Shisuien

I booked this place on a whim while traveling after finding it on Google. I arrived during a quiet period, and there were no other guests.

I stayed at this inn several times in the second half of my business trip. It has a charming old-time feel, and its history comes through. The hot spring isn't a free-flowing natural one, but I found the open-air bath very relaxing. I especially liked the atmospheric changing room with its TV.

The eel carpaccio at dinner was delicious, and breakfast was healthy and good 👍. Walking to my room past the carp was relaxing, and I was surprised by the architecture, which reminded me of Itsukushima Shrine from reception all the way to the room 🫨

The facilities are old, but not unpleasant, and the Showa-era feel may appeal if you enjoy that kind of nostalgia. There’s a large indoor bath with a bubble bath and a connected jet bath, plus a nicely renovated open-air bath. For 700-800 yen, having all those baths is a bargain, and I’d like to come again when I'm nearby. I used the hot spring on a day trip. The entrance is lovely, then you step into a reception area with an old-inn atmosphere. There are lockers for valuables by reception, so leave your wallet and other important things there. In the bathroom, there are only baskets for clothes, no lockers. You have to go outside to reach the bathroom, much like the inn rooms, which seem to sit around a garden between the buildings.