Yufuin Iyotomi

We had a room facing Mount Yufu, and sitting on the balcony to enjoy the view was a real treat. The hotel has a cozy, intimate feel, and many of the guests seemed to be couples or Korean visitors. Dinner was hearty and filling, while breakfast was a buffet with lots of choices. There are several onsens, and you can check online whether they're occupied and lock one for private use. That worked well for some quiet time as a couple or family. Yufuin IyoTomi is in peaceful Yufuin, and the mix of private baths, good food, and scenery made for a relaxing stay.

We went in early fall 2023 with our two-year-old, and the hotel was child friendly. They included our kid at meals with their own utensils and rice, and there was a playroom full of toys. The walk from the station was pleasant. Our room was clean, and the staff made a real effort to communicate despite the language barrier and my basic, pretty bad Japanese. The private Onsen was clean and fun to use. Food was filling, though just so-so. I expected beef after seeing some posts, but we were served a chicken dish. Be ready for a small accommodation tax per person in the area.

The kaiseki dinner felt rushed, and although many courses were well made, it was the worst kaiseki we've had so far in Japan. We also had trouble getting the water issue acknowledged. The hotel said we didn't know how to use the hot water tap, but all hot water to our room and onsen stopped at 7 PM and never came back that night or by morning. We'd paid extra for the private onsen, which faced the street. It looked private, but we could hear every word from people walking past. One of our beds had broken springs and was difficult to sleep on. The photos and first impression of the room looked great, but we were very disappointed with our choice at Yufuin IyoTomi. I'd strongly suggest staying elsewhere, even if the photos look amazing.

We booked a room for three with half board, and both dinner and breakfast were filling. There were two shared toilets on our upstairs level, outside the rooms, and the sinks were low. The QR code website showed whether the baths were in use. Once you went in and locked the door, it showed as unavailable, so even the large outdoor bath could be private. I tried the traditional indoor bath at night, then the spacious outdoor onsen in the quiet morning. The sound of running water was so relaxing. We stayed around the end of November 2023, during a peak weekend, and found the price very reasonable. It had a very authentic Japanese countryside feel. We'd stay again if we visit the area.