Satouya Ryokan

The staff were nice, and the food was good. We stayed one night at this hotel in Akiu. It has 100% natural hot spring baths, including one without circulation, which is the only one in the Akiu area.

The water quality seemed good to me, and as a local who loves hot springs, I can see myself returning. My husband and I stayed at this small inn in Akiu Onsen with breakfast included. It's quiet and reasonably priced, which is much appreciated with prices rising and inbound tourism possibly pushing up accommodation costs in central Sendai. I hope this comfortable, easygoing inn stays open for a long time. We had breakfast in the lounge. Nakai-san told us to dress warmly because it gets cold at this time of year. There is a stove, but you'll still need to bundle up. Maybe that's part of the charm. It would be handy if the vending machines sold alcohol. The front desk has been renovated and is hard to find, so it seems you're meant to press the call button.

Everyone on staff was friendly and easy to talk with, which made it easy to enjoy the trip. This inn has a nice mix of newer and well-established charm. Dinner was satisfying in every way. The bonito sashimi and roast beef came in very large slices, and the shrimp were huge too.

I stayed by myself during Golden Week and found the price surprisingly reasonable despite prices having gone up lately. The bus stop right outside made getting around easy, and it was peaceful enough to relax. They thoughtfully brought both breakfast and dinner to my room, and I enjoyed the food. One shower in the bath with the open-air bath was broken. It was the second washing area from the left, and only lukewarm water came out. It may need fixing, though I was alone and just used another one.