Shinshu Asukasou

Asukaso was a reasonably priced inn, and everyone in our group was pleased with the stay. I was there with my aunts and uncles for a family reunion while visiting my hometown. We enjoyed the hot springs and the green mountain views, then shared delicious oyaki, a local specialty, and soba noodles as we reminisced about Omachi, where we grew up. Thanks for looking after us.

After ten years, I came back and bought two yaki, though I didn't use the facilities. They were delicious and surprisingly heavy to hold. The filling seemed to be a mix of okara and vegetables, with chewy dough inside a firm outer skin. I wonder if there's just one kind?

It's a quiet, pleasant place tucked a little way into the mountains. I stopped in for the hot springs and found a large indoor bath with shallow and deep areas, plus a full wall of windows beside the tub. There wasn't an open-air bath, but the water was comfortable rather than especially hot, and I could relax. There are vending machines and several benches along the route from the lobby to the baths, handy for resting afterward.

The prices are low and the food sets look appealing. If this were near my home, I'd probably visit often, though I can see it working better for people who pass by regularly than as a place worth making a special trip to. For a day visit, there are only the sauna and a long, narrow public bath available. The jets and bubbling recliner baths have been suspended on instructions, and the rest area and massage chairs remain closed because of COVID-19. Locking lockers cost extra and don't return the coins, so leave valuables in the car if you can.