Spa Village Yumesannsou

A really beautiful hotel, and the onsen is lovely too.

The rooms were spacious and clean, and the welcome apple pie was delicious. From 4pm there were snacks and nuts to help yourself to, plus beer and other alcohol, apple juice, water, oolong tea, vegetable juice, coffee, and a range of tea bags. The non-alcoholic choices were plentiful. I did wish there were a crisp fizzy drink, though I can imagine carbonation would be tricky to manage. The hot spring was lukewarm, with a strong sulfur smell that I liked. It just wasn’t hot enough to make me sweat, and I would have preferred it a little warmer. The bath was shared by families without separate men’s and women’s areas. I only had to wear a bathing chain while in the bath, which left me worried about security and possible problems. There was an icy spot outside the inn. Even in my snow boots, I slipped a little.

Watching deer graze near the inn from my window was a lovely part of the stay. The spring water comes from Yumoto, and left my skin feeling moisturized. It’s especially nice if you like sulfur springs. The building is still new, with a warm wooden look that fits the setting, and the food was tasty with plenty of variety for the price. Meat lovers would probably be happy with it. I could have gone for more vegetables. An open-air bath would make the place perfect, but I understand that could push the price up. Given the good value, I hope it stays as it is.

Dinner was tasty, but the dishes were so rich and high in calories that I was struggling halfway through. Even the fat on the Wagyu beef was hard for me to eat, and I left some of it. We had Wagyu grilled on a ceramic plate, shrimp fritters, pork cutlet, gratin, quiche, and other dishes. I don’t know if supplies were an issue or if the staff were trying to be extra generous because the guests that day were fairly young. With a more ordinary dinner, I’d have wanted to come back regularly. I like this kind of inn: simple service, affordable prices, and good hot springs. Since it opened fairly recently, the room facilities were clean despite the low cost. The spring water had a distinct sulfur smell and was very good. There are separate indoor baths for men and women, as well as a private family bath. The private tub is about the size of a regular bathtub at home, though, and only a little hot spring water flows in, so it might not be worth using.