WATOWA

The spices chi and veggie platter were so good, and the boar and deer gyoza were delicious too. Next time, I want to stay in the dorm. I'll be back!

The building was very clean, and the dorm rooms are separated by gender. I picked the cheaper upper bunk, but the lower one is larger and only about 300 yen more, so I'd recommend it. I used what I saved to go to the hot springs several times. You can hear other guests, which is part of staying in a dorm, so bring earplugs if noise bothers you. The kitchen was well equipped with plates, cups, a microwave, kettle, and tea bags. Yakushi-yu and Moto-yu are fantastic; I'd like to stay longer next time and enjoy the hot springs. I arrived at night and drove past the parking lot because it was dark and hard to spot, then had to make a U-turn. A sign that's visible at night would help.

The building has been renovated and is comfortable, though the hallway floors are cold, and slippers would be nice. The concrete toilets and showers get cold too. It's a very affordable dorm-style inn in Yunotsu, with what seem to be private rooms upstairs. The lower bunk costs only ¥500 more than the upper, so I'd choose it if available. The upper bunk ladder is slippery, and the private rooms are narrow, making it awkward to get in and deal with luggage. Sleeping comfort is excellent. The walls are thin, so even though everyone is quiet, you can hear conversations from the men's dorm next door. Good for a budget stay of 1-2 nights if you don't mind dorms, and longer stays have even better deals.

The capsule was surprisingly comfortable for January. The mattress was about 20cm thick, like a regular bed, the duvet was fluffy, and the heating kept me sleeping soundly. The men's room had four capsules, two upper and two lower. The building is old and the walls are thin, so I could clearly hear the next room's hair dryer. Earplugs are a good idea. To get the key, drive a few minutes to the inn and pick it up at reception on the first floor. They gave us a map of the hot spring area and explained it, along with nearby restaurant recommendations and closing times. The hot springs and many restaurants are within walking distance. It's inexpensive and a good base for seeing Yunotsu.