Yamamura Annex

After visiting Akiyoshidai, we stopped at Yamamura Bekkan 1F for Kawara Soba and used the day-use hot springs at a discount. The place has a retro Showa-era feel, but the facilities are more than enough: a large public bath, an open-air bath, a sauna, and löyly, with amenities provided. My wife and daughter said the women’s bath even had ReFa showerheads and a shampoo bar. The staff’s warm, polite service really stood out. It was such a nice visit that I thought I’d like to come back and stay overnight next time. We didn’t stay overnight, so I can’t comment on the rooms.

I stayed two nights over a three-day weekend in a business-type room with breakfast included. The hotel is along the main river in the hot spring town, though its main entrance faces the road on the opposite side and sits on higher ground. Getting between the hotel and the town was quite difficult, so I changed into proper clothes to go out instead of heading off in a yukata and sandals. Maybe because of the location, I didn’t see any international tourists. The hot spring water is heated, circulated, filtered, and disinfected. It was alkaline and felt slippery, which I enjoyed. The private baths might be free-flowing. Facilities include an indoor bath, sauna, open-air bath, barrel sauna, and cold plunge pool, so it’s a complete set. I mostly used the open-air bath, but it’s walled in with only a view of the sky overhead, so it doesn’t feel very open. The barrel sauna fits around 4-6 people. Its thermometer read 109°C, though it didn’t feel that hot, perhaps because outside air came in through the door. The business-type rooms generally face the courtyard, so there’s no view. The facilities are standard for a modern business hotel, with nothing particularly lacking or excessive. There was a complimentary 500 ml bottle of water, and the mini fridge cooled surprisingly well. The TV supported modern streaming services, so I could sign in to my own account. The air conditioner vent direction and towel rack placement were just right, and the towels dried very well. Breakfast was the only meal included, a very standard Japanese set meal. You choose the start time at check-in, and if you arrive around then, the food is hot. We went a little early and that was fine too. We stayed two nights, and the breakfast menu changed completely between them, a thoughtful touch compared with a typical business hotel. The rice was edible, but not especially tasty, which was disappointing. We ate dinner at the Kawara Soba restaurant attached to the hotel on the first night. Reservations weren’t possible, and on weekends they offered only three limited menu items, so on the second night we went into the hot spring town instead. The shop at the hotel sells snacks, appetizers, and instant noodles. Vending machines have a decent range of alcohol, and there seems to be room service with a small drink set, so having drinks in the room is an option. There also seems to be a local convenience store in town where you can buy drinks. The hot spring facilities also include a barrel sauna and cold plunge. There’s a shuttle from the parking lot, an unusual and welcome feature for a modern hotel. Overall, I thought the hospitality was excellent and the hotel was good.

Staff were outside when we arrived, ready to help with our luggage. Some were foreign staff, but everyone was courteous and attentive, so it wasn’t an issue. The building has an appealing older character, and the room was comfortable, with enough space for three of us. The large bath had a distinctive showerhead and hairdryer, plus a shampoo bar and sauna. Little touches like these showed the hotel’s effort to make guests comfortable. We had breakfast and dinner. The elderly woman who served us at dinner was especially attentive, and the meal was delicious. The fugu sashimi was a particular highlight, even though the portion wasn’t large. Breakfast was Japanese and just what we expected. The service was good and we had a comfortable stay.

There aren’t any convenience stores nearby, so it may be a good idea to bring your own snacks and things like that. We thought the bath was quite nice. 😺 The restaurant in the building was delicious too. 🍴 The place is surrounded by greenery, making it quiet and relaxing, and perfect for unwinding. 😺