Natural Hot Springs Higoromo no Yu Dormy Inn Yokkaichi

We really enjoyed our stay. The staff were friendly, parking was available at the hotel, and there was a free onsen and a late-night snack, as at other Dormy Inn locations.

The public bath has a lovely traditional design and made it easy to unwind after a long day. This new Dormy Inn feels calm, modern, and nicely Japanese, with a spacious, stylish lobby and some unusual relaxation equipment. It’s clean throughout, and the compact room is laid out thoughtfully, with a comfortable bed, pleasant lighting, and a quiet feel. I also liked the easy-to-reach amenities in the lobby, provided in a smart, eco-friendly way. It was a comfortable, satisfying stay, and I’d come back.

This new Dormy Inn has the usual basic facilities, though the baths, relaxation area, and paid lounge are on the 3rd floor rather than where you’d find them at a typical Dormy Inn. I stayed one weekday night with breakfast included. The rooms are standard and a little cramped, but I had no major problems using mine. The TV was a smart TV with YouTube and Netflix, and the soundproofing was decent enough that I didn’t need headphones, though I brought my own. The baths use hot spring water brought in from the Yuuyu Kaikan. It’s a slightly viscous, skin-friendly, weakly alkaline simple spring, with added water, heating, and circulation filtration. There’s one indoor bath, a cold bath, a sauna with automatic löyly, and an open-air bath, plus about 10 washing stations, which seems like a normal number. Walls block the view from both baths, so the open-air space is really semi-open and mainly lets you enjoy the fresh air. The busy National Route 1 runs alongside the hotel, and traffic noise is quite noticeable day and night. It doesn’t feel like a good place to enjoy the fresh air. The location is the biggest drawback. Since it had only been open about half a month, there were some small operational hiccups. I saw an issue involving another guest while late-night ramen was being served. I wasn’t treated too badly, and they even gave me separate loungewear because of my size, but it wasn’t pleasant to watch and seems like something they could improve. Breakfast was decent, though the signature dishes weren’t especially distinctive. A few more interesting side dishes would be nice. It’s a bit cramped and the setting isn’t ideal, but the hotel meets the standard I expect from Dormy Inn. I wouldn’t strongly recommend it, though it works as a business hotel.