Takasagoya

My room with an open-air bath was at the very back. It seemed recently renovated and was clean and comfortable. The bath runs directly from the hot spring, and you can adjust the water yourself. In winter the bottom gets cold quickly, so don't leave the water running for too long before getting in. The bath is close to the neighboring one, and you can hear water pouring, so keep conversation volume in mind if you're bathing with family. I stayed in January, and the heavy snowfall was very Yamagata. The parking lot is uphill and a bit far from the inn, which could be difficult in winter. The next morning the owner cleared the snow from my car. It's a wonderful inn, with thoughtful hospitality that doesn't feel overbearing or self-indulgent.

The open-air bath in the room was fantastic! There was a really generous portion of meat, enough to satisfy even the men, and sashimi and tempura came with it too.

It's my favorite inn. I stayed once 15 years ago, and I still go back now and then for a day bath. On a recent visit I found a cafe there, and the hot spring soft serve was delicious.

The water was lukewarm, but I enjoyed the open-air bath and snow-viewing soak. We had the bath to ourselves for the rest of the day, so I could relax and really enjoy it. I was very satisfied. The outside has an old, established look, while the inside is clean and new. There's also a cafe open until 8 PM. I'd like to try it again next time.