Yugawara Onsen Ryokan Nawai

We came back for a second family stay at this old-fashioned inn with its Showa-era feel. It's quiet and relaxing because there aren't many rooms, though the facilities, service, and amenities are limited. The food is the real draw. There were four of us, and the landlady brought everything to our room. The kids loved the fancy boat-shaped sashimi platter with a whole golden-eyed snapper and horse mackerel. There was also plenty of tuna, bonito, squid, and turban shell. Small side dishes, a meat hot pot, fried rice cakes, boiled fish, fried mackerel, and beef steak followed in just the right order. We all ended up completely full. The dishes aren't showy, but they let the ingredients come through and were very satisfying. Breakfast was good too, especially the dried horse mackerel. The kids liked the freshly cooked omelet with its slightly sweet finish. The bath is compact and retro, but just right for the whole family. A nice inn for sitting down to a leisurely meal together.

Good points: The private hot spring flows freely from the source, dinner is served in the guest room, and the small number of rooms means the living areas feel spacious. It's within walking distance of the station, there's a drugstore nearby, and the sashimi platter is generous. It's especially good value if you use a health insurance resort. The place is old, could be cleaner, and doesn't pay much attention to the small details. There aren't tourist spots close by either. Keep your expectations modest and it's still good value, with plenty to like.

I was glad the place was usually quiet, and the private bath was available since there weren't many guests. Breakfast is served somewhere else, so we could leave the futon out and relax until checkout. Those were the good parts. The stay didn't feel worth the price. There was no drinking water anywhere, no vending machine, and the room fridge was empty. Only hot water for tea was in the room. There was no water by the private baths or with breakfast either, and I had to ask in the kitchen. Basic items like hairbrushes were missing too. They provided a toothbrush and towels, but face wash was only in one of the two private baths. Women especially should bring their own cleanser and lotion, since there are no convenience stores nearby. The bath water was lukewarm unless you added hot water yourself, and one of the three showers across the two private baths was broken. The food wasn't impressive either. I thought about paying extra for upgraded sashimi, but I'm glad I didn't. The room was average, outside voices carried in, and after flushing the toilet once I had to wait 5-10 minutes before using it again. At checkout, our shoes had been put back upside down, toes and heels down. I'd never seen that at a ryokan or restaurant, and it was disappointing. I wish I'd read the reviews more carefully. I wouldn't choose this for an anniversary or other special occasion. The price per person seems high for this quality, and I don't think I'll return unless things improve. I love hot spring ryokans, so I do hope they make improvements.

I had such a relaxing time on my own in the room. The building is old, but it has what you need without a lot of unnecessary extras, and I could properly unwind. I arrived early and was welcomed warmly. There are two hot springs, one cozy for one person and another that fits a family. If one is free, you can book it for private use at any time. The water can be lukewarm, but you can add hot water to warm it up. Dinner came to my room, brought at a good pace by the hostess in a kimono. Everything was hot and tasty, including the freshly fried tempura, and there was plenty of dessert. A nostalgic inn.