Iwai Yado Ju-an

I made a Reservation because I was drawn to the Accommodation’s title, and it was absolutely the right choice!This is a simple, historic Accommodation, yet it feels spotless throughout. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warm smiles from the staff, and we were very satisfied with the quality of the Onsen.The “Taste of Local Bounty” dining menu was especially enjoyable—above all, the experience of biting into a whole river fish from head to tail felt truly unique and unlike anything else.

At first I went to the wrong entrance, walked down the slope, and ended up on the back side, where I saw the building’s exterior. It looked like a decaying ruin in a run-down Onsen town, and it honestly shocked me. However, that first impression made everything feel completely opposite once I stepped inside. Without worrying about minor drawbacks that come with age, I was able to be pleasantly surprised by all the good points.Everyone’s hospitality was wonderful. Having dorayaki freshly made for us in the afternoon was especially delicious. At breakfast time, though, it felt like staffing must be particularly difficult.Dinner was also excellent. Both the mountain vegetables at the start and the main meat dish were outstanding. The salt-grilled char is a local specialty of mountain areas, but objectively it may not be something everyone finds especially tasty. Breakfast was good as well, but since everything is meant to go with rice, it ends up being quite salty overall—some menu adjustments might help.The only disappointing part was the baths. The slimy buildup and green mold on the inside of the wooden frame of the private open-air bath made me feel I couldn’t bring my very cleanliness-conscious mother here. In addition, at the large public bath, some guests were cheerfully scooping floating leaves out of the outdoor bath with a net; I watched them from inside thinking they looked like they were having fun. Thanks to them, I really enjoyed it when I went in later—but my companion said there were so many leaves and small branches floating on the surface that they couldn’t relax much.Given what seems like a serious labor shortage, maintaining such an aging building this well and keeping it generally clean must take tremendous effort as a business. It may be harsh to ask for more—but for this kind of Ryokan, I believe bathing is essential. That’s one area where an extra bit of attention would make a big difference.