Ryokan Tamagoyu

I was generally satisfied, but it was disappointing that the apple juice at breakfast time (from 8am) was out of stock.

Stayed on February 10th. The open-air bath with the snow falling was special! The staff at the inn were very responsive and we were able to talk about various things, making it a great trip. It was an inn that made me want to come again next time.

I had heard good things about it, but this was my first time staying there. Of course, my main purpose was the open-air bath with natural hot spring water. I had imagined a rustic inn, but I was surprised to see a five-story reinforced concrete building. However, Tamagoyu, located along the river, is a thatched bathhouse with a history of over 150 years, and gives off the atmosphere of a former hot spring resort. Further down the river is the open-air bath for women only, Seoto (apparently it can also be used as a private bath), and at the very bottom is the open-air rock bath, Tenkei no Yu. The water is poured from between the rocks, and the bath is filled with a murky pale sulfur spring, but what was a bit disappointing was that it was covered with a carpet that looked like artificial turf. I think it was to prevent falls, but it ruined the atmosphere. Still, the bath was amazing! There was a large indoor bath, Taki no Yu, and a small indoor bath, Senki no Yu, and I enjoyed the natural hot spring water to the point that my skin was tingling and burning. The superior Japanese-style room I stayed in was relatively new and clean. The dinner was a bit ingenious, but it was nothing special. The free-flowing hot spring water and the luxurious hotel-style lobby were a mismatch, and the concept of a hot spring inn seemed half-baked.

It was my first visit in 30 years. It may have been more picturesque in the snowy season, but the journey would have been more difficult in that case, so it's a difficult decision. The strong smell of sulfur and the milky white water are the best. The large bath is on the 4th floor, and the open-air bath is on the 1st floor. It was a hassle to go back and forth, but it was worth it. The food was also delicious.

It was a ryokan that satisfies everything, including hot springs, facilities, and meals. The free-flowing hot spring that I was looking for is outside the ryokan building, and there are three open-air baths, one for mixed bathing, one for women only, and one for men only, each in its own building. (Of course, the indoor bath is inside the building.) If the weather is fine, there should be no problem, but if the weather is bad or in winter, some concerns remain. The hot spring was a wonderful cloudy sulfur spring. I thought it was a sulfur hot spring with a strong sulfur smell, but it was a moderately weak sulfur hot spring. It was a highly recommended ryokan for those who want to encounter real natural hot springs.

Good bath, good room. . . However, the meal was not as much as I expected and I was disappointed. As a result, the overall evaluation was normal. I think this hot spring ryokan will definitely be highly rated if the food is improved, with the friendly service, the clean facilities, and the scenery from the room. There aren't a lot of well-balanced accommodations, but this ryokan already has a great hot spring, a nice building, and well-educated staff. It seems that the improvement of cooking skills such as seasoning of dishes will lead to the evaluation of this inn.