Soranoniwa Petit Hotel

I could soak in the room’s bath whenever I wanted, without watching the clock, and relax to the sound of wind and birds. The staff were cheerful and greeted me warmly with hello and welcome back, which made me happy. I had a really restful two days. Thanks for your hospitality, and I think I’ll visit again. I hope you’ll look after me then too.

We had a relaxing electric reclining sofa in the room, and both the full-course dinner and the Danish bread, salad, and omelet at breakfast were delicious. The staff were nice too. We stayed in the Rosemary room on the anniversary course. The open-air bath is wooden, but it was a little disappointing to see the pipes wrapped with the wooden cover to keep them from freezing. The bath stopper’s chain also hit my butt.

We ate at the attached restaurant, and the meals were very good. After snow climbing Mt Adatara, we stayed overnight in the Japanese-Western room called “Holy Night.” It was spacious and stylish, with a veranda open-air bath. The Japanese-style room had a kerosene heater and was very warm. You have to fill the bath yourself, and the tap seemed broken, so it took a while. Neither the room bath nor the public bath uses hot spring water.

This quiet little hotel was just right for my husband and me, since we don’t like crowded places. We stayed the night before a weekday holiday, and perhaps that’s why the price was a little lower. It was very reasonably priced. The course dinner had appetizers and two main dishes, all delicious, and the vegetables were incredibly fresh, including at breakfast. They apparently use lots of local produce. Only Japanese-style rooms were available, so we couldn’t get the cute Western-style room with a bed, but ours was spacious and comfortable. We were lucky enough to have the large public bath to ourselves. The inn is spread across several buildings. The antiques and interiors have charming little details that seem chosen for guests to enjoy, and all the staff were friendly and helpful. It was early November, and the leaves were just beginning to change. You can enjoy the autumn color through November, with Mt. Adatara nearby too. I’d recommend it if you want a peaceful break from everyday life. I hope the whole Dake Onsen area gets revitalized.