Warabeuta no Yado Yunohara

So much charm and character, and the friendly staff made me feel right at home.

The staff made the stay special. They were kind and helpful throughout, and at least one person spoke perfect English, which was a huge help. They drove me to and from the nearest train station three times for free, and booked a taxi for my day trip so I wouldn’t have to make the call in my bad Japanese. My room was spacious and comfortable, with everything I could have needed: extra linens, robes, hot water for tea, a space heater, free wifi, and a gorgeous river view. The baths in the building were fantastic, so I didn’t need to visit any local onsens. Dinner and breakfast were spectacular traditional meals, included in the room price. I couldn’t believe how much I got for the money. This is probably my favorite place I’ve stayed in Japan, or anywhere while traveling. I’ll definitely come back next time I’m in Tohoku.

It’s a peaceful, quiet spot if that’s what you’re after, though staying alone might get a little boring^^. There isn’t much to see nearby unless you have a car, and walking to the ryokan takes almost an hour. If you let them know your arrival time in advance, the staff can drive you to or from the train station. They were very nice and helpful, even if English was a bit of a struggle. A very nice Ryokan in the middle of nowhere!

The Onsen was nice, though it’s a little far from everything.