Yumoto Choza

The kaiseki dinners and breakfast were a highlight. The meals had wonderful variety and quality, with beautiful presentation. We enjoyed trying local dishes made with fresh ingredients, including ayu fish, hoba miso beef, sukiyaki, and seasonal vegetables. The ryokan sits in a mountain valley with lovely views of the surrounding forests and mountains. It's traditional and comfortable, with quiet little spots to sit and take in the countryside. The eight private and four public onsens are beautifully designed outdoors among the trees, and we loved using them. It's also well placed for exploring the area by car or on foot. The staff were attentive, friendly, and hospitable, and made the whole experience even better. We had an amazing stay at Yumoto Choza, one of the highlights of our Japan trip. Highly recommended.

My room had its own traditional irori fireplace, which I was allowed to use for brewing tea. There was also a larger public irori in the lobby where guests could sit and relax. The ryokan felt cozy and traditional, with friendly staff and great service. It has several public and private onsens, both indoors and outdoors, and the washing rooms in those bathing areas had plenty of amenities. Water is freely available in the lobby, which also has a bar and a drinks vending machine.

The staff made our stay feel so welcoming, especially Chika, who was lovely to talk with and patient while we tried speaking Japanese. Over two nights, we also got to enjoy fresh traditional Japanese meals. It was our first time at an onsen, and Yumoto Choza completely amazed us. This ryokan became the highlight of our Japan trip, and we’re already thinking about coming back. We’ll remember it for a long time. Thank you for having us!

Kayla’s warm welcome is what made the happiest, most lasting impression on us. We’ve tried many ryokans around Japan, but this one stands out as the best. The old architecture has a real sense of history, and the unusual skewers were unlike anything we’d had elsewhere. There were also more than ten kinds of hot springs to choose from. Thank you so much. We hope we can return someday.