Hotel Iya Onsen

An inn I’d always wanted to visit!The hot spring water is simply wonderful.Taking the cable car down to the open-air bath is exciting, and the water is so pleasantly lukewarmthat I felt I could soak forever.Perhaps I timed it well, but I had the bath all to myself both in the evening and the morning.They also welcome day visitors, so going after 5 p.m. might be best.Their own-brand foaming facial cleanser was available to try, and I loved it so much I bought three! Haha.The varied tits that visit the cable car station are absolutely adorable, and they perch on your hand when you feed them.The room was very modern and clean.The TV was connected to the internet,so we could enjoy the wonderful views through the windowwhile watching Netflix.Haha.We chose the Omiki hot pot for dinner,and it was a fantastic choice.It was truly delicious.I ended up eating too much.For breakfast, we enjoyed a Japanese meal with lots of small disheswhile admiring the view again.The rice porridge was exceptional.Since this was a birthday trip,they even arranged a surprise for us.Thank you so much.It was such a wonderful inn,and I would love to return.

As a truly remote hot spring, the drive to get there was challenging, but it was a wonderful inn well worth the effort. Surrounded by rich nature, even the wait for the cable car was enjoyable as we took in the gorge views and watched small birds. We also used the private bath first thing in the morning and were able to fully enjoy the hot spring while wrapped in peaceful nature—it was truly an unforgettable moment. The staff were wonderfully international, and rather than striving for perfection, each person’s sincere, heartfelt work came through, which made us feel very warm and welcome. At dinner, they kindly moved us to a window-side table so we could savor delicious dishes along with the beautiful scenery. My European husband was also very satisfied. Next time, we would love to return during the autumn foliage or snowy season. Thank you for a lovely stay.