Etavia Yufuin Kinrinko

The rooms were clean and roomy, the staff were kind, and the onsen had a nice design. There’s also a downstairs eating area with free water, coffee, a microwave, and even a washing machine. One of my best stays in Japan at this price.

We were five in a two-level room, with one double bed downstairs and two upstairs, so there was enough sleeping space, but the room felt cramped. It had a sink and toilet but no shower. To bathe, we had to use the small public hot spring on the first floor, where the men’s side fits only two people at a time. Nearby on that floor, there’s a dining area with free coffee and tea, hot and cold water, and some basic utensils and equipment for warming food. The location is handy, about a three-minute walk from Kinrin Lake and Yufuin Floral Village, with a Lawson right next door. There are restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and four free parking spots at the hotel. It’s on a main road, though, so traffic can make it noisy and busy. The little lift only holds 200 kg. Our room smelled a bit, wasn’t very clean, and had mosquitoes. There’s not much else in the hotel, and checkout is at 10 a.m. For the price, I thought it was a little expensive given the amenities and service.

The onsen facilities and the hotel were very clean, and I’d definitely recommend them. The water was clear, with a source temperature of 62.2°C and an unknown pH. Guests can use the onsen around the clock, and I believe it’s limited to hotel guests. Both baths are private: you lock the door while you’re inside. Towels and shampoo are provided. The outdoor bath is in the courtyard and is small to medium in size, with a roof and a tub made of large tiles. You can control the hot water coming in. Its changing area has a washbasin, mirror, cotton buds, hair dryer, and air conditioning, plus two shower stations with mirrors and stools. The indoor bath has a larger changing room with two washbasins, mirrors, a hair dryer, cotton buds, and four shower stations with mirrors and stools. The large wooden tub sits in a room with big stone floor tiles, mostly wooden walls, and two large windows. Service was friendly and relaxed, and our room was very clean. It had its own toilet and a mini fridge.

I loved having a cold beer in the warm outdoor onsen, with the moon and stars overhead. You can lock the bath from inside for private use. The rooms were nice, and the hotel is very close to Kirin Lake and Floral Village. I hesitated because it’s about a 20-minute walk from the station, but the route goes straight along Yufuin’s best shopping street, so I didn’t mind the walk. It could be awkward with a lot of luggage, though.