The Timeless Hotel Loof Seinoie

The guest room was lovely, and the open-air bath and sauna were wonderfully relaxing. Marshmallows with the bonfire were a treat, and I’d love to use the place again. Staff service, especially from the male staff member at dinner and when we left, was very comforting and made the stay memorable. We had a plan with dinner and breakfast. Hearing preparation sounds from the staff room was a little bothersome, but we only saw the staff at check-in, dinner, and departure, so I didn’t feel it needed much concern.

I did five sauna rounds before I realized how much time had passed. The meal was delicious, and having a bonfire was a special experience. This traditional house, more than 150 years old, has exposed ceiling beams and loads of charm, but the renovation means the inside and facilities are new, clean, and comfortable. You can rent the whole house, including the private sauna. There’s a shower room, then outside a sauna, cold plunge pool, and open-air bath. I showered and headed straight for the sauna. It has a stylish wooden exterior and a MISA stove. The room is small, but there are two levels and you can do self-löyly, so it gets you thoroughly hot. You can adjust the stove settings to suit yourself, which was fun, though you need to check it regularly. If you set it incorrectly after the timer goes off, the temperature may not rise. After the sauna I let the cold plunge fill and enjoyed a long soak. It was around 18℃, so I could stay in for a while, then get some fresh air outside. There were two relaxation chairs, and I enjoyed being close to nature. There were a few insects, so I spent the rest of my time relaxing indoors instead. The layout works well, since you can walk straight inside from the plunge pool. I spread a towel on the floor and admired the charming ceiling. A luxurious, unusual way to forget daily life and relax, especially for city dwellers.

My wife and I stayed last September, shortly before we got married. Since we both love saunas, we chose this place for my proposal, and with your help it went brilliantly. We had the best two days, and would love to come back for our anniversary. The 150-year-old traditional Japanese house is clean, spacious, and charming. Even just the two of us could relax in comfort and luxury, and the veranda is a nice touch. The garden has a lovely atmosphere too; we had a bonfire and fireworks at night. Seeing a snake chase a frog really brought home the natural setting (lol). We grilled chicken, sardines, fresh vegetables, and more over the hearth. We were offered the choice to cook ourselves or leave it to the staff, and chose to cook. Everything was delicious, especially the grilled sardines. The kitchen is beautiful, and next time I’d like to buy seasonal ingredients at a roadside station and cook them over the hearth. The sauna is open 24 hours, with a great view from the window. The well-pumped cold water bath impressed me: the water felt incredibly smooth, and I was nearly cooled off before I could even get into the open-air bath. There were two infinity chairs and a great flow of water, making a perfect outdoor sauna space. One thing to know is that after the sauna power goes out, it takes four or five hours to get back to nearly 90 degrees. The staff were friendly and easy to talk to. I arranged for roses and a cake to be delivered to the inn as a proposal surprise, and they happily helped. She did spot the cake I’d hidden in the corner of the fridge (lol), but the proposal was still a huge success!

We came with five friends and our children. The house is stylish inside but still feels like an old Japanese home, and even on our first visit it seemed familiar. Insect sounds and birdsong were soothing the whole time. The staff were friendly and the kids really liked them. Three of us used the sauna together; it got as hot as 110°C, and the relaxation area was spacious. We had a wonderful time and would like to come back.