Yamano Resort Hotel Eight

Dinner and breakfast were authentic Chinese food. I was especially pleased with dinner’s taste, generous portions, and presentation. I stayed several nights, and dinner was just as satisfying on the second night. Breakfast was mostly porridge, so it was a lighter meal. One inconvenience was having nowhere to buy a drink after a bath, since there was no shop or vending machine. The room was spacious and had an imaginative design. The towels and amenities were good quality, with two kinds of individually wrapped skincare products. Most of the staff were Chinese, and their Japanese varied, but I came away with a good impression. The bath water was ordinary, though the bath itself was clean and pleasant.

The staff paid close attention to each guest. During our two-night stay, they changed the menu between the first and second days so we wouldn’t have the same meals twice, which made the visit especially satisfying. The meals were luxurious, the kind that could easily cost over 50,000 yen per person in Tokyo, and the chef came out to greet us. That made for a lovely memory. I’d recommend the hotel to anyone who loves Chinese food, and I hope to return next year. We often visit Nasu, and found this place through Rakuten Travel. It’s a new, small hotel with few reviews, but it was one of the best places I’ve stayed. The intimate size gave us privacy, and the thoughtful furniture details made it relaxing. We also loved the open-air bath. There weren’t many guests, so we had it to ourselves and could really unwind. Thank you!

The baths were a treat. The large public bath has indoor and outdoor sections, and with so few rooms it felt almost private. I enjoyed the hot springs both at night and in the morning. The lounge has complimentary soft drinks. I had trouble figuring out the unfamiliar coffee machine, but tried a few combinations. In the room, there’s a short entry hall, with the bedroom to the left and a unit bathroom to the right. The twin room was clean and roomy, with free drinks and welcome sweets from the Imperial Villa series. This is a Chinese restaurant auberge, and you can also book the restaurant without staying overnight through Ikyu Restaurant. Solo accommodation is possible, though the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast requires at least two guests. The restaurant serves Chinese food at both dinner and breakfast. I picked the least expensive dinner plan. Even for one person, it seemed to include a whole Peking duck. I’d had a late lunch, so they wrapped up the leftovers. It was my first time trying Peking duck, and I enjoyed it. Pigeon soup on the cheapest plan helped make up my mind; the standard course included jade sea cucumber. Breakfast came with many small Chinese dishes, and I was surprised to get chicken noodles instead of the congee I expected. Tea was served with both meals, though I spilled some because I’m not very good with the teacups. The staff seemed to be Chinese. Some didn’t speak Japanese, while others did, and we had no major problems. They only named the dishes as they brought them out, so I would have liked a little more explanation. The hotel felt like good value for money.

The baths, big public bath, and rooms all felt luxurious and were clean, so I left completely satisfied. I got to enjoy Chinese food and culture, and the staff gave me a warm welcome even though I arrived at night. I’d never stayed somewhere that beat my expectations by this much for the price. Next time I want to bring my family.