Nogawaya Ryokan

I came by myself for a refreshing break and found the inn really comfortable. The rooms and hot springs were spotless, and the landlady and innkeeper were so warm and friendly that I could relax and recover from the trip fatigue. The innkeeper looks stern at first, like an old-fashioned school principal, but he’s very easy to talk to once you get chatting. I had a lovely time and would like to visit again. It’s a bit pricey on weekends and holidays, though. Next time I’ll bring my family.

I stayed with my parents in November 2025, and we all had a wonderful time. The room was spotless and tidy, and the Yunotsu hot spring water was rich and high quality. Even the little drink service after bathing was impressive for a privately run inn. The food was the highlight. It may not look as glamorous as the inns in Matsue or Izumo, but every dish was carefully made and delicious. The sea bream hoshoyaki I’d been looking forward to was amazing, and my family kept talking about it after the trip. It was easily the best meal of our time in Shimane. I was so grateful for the male server’s attentive care that I wanted to give him a tip the next morning, but he’d unfortunately taken over that morning, so I couldn’t.

Set in a quiet, relaxing hot spring town, the inn still has a strong Showa-era feel. It’s been renovated, but the building’s foundations are over 100 years old, and you can still spot its history in the transoms, pillars, and window frames. The beach is a 7-8 minute walk away, and a gentle loop around the hot spring town takes under 30 minutes, making it nice for a morning or evening stroll. The private baths use water straight from the source. In the large public bath, one pool is free-flowing and another is circulated because the spring water isn’t especially plentiful and has to be shared. The water’s high iron content gives it a refreshing feel rather than a lukewarm one. Dinner is served in the room, with both fish and meat. The seasoning and presentation were good, but portions were a little small. The simmered blackthroat seaperch seemed a bit oversized for three people, though portion sizes were adjusted to the number of guests. Breakfast is served in the dining room. For the price of the stay, the limited selection felt uninspiring and was quite disappointing. There wasn’t a guest survey, so I had no way to share feedback or requests. The atmosphere and service were fine, but if you’re worried about the amount of food, you might want to order more or choose another inn.

The staff were kind and thoughtful, and the meals were full of local ingredients, with elaborate, filling dishes built around rich dashi stock. The bath area is small, but the spring water comes straight from the source and is wonderfully rich. Private baths are available at no extra charge.