Kakundate Onsen Machiyado Neko No Suzu

The Japanese-style rooms were clean and comfortable, and the price was very reasonable. It looks like the place has had a recent renovation. There’s also a good izakaya right next door.

Really good place to stay. Hot spring and a cute cat!

The resident cat wanders freely around the inn, so it’s probably not a good fit if you don’t like animals. If you’re a cat person, though, that’s a plus. I also appreciated the drink service machine. The renovated room was clean, but it didn’t have a hair dryer, so I had to return to the large public bath to dry my hair. If that bath is busy, two dryers may not be enough for both overnight guests and day visitors. The day-use hot spring is attached to the inn, and the bathroom is spacious, which made for a great soak. I didn’t book meals, but there’s an izakaya next door where you can get both meals included.

The room felt old-fashioned, but it was spacious. Its oddly small window made it dark, and the television was the worst part. It kept cutting out during the final day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. I can’t say whether that was just an issue with this room. The bath itself was simply laid out, with a large rock sitting in the tub for some reason. There was also a sauna in the changing room, which seemed like an odd place for it. In the morning, we could go in half an hour before day visitors, so we had time to enjoy the bath at our own pace.