Kaigarabushi no Sato Ryofuan

The price was inexpensive, and I was touched by how considerate the staff were. My mother has trouble walking, and when they saw her condition, they moved us to a room with a sofa and a bed. I also loved being able to use the private baths freely. Dinner included a boat-shaped sashimi platter that was fresh, a satisfying size, and came with plenty of seaweed. I was very happy with it.

The baths were a highlight for me. The private rock bath, the large cauldron bath, and the public bath were all very comfortable. I went into the cauldron bath at sunrise, with sunlight coming through the window, steam in the air, and a lovely fresh breeze. The hallway leading to the baths had poems and prints by my favorite author, Ozaki Hōsai, and I felt drawn along by them. This was my first stay here, and everyone on staff, both younger and more experienced, made us feel warmly welcome. At dinner, the long-awaited boat-shaped sashimi platter arrived and lifted my spirits. I enjoyed the fresh fish and its different flavors and textures. For breakfast they made warm omelets when we asked, and there were so many local dishes that I couldn’t finish them all. I’d truly like to stay here again. I hope everyone takes care and that the inn keeps going for many years.

I came across this hot spring inn while looking for somewhere to stay on the last day of a long weekend. I’d heard about a regional campaign in Tottori and northern Hyogo and put together a quick trip. I’d first considered business hotels, but didn’t like the idea of a combined bath and toilet. The private and open-air baths here persuaded me to book. The outdoor bath was a lovely temperature. I only booked breakfast, and the Japanese buffet was unusually extensive and satisfying. The trip was also meant to include the Sand Museum, but I had to skip it. When I tried to head there that afternoon, I realized I hadn’t received the museum ticket that was supposed to be given at checkout. I called the inn about the campaign, but only got a message saying it was closed, so I couldn’t reach anyone. If you need to ask for the ticket at checkout, future guests using the campaign should remember to do that. I hope this helps.

We’ve been coming here every year since before our child was born. It’s not a fancy, Instagram-friendly grand hotel, but it’s a quiet place where we can relax and enjoy doing nothing on holiday. The town feels a little worn down, and you hardly see other guests around. Even the big public bath can feel like having a private bath, which is a real luxury. The building is old, and you can tell, though they’re fixing it up bit by bit and it’s getting cleaner. That age has its own charm, though I can see how it might not appeal to everyone. The meals used to be so huge we couldn’t finish, but these days the portions are about right for us. Our Engel coefficient is high, so they may still seem like a lot to most people. With prices going up, I imagine it’s tough for the inn. My husband likes ginger hot pot, so we often book that plan. We ask for plain rice separately from the rice porridge. We do the same with the kaiseki or boat-shaped platter course, because we want white rice with the dishes. The food is delicious, especially the sashimi, and I really want rice with it! If you like ginger, give the hot pot a try. For a stronger taste, I’d add the sashimi soy sauce or the tempura salt to the porridge. Breakfast isn’t a hotel buffet, but I like the homemade and local dishes. The homemade sausages they’ve introduced in recent years cost ¥800 for three and are incredibly tasty. They go well with alcohol. It’s run by a family and local people, so it may not have everything a big inn or hotel offers, but the prices aren’t high and I’m happy with it.