Ryokan Yamatoya

With convenience stores and restaurants just a short walk away, I think you could enjoy an overnight stay here even without meals. The bath was the highlight for me. It's an old inn at the foot of Mt. Eboshi. The building and facilities are dated, but well cleaned, so it didn't bother me much. I enjoyed the paintings, furnishings, and other artworks displayed around the place. The bath uses water straight from the source and runs a little hot. Pouring some over yourself a few times before getting in helps, and then it warms you to the core. The floating mineral deposits make the water seem very effective. The baths were great, and you could stay just for the room or eat out. There is no elevator, though, so I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with weak legs.

On a weekday there were apparently only two staff members, but that wasn't a concern for me. What mattered was being able to enjoy high-quality spring water straight from the source in my room, with plenty of mineral deposits floating in it. For that, other service details came second. I stayed in a room with a semi-open-air bath, and it felt like good value for having an open-air bath. I was able to unwind and enjoy my stay. There was also plenty of art around the inn to look at while relaxing. I'd like to go again.

The hot spring water was better than I'd expected. I have sensitive skin, and baths with a lot of salt usually hurt too much for me to get in. Yamatoya's spring warmed me from the inside and left my skin feeling smooth through the next day. Having it right in the room meant I could soak several times without worrying about being seen. I also enjoyed the two large public baths, which men and women use in rotation. My three-night business trip brought me to Akayu Onsen for the first time. I found Yamatoya while looking for somewhere to stay, noticed how carefully they respond to every review, and booked right away after spotting rooms with open-air baths. The room had a stylish, old-cafe look, and the hearth by the entrance made it feel like a TV drama set. One soak, looking out the window, I spotted wild birds in a nearby tree. It felt like sharing a fairytale scene with them. Dinner and breakfast were carefully prepared. The main dinner dish changed each night: tender beef stew, sukiyaki, then taro stew. The menu changed daily, so I looked forward to every meal. The sashimi was always fresh, and the gently seasoned simmered dishes were delicious and easy on my stomach. Dinner also came with a sake tasting set for 2,800 yen, less than 3,000 yen, including Yamagata local sake such as Juyondai, Yukiman, and Gazanryu. Prices were as of September 2025. Since Juyondai is a luxury item that costs 3,500 yen by the glass when ordered alone, I was surprised to see it in the tasting set. I ordered the set every night and enjoyed local sake from Yamagata. The inn also arranged an in-room chiropractic massage, which helped a lot. After warming up in the room's hot spring, the chiropractor tailored the treatment to my body and taught me stretches for back pain and stiff shoulders. I booked another session the day before leaving. I'd been struggling with both, and was very satisfied that the hot spring and treatments improved how I felt. The landlady and staff were extremely polite, always smiling, and great with guests. They carried my heavy bags to the room and greeted me warmly at meals. I've found a place I'd like to visit again when I'm next in Akayu Onsen, this time with my family. Thank you very much.

The food was delicious. The bath was incredibly hot, and as a bit of a natural, I thought I might burn myself, lol. It was a hot day, so the building felt muggy and the room's air conditioning wasn't working very well, though I guess that couldn't be helped. Some outlets were broken, which seemed a little dangerous.