious enough for a family. The water ran a little warm, but felt smooth and was just right for a long soak. Shampoo and body soap were provided, though there were only two towels, so larger groups will need to rent more. The next day, I could feel the hot spring’s effect and my skin felt smooth.

The downsides were breakfast not starting until 8:00, the panic of finding nobody at the front desk when checking out, having to lay out the futon, and being far from the city center. Still, this was a lovely short luxury stay on my first business trip at an inn attached to a super sento. The guest room had just been renovated, with beautiful wooden walls and tatami mats, and felt incredibly comfortable. The natural spring water and private open-air bath were available around the clock. The bath was spacious and had two showers. I could also use the newly renovated super sento, including its large sauna. I loved being able to enjoy the sauna, unwind in the room’s open-air bath, then take another bath in the morning. Getting all that for this price felt like amazing service. It showed me that staying at a super sento can be a real option for business travel.

The parking lot is big and easy to get to, and the rooms and baths are clean. Staff are friendly, and they lend out toys and baby baths. Use the family bath! The capacity rules are extremely strict. I was turned away once, but managed to get in by having one parent stay behind. The company seems strict about counting everyone, even infants, so families with lots of children aren’t allowed in.