Minshuku Tsutaya

Set in a rural residential area, this place is still close to Yufuin's well-known sights. The tatami rooms are clean, and each group gets 50 minutes in the hot spring, which is enough time to enjoy a soak.

For the price, this was excellent value. I liked having a family bath and a tatami room at a reasonable rate. The owners were friendly, though conversation wasn't easy. The Wi-Fi didn't work, but I never asked them about it, so they couldn't fix it. I'd heard bugs were common in tatami rooms. While packing to check out, I found a marten. I left the owner a message, and he apologized and said he was disinfecting the room, though the animal was still there. I appreciated that he was concerned about my surprise. I'd be happy to stay again.

Staying here felt like living in a Japanese home, and it made the visit memorable. The inn is conveniently placed at the end of a Yufuin tourist alley. If you head down the hill early, there's a Miffy shop, a Snoopy shop, a music box shop, and a glass craft shop all lined up. They opened at 9:30, so there was no need to rush. Our group could relax privately in either of two onsens, one indoors and one with a curtain opening toward the outdoors. It was cold outside, but the baths were still lovely. On the practical side, there's a shared refrigerator on the first floor, men's and women's restrooms upstairs, and three hallway sinks, so it wasn't too inconvenient.

I accidentally booked a hotel in Niigata City with the same name when I meant to reserve this guesthouse. The owner, an elderly lady, was patient and kind even though we couldn't communicate in the same language. In the end, I stayed here, and it turned into a special experience.