Ryokan New Otaka

The woman running the place was so warm and helpful. We had a really lovely ryokan stay, with a comfortable room, a wonderful hot bath, and good food.

Lovely view, tasty food, and staff who were kind to us.

The views here are a highlight. From the mountain side, Mount Chausu is right there, and the town-facing rooms look across the Daimaru Onsen parking lot toward Nasu Town. We even woke up to an incredible sea of clouds. The baths are best enjoyed while it’s still light, with Mount Chausu in view. There’s an indoor bath at 42-43°C and an outdoor one at 37-38°C, so there’s no need to add water; the outdoor pool is especially nice if you like a milder temperature. The spring comes from the same Daimaru Onsen source as Daimaru Onsen Ryokan, but isn’t blended, so its quality is a little different. It’s clear at first, then can turn blue and cloudy before gradually becoming brown, apparently because of its high iron content. A really unusual sight from a living hot spring. Meals are served in the dining room, and the local vegetables and mushrooms are seasoned beautifully. The pork hot pot and wagyu teppanyaki were both tender and delicious. There’s a good range of reasonably priced alcohol, too. Breakfast has plenty of side dishes alongside the fried egg, and coffee by the wood-burning stove while looking at the clouds felt like a real treat. The inn is family-run, so the service is relaxed rather than over the top, but everyone was friendly and easy to talk to. They’re happy to help if you chat when they’re not busy working. The building is old, though very clean, with no dust on the fans or shelves. Rooms are upstairs on the second floor, with no elevator and a few small steps, so anyone with weak legs might need help. Even the smallest room has eight tatami mats and a roomy veranda. There’s also hot-water central heating, which was comfortable for us since it doesn’t dry the air like fan heaters or air conditioning. We found the location great, the room comfortable, and the food and baths wonderful. It felt worth the price, and I’d recommend staying here.

I visited for a day soak, and the outdoor bath temperature was just right. The view was lovely too, and I could've stayed in that great hot spring for ages. The spring description says it’s a simple, clear, odorless spring with an iron taste that turns pale yellowish brown and cloudy if left standing. To my eyes, though, the open-air bath looked green. It brought Kunimi Onsen and Kumanoyu Onsen to mind, but the shade felt different from theirs.