Hotaru No Yu

The hot spring downstairs was a lovely surprise, and the kitchen had free condiments and other useful things. The room and the renovated old building both felt very clean. My mattress was thin, so I borrowed another one to sleep on. There are lots of stink bugs around because the guesthouse is in the countryside, close to mountains and rivers. That comes with being surrounded by nature. If you want to experience rural life, I recommend staying here, and a car makes it easier to see different parts of Nasu. Just remember that towels aren’t provided for the hot spring, so bring one or buy a face towel.

The natural hot spring was free-flowing and really good, and the compact room was very clean. It was cool at this 500-meter elevation, but there wasn’t anything nearby, so you need to buy supplies beforehand. Toothbrushes and towels cost extra. The room was underground and had no daylight, so set an alarm or you might sleep in. With the curtains shut, the air conditioning made the room quite hot, though opening them made it comfortable. Eating and drinking weren’t allowed indoors. The front desk service was minimal and not very welcoming. The facility itself is nice, which made that especially disappointing. Maybe they’re selective about guests, or maybe I just ran into another rude staff member, even though the hotel has high reviews.

We stayed Thursday through Saturday for two nights, using two semi-private rooms, and the colorful JAM floor looked just like the website. From the balcony we could glimpse the Naka River through the trees. We also walked at the nearby mountain stream fishing area, which I’d recommend. The owner and young staff had a nice, easygoing manner. The owner, a man in his early 40s, used to be a guide and might still be one. There’s plenty of space for people who want quiet, or for working, eating, and socializing. On our second night we shared drinks and meat brought by other guests with a group of young people on working holiday visas and the staff. The kitchen was well equipped with most utensils, dishes, seasonings, a microwave, rice cooker, and even a commercial-looking fridge and ice maker. The spring water comes straight from the source, is hypotonic and slightly alkaline, and was a comfortable temperature for a long soak. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap, a hairdryer, and a valuables safe were provided, but since it’s a dormitory, bring your own other amenities. The quick-drying towels came in handy, and the changing room is small. My bed was firm, but it was fine despite my back pain treatment. I’ll bring my own pillow next time. Don’t forget your card key or you won’t be able to get back in. The air conditioning worked well, though I occasionally opened the curtains a little to adjust it. I didn’t use the small clip fan by the bed, but it had USB Type C, so I used the cable to charge my phone. There were outlets too. Even on B1, there was no dampness or smell. Everything was spotless and tidy, but this place isn’t a good fit if stairs or steps are difficult for you. A car is recommended, and parking is ample, shared with the mountain stream fishing area. Ikegami supermarket is about ten minutes away by car and had inexpensive, tasty prepared food, lightly seasoned and good for older people. Mori-san was good too. I loved the dormitory and would stay again when I’m on a working holiday.

The shared areas and hot springs were great, but the thin mattress ruined the stay for me. Everything was new and clean, and the design was excellent, so I wanted to praise the place. Then I pulled out the second bed, the bottom bunk shown in the picture, and lay down. It was shockingly hard and thin. The slats pressed into my back and it hurt too much to sleep. I tried putting the mattress on the floor, but it felt like a rice cracker futon and the hard floor still came through. I asked reception for another mattress and stacked it on top, which let me sleep, though I could still feel the concrete underneath. A single room might be fine, but I wouldn’t recommend this for two people.