Hotel Nagato Harada

We came as three generations of family to celebrate both of my parents turning 60 and my grandmother's birthday. Hotel Nagato Harada came up when I was looking for somewhere in Yamaguchi Prefecture where we could stay with our dog and have fugu sashimi, so I booked it. The room was a pleasant surprise. I couldn't pick a room from the website listings when reserving, and was worried four adults and a dog might feel crowded, but they gave us a larger room. Sliding doors divided it into three spaces, so everyone could sleep comfortably. There may have been other guests to accommodate, so we felt lucky to get such a roomy one. We were also able to eat together in the dog-friendly dining area, separate from the space for groups without dogs. The food was delicious across the board: fugu sashimi, a platter of locally caught fish, fried fugu, and miso nabe. Everything looked lovely too. Breakfast came with plenty of rice accompaniments and generous portions, so we went back for seconds. The landlady made time for a relaxed chat while we ate. The bath was a good temperature for me, with no particular issues. I enjoyed picking from the selection of regular shampoos in the women's bath, and we could use the massage chair in the changing room for free. I'd read that there weren't many dog facilities, but they had rental rollers and bowls, and it seemed they'd acted on feedback. Treats were available to buy as well. The dog run has hardwood flooring, which can be slippery compared with grass, though it seemed easy to keep clean and hygienic. My dog doesn't run much, so it wasn't a problem for him, and he enjoyed the toys and play equipment. Their website suggests bringing a cage if needed. I think it's best to bring the cage and litter tray your dog is used to at home. At a previous inn mine hated the cage, but this time he slept soundly and safely in the one we brought. The facilities for dogs are limited, but being able to sleep in the same room meant a lot, and the dog fee was very cheap. The staff were incredibly warm and kind to our dog, which put us at ease. They even surprised my mother with a bouquet for her 60th birthday. I hadn't known about it when I booked, and it really touched her. I hadn't thought of turning 60 as such a big deal, but we made lovely memories here. I'd happily stay again on a trip to Yamaguchi. Sorry this got so long, and thank you!

The hot spring water was wonderful and warmed me right through. The inn is easy to reach at the entrance to Nagato Yumoto Onsen, and the path beside the Otozure River was lovely for walking the dog. We stayed one night with our dog in a Japanese-style room. The tatami smell was nice and made it easy to relax. The building is a little old, but has the feel of a traditional hot spring inn. Dinner let us enjoy local food, with fugu sashimi, fried fugu, and other sashimi. Breakfast was fairly ordinary. The serving staff cleared empty dishes a bit too quickly, and I would have liked more time to enjoy the meal. There is a dog run, but its surface is slippery and dogs could slide around. Non-slip mats would make it safer. There aren't dog amenities, so even providing bowls at the front desk or a few small items would be helpful.

The host's hospitality really stood out to me. It was my first visit to Nagato Onsen♨️ and to Harada, and finding hotels that accept dogs is difficult, so I appreciated that we could bring ours and eat together. The tatami inside smelled lovely. I did have to bring my dog's food, and the indoor dog run looked slippery enough to be dangerous. A slip mat would have been better. This may be asking a lot, but I would've loved a hot spring where dogs could bathe too. There were only stairs, and I didn't see an electric ramp for people with mobility issues.

The room was clean and the staff were very helpful, but I won't return. I stayed one night with my dog because I thought this was one of the few dog-friendly inns. Even though I paid for the dog's stay, there wasn't a single toilet sheet or waste bin for him. The dog run had hard wooden flooring that was slippery everywhere, so he couldn't play at all. What was I paying the overnight dog fee for? The food was extremely unsanitary. The seafood didn't seem fresh, and I found someone's hair in the side dishes, along with hard bits like stones. The open-air bath was lukewarm, with dead insects and leaves floating in it. It made me very uncomfortable.