Sagashio Onsen Sagashio-kan

Your One-of-a-Kind Favorite Accommodation

I couldn’t forget how moved I was when I visited 30 years ago, so I came back this time. I worried that many things might have changed, but what has been carefully preserved over the years and what has been thoughtfully improved have come together in harmony, making this stay an even more precious memory than before. The food was excellent, the Room furnishings were wonderful, and the spring water felt gentle on the skin. The bath size was just right—not too big or too small—and with only five parties accepted, we could truly relax as guests. Calmly put, that’s how it felt. If I add a bit of personal feeling: first of all, the cuisine is outstanding. Many guests must come back in every season just to eat here. It’s rare to feel so full and still not want to leave a single bite—this made me realize that truly delicious food somehow still goes down. Tomato hot pot, char grilled on magnolia leaf (yamame trout), chilled peach soup, chicken meatball hot pot, Japanese pepper rice, and more…every item on the menu was creative and impeccably tasteful, with superb seasoning throughout. From the sweets served on arrival onward, everything is handmade; hearing that five parties per day is their limit honestly earned my deepest respect. That spirit of hospitality—never sparing time or effort—can be felt everywhere inside the Ryokan, and it reminded me that the very essence of this Accommodation that captivated my mother and me 30 years ago continues unchanged. Another thing they have protected without changing is the mineral spring bath. At first I was confused because the shower flow was weak and lukewarm, but there was a proper rinsing area with hair-washing amenities set out; thinking “why not,” I moved there and washed my hair using buckets of water for rinsing. I could rinse thoroughly, and my hair became smooth and moisturized. It made me smile at how “washing with a shower” had become my default assumption—and at the same time it was fun to imagine different ways to use the bath space as a guest. Both the open-air bath and indoor bath were so comfortable I wanted to stay in forever. There’s much more charm—like the beautiful valley view from the window—that I can’t fully capture here, but this is a beloved landmark Ryokan that I hope will remain for many years to come.