Ryusendo Onsen Hotel

While the meals are not particularly luxurious, the quiet surroundings make it a relaxing place to stay. The area had been closed due to bear sightings, but a riverside walking path has now been developed all the way to Ryusendo Cave. The Iwaizumi Yogurt served at the Ryokan—highly praised by Mr. Ohtani—is excellent, and the milk is outstanding as well. The cold noodles at the Ryusendo Cave rest house were also very delicious. If you are worried about bears, there is a bus stop right in front of the property one stop before Ryusendo Cave (service is limited).

Departed on the first Shinkansen of the day, visited Dragon Eye on the Hachimantai Nature Walk Bus, stayed one night at Tsunagi Onsen, and the next day toured Morioka for two hours before taking a JR bus to Ryusendo Cave. However, because I didn’t realize in advance that the Tohoku Kizuna Festival in Morioka had changed the JR bus departure/arrival point from the East Exit to the West Exit, I missed it by one minute and had no choice but to switch to a bus two hours later. I arrived just in time for admission to Ryusendo Cave and hurried through it… The “Ryusendo Blue” was so clear it felt like it could pull you in… I also drank lots of water—apparently Iwaizumi’s tap water comes from Ryusendo—and even the finish was crystal-clear.It truly was great that this is “the closest Hotel to Ryusendo Cave.” Even though it was my first stay, I slept soundly as if it were my regular place. Both dinner and breakfast were absolutely delicious. I also got hooked on Iwaizumi yogurt and homemade butterbur miso.I really appreciated being driven to the community bus stop for the 7:52 a.m. early-morning bus. Thanks to that, I avoided another mistake. This Hotel offers more than its price suggests.From Sanriku Railway’s Iwaizumi-Omoto Station to Miyako and Jodogahama—then a zappa boat tour around the Blue Cave—then from Miyako back to Morioka by express bus; after the festival, every seat on the Shinkansen was taken.Even while eyeing bear-warning signs along the way, this 2-night/3-day trip left me completely satisfied with Iwate’s greens and blues, its delicious air and water, and above all the warmth of local people. Thank you very much.