Yunogokan

The setting was peaceful, and I had a really good quality breakfast, the best I’ve had in Japan. There’s also a fluent English speaker at the front desk.

The food was fantastic, and I loved the hot spring too. The decor is a bit dated, but that was fine with us.

The room was spotless, stylish, and spacious, and having an open-air bath there was wonderful. That bath wasn’t fed by hot spring water, though the large public bath was. Its indoor bath had a tatami floor, so I didn’t have to worry about slipping, and the water left my skin feeling smooth. I’d heard the open-air bath was closed for maintenance that day, but it was open after all, and I got to enjoy a dip. Getting there was easy: there’s a free round-trip bus from Okayama Station to Yunogo Onsen, and the tourist information center arranged a hotel shuttle for each place. This inn’s pickup was a taxi arranged by the inn, free of charge. The staff were polite and friendly, and for the price it felt like an unbeatable stay. I’d definitely come back.

The building is old, but its riverside location gives it a lot of charm, and the interior was clean. The rooms and baths were clean too, and it was cheap, so I thought it was excellent value. I’d read some long reviews criticizing the ryokan and was worried before arriving, but I didn’t feel that way once I stayed. The staff were foreigners, and I liked how hard they worked. The value and the amenities in the special room were especially impressive. A room this size would cost over 30,000 yen per person elsewhere, so I’d highly recommend it! To the ryokan: this is a great place, and I hope you’ll promote it more on social media.