Nasu-Kogen Pension Tam

I’ve been coming here since my kids were small, nearly 20 years now. The food is always so good. It’s French cooking, but light enough that it doesn’t feel heavy, and there’s dessert made by the owner too. The roast beef comes with a fresh-tasting sauce, and you can have as much as you like. Even with prices so high these days, I still pick this restaurant when I travel because French food here is reasonably priced.

The food was a real plus. Dinner is a French course, so you’ll want to take your time. Heartland beer seemed popular, though the menu looked like it would go especially well with wine. The children’s meals were a good amount and quality for preschoolers, with juice and the same dessert as the adults. The shared fridge and freezer in the hall were handy for souvenirs and other things, as long as you label them with your name. We were there with two preschoolers on a family trip. The guesthouse has just 10 rooms, so it has a cozy feel. Most of the other guests seemed to be young couples or families. It’s a little tucked away, but there are lots of sights nearby, plus several similar places to stay. The staff were friendly. The building and rooms are old, with creaks and some shoddy construction, but everything was clean. There are two private hot spring baths. You need to reserve the 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. slot, and it’s assigned in check-in order. At other times you can go if a bath is free. Since dinner is at 6, lots of people want one of those reserved slots, so an early check-in helps. We arrived late, but went at 5 p.m. right after checking in and found one available before dinner. We also managed a morning bath at 6. Breakfast starts at 8, so it would probably be busy by 7. If you want a morning soak, 6 is a good time. Breakfast was delicious too. The place worked well for us, and I’d come back if I’m in the area again.

We had two rooms for five of us, parents, a couple, and our five-month-old baby. For the price, it felt like a very good deal and worked well for a family trip with parents and children. If you want luxury or a newer room, there are probably other places that suit you better. The Japanese-style rooms are a bit old, but clean, and it was nice for all five of us to gather together. There were plenty of baby bath supplies, which made traveling with an infant easier. There are two private hot springs, and the large tub can fit three adults. The sulfur smell fills the bath area. We were happy with both the food and the baths. The fish at dinner and Spanish omelette at breakfast were especially good, and we went back for more roast beef several times. It was also fun chatting with the cheerful mothers. A couple things to keep in mind: little insects may get into the room, and there aren’t vending machines or shops on site. If you don’t want to go out after checking in, shop beforehand.

It had been a while since we’d stayed at this inn, which brings back a lot of childhood memories for my husband and me. The owner remembered us when we came back, and that made us really happy. The room was beautiful, and we were very satisfied with the hot spring. The food was as delicious as we remembered. We’d forgotten the roast beef was all-you-can-eat, but the owner kept checking if we wanted more. Thanks so much. We’ll visit again.