Ryokan Fujiya

Dinner and breakfast were both delicious. There are two private baths, and you can use them as often as you like whenever they’re free. They also gave each person several face-towel-sized towels, and replaced the kettle and water in our room without being asked. That kind of thoughtfulness seems less common in hotels these days, so I appreciated it. The free Wi-Fi worked well, too.

The sashimi was delicious, and the fish was so firm it seemed like it had been caught alive. The portions were smaller than at other inns, but I was full when I finished. The waitresses were very attentive and helpful, and I was thoroughly satisfied. We’d been to Unzen Obama before and came back this time because they offer in-room dining. There’s a private bath. The indoor one is recommended, but the children preferred the open-air bath, so we went with that. It was small, but fit our family of three. Obama hot spring water is said to be close to 100 degrees. Even with added water it’s still hot, though you can adjust the temperature, so it’s manageable. I’ll definitely come again.

I came back because I liked the food on my last visit. The inn is old, and the facilities show their age, but dinner and breakfast were both very good for the price. The fresh sashimi and creative corn chawanmushi were delicious, and the Unzen beef sirloin steak was good too. I didn’t feel the food was expensive for what we paid. It’s a shame you can’t see outside from the open-air bath, since Obama Onsen’s famous sunsets are one of the area’s attractions. There’s parking for seven cars in front of the inn. You can pay with cash, credit card, or PayPay.

My family and I stayed on a weekday, and booked the spiny lobster, abalone, and Unzen beef course because we wanted good seafood. It was absolutely delicious. The next morning, spiny lobster in the miso soup was a lovely extra, and the whole meal was very satisfying. I’d read reviews praising the food, and I’m glad we chose this place. The price was reasonable, too. It’s an older inn, not a modern one, but we were more satisfied here than anywhere else. Everything was immaculately clean, we enjoyed the stay, and the bath was wonderful with excellent spring water. I’d visit regularly if it were closer to home, and I’ll recommend it to friends.