Lake Daiju

A good choice for a vacation.

I usually come here for a day soak, and I prefer it to Ichinoyu at Yoshioka Onsen, which seems to draw more people. It's roomy, rarely feels crowded, and the view is great. Admission for adults is 500 yen. It opens from 11am to 8pm, except Mondays, when it opens at 4pm. You can bathe at your own pace, and the changing room is spacious, though there's only one hair dryer. My one concern is the small locked lockers: they're spaced far apart between the men's and women's baths, which makes me uneasy.

The bath itself was wonderful, and for 500 yen it's a great deal for someone like me who loves hot springs. But the front desk service really let the visit down. Nobody even said thank you, which was disappointing. The sauna was closed because of COVID-19. With saunas so popular now, it's a shame, and I'm not sure I'd return.

The fifth-floor open-air bath is a highlight. It's a little warmer than Yoshioka Onsen, where the water runs hot, and you can enjoy the breeze. The indoor bath is cooler, so you can stay in as long as you like. The changing rooms are properly air-conditioned too. Breakfast has lots of choices and everything was tasty. I especially liked the wood ear mushroom roe and seaweed tsukudani from the shop, which make you want to keep eating rice. My room had a great view, though clean windows would have made it even better. The hotel is quiet and comfortable, well cared for, and has the basic amenities. The front desk staff were cheerful and friendly. The shared areas were the big problem. Even in scorching weather, they weren't air-conditioned, with the windows wide open and only a large industrial fan running. The lights were off day and night, so it was dark even during the day. When I went out to Tottori city for dinner, I nearly fell in the pitch dark. The hallway looked like the photo, and I couldn't see my room's keyhole. I wouldn't have found the light switch by the door if I hadn't checked while it was still light. I can understand some limits at a cheap hotel with breakfast included, but if the air conditioning is broken or they don't want to use it, I'd avoid staying here in summer. It might be comfortable in cooler seasons. I'd still like to know why the lights stay off.