Yunohama Onsen Masagoya

I'm moving away, so this was my last stay as a Shonai resident. I booked the guesthouse with a friend and a shop in Tsuruoka. The room had both air conditioning and a fan heater, and the bath was filled with hot spring water, so I could soak in a nice hot tub. The place was well maintained and I enjoyed the stay. Breakfast was delicious: rice, miso soup, grilled salmon, mozuku seaweed, seasoned nori, a soft-boiled egg, pickles, and burdock root with miso dressing. It was so good I wanted another bowl of rice.

I keep coming back when I'm touring by motorcycle. The hot spring is great, and the spacious Japanese-style rooms are comfortable even when I'm on my own. You can hear a little from the next room, but it hasn't bothered me. Meals come with lots of crab, and everyone goes quiet while eating, lol. Breakfast is very Japanese and very good, too. The landlady has a lovely smile, and I always look forward to talking with her. The coast is nearby, and I think it's a great base for seeing nature.

Dinner had us completely full: Shonai pork, crab, grilled fish, sashimi, and several other sides. Breakfast came with grilled fish, side dishes, a hot spring egg, and seaweed, and we ate plenty of rice. The food and baths were excellent, the service was attentive, and we'd like to return. My one small disappointment was the thin futon mattress; we woke up stiff, and a more comfortable one would have made the stay perfect. This family-run place is on the main road in Yunohama Onsen. It seems to have parking for about six regular cars, and motorcycles can go behind the shutter at the front of the building. There's an outdoor smoking area and a footbath under the eaves to the left of the entrance. The bath is just inside to the left and appears to stay open until around 9:00 AM, before check-out. Guest rooms are upstairs on the second floor, while meals are served in the large hall on the first floor.

The meals were satisfying, with good variety, presentation, and taste. I eat out often, so I appreciated that. The bath is compact, but the water quality was excellent and warmed me quickly. Afterwards, my whole body relaxed and I felt completely at ease. I stopped here on my way from Akita back to Sendai, and I'll definitely return soon. The location is easy to spot from the road, and parking was straightforward. I was greeted warmly and shown to my room with real hospitality. It was clean, with towels and yukata provided, and none of the musty smell or dampness you sometimes find. The separate bathroom and toilet help with that, which I see as a plus if you're comfortable with that arrangement. Some people complain about laying out their own futons, but I think enjoying a little inconvenience is part of travel. If that's not for you, choose another hotel. With prices going up lately, I'm grateful for the quality at this price. Thoughtless posts make me want to criticize them. This is a truly invaluable inn.