Yugawara Onsen Seiranso

The outdoor onsen was wonderful, with a waterfall right in front of it, and the kaiseki meal was excellent. We chose this ryokan because it offers services for children, with different things to make a stay easier for kids of any age. The staff were really friendly, and it was a great first stay at a Japanese ryokan.

Dinner was decent, with sashimi, tempura, and abalone, and the ryokan felt like good value without frills. We had a Japanese-style tatami room. The outdoor onsen sat beside a small waterfall and was nice, while the indoor one was large and hot. The water, at pH 7.9, didn't feel particularly smooth. We took the bus from Yugawara Station, and the stop was right outside the ryokan.

Service here is amazing, even though the staff don't speak much English. They bring out around 7 to 10 dishes per person at each meal. In the evening they put the bed away and make it up for you, and they'll wake you up too. It really makes you feel like royalty. The outdoor hot tub is very hot, right beside a waterfall and under a lush bamboo forest.

The waterfall hot spring is amazing, and the temperature was just right, neither too hot nor too cold. It left my skin feeling super smooth. The place is said to have been the first hot spring hotel in Yugawara, 100 years ago. The building itself is huge and very old, though, with lots of stains and mold and spiderwebs on the windows. The meals weren't that great either. It still needs some maintenance.