Yugawara Onsen Apolosou

The tangerine bath was lovely, and the free shuttle is a good idea because the place is near the station but up a steep slope. I’d noticed the low reviews after booking and felt a little uneasy, but I didn’t have any real problems. The service was fine. Some people said the food was cold, and that was true, but the hot pot, with vegetables cooked over a flame, suited me, and the soup was warm. The waiter was quite elderly, so things may feel a bit slow to some, but they took drink orders and served the food carefully. Bringing in food or drinks is apparently generally prohibited for hygiene reasons or something.

Dinner and breakfast were both delicious, and having the hot spring to ourselves let us relax. The mandarin orange bath warmed me up and eased my tiredness. I’d pick the cypress bath for a shower since you can leave it running, and there’s a massage chair by the hot spring entrance that guests can use for free. Meals were collected at the entrance, which I actually found reassuring. The room only had the basics, though the logo face towel made a nice little souvenir. There was no deodorizing spray, so bring your own if you care about that. There aren’t any convenience stores nearby, so buy cigarettes and other necessities ahead of time. It was better than the reviews made it sound, and well worth the price. I was very satisfied. Thank you.

Dinner was delicious, especially the sashimi boat platter and steamed pork. The building has a retro Showa-era feel, while the guest rooms and bathrooms have been renovated, so I could relax. Everyone at the inn was so polite and welcoming. The woman serving breakfast seemed quite elderly, but watching her work with such energy gave me strength to keep going! The yukata comes in different patterns, but mine seemed to have been washed many times, so I’d prefer a fresh new one. I also think the slippers are due for replacement. Thank you for taking care of us.

It was quiet at night, and I rarely saw anyone using the baths. Apparently, the women’s bath stayed that way no matter when people went in. It seemed odd, since the inn looked fairly busy. There are two indoor baths that alternate between men and women, plus a private outdoor bath you can reserve at the front desk. The outdoor bath is closed in the morning. When I tried it, it wasn’t warm at all. A metal rod with a power cord was submerged in the tub to heat it, but it didn’t seem to be working. I only stayed overnight, so I can’t say anything about the food, though the dining room had quite a few people in it. The outside of the inn looks quite dated, and the inside is old too, but reasonably clean, with tatami and other things replaced regularly. It’s above Gosho Shrine, not very far, but the climb is steep, so ask for a station pickup if you’re using public transport. I booked five days before the November long weekend, after deciding on Yugawara at short notice, when almost no places offering bed and breakfast or breakfast only were available.