Okuhita Onsen Umehibiki

We stayed in the “Japanese-Western Style Room with Open-Air Hot Spring Bath.” It’s not cheap, but it was absolutely worth it—an incredibly satisfying stay!■ Room & private open-air bath The room was beautifully luxurious, and the view from it was outstanding. It had both an indoor bath and an open-air bath, and I loved that you can adjust the temperature of the open-air bath yourself. I set it a bit lukewarm and enjoyed a long soak while taking in the scenery. There were also various complimentary drinks in the room, and spending time on the balcony with a drink while admiring the view felt like pure luxury.■ Spectacular public baths (a must!) The in-room bath is amazing, but please make sure to visit the large public baths as well! I’ve been to many hot springs, and the view from these baths is among the best. There are two baths with separate hours for men and women, so I highly recommend trying both. The daytime views are incredible—but nighttime is something else. Everything around you is pitch-black, to the point where you can barely see anything at first. As your eyes adjust, mountain silhouettes emerge with an almost overwhelming presence—like giants looming close by. Just when I thought “This is scary,” I looked up at the sky… and there was a sky full of stars! It had been ages since I’d seen stars that beautiful—I honestly wished they would turn off all lights in the bathing area.■ Dining & service Every dish was refined and delicious. That said, younger guests might find the portions a little light (though drinking may be part of dinner for many—my spouse and I don’t drink). Also, I would have loved to have a “large pickled plum” with breakfast. The staff service was excellent throughout—we were impressed from start to finish.■ Access / other notes - The roads on the way there and the parking lot are spacious, so even larger vehicles should be fine (we drove a BMW 2-door coupe about 5 m long). However, if it snows in winter, it may not melt easily and could be challenging. - As this is a nature-rich area, insects do appear.My wife said that “15:00 check-in / 11:00 check-out isn’t enough time to fully enjoy this hotel,” and she truly didn’t want to leave.For me, Hita used to be just somewhere we passed through—but thanks to this inn, it has become a destination in itself. We will definitely return!

Last time, we stayed in the main building. This time, we stayed in Oshuku. Having our own open-air bath in the room was fantastic!Above all, the food here is truly exceptional. Every dish was carefully prepared and so delicious that we were genuinely impressed. Beyond the quality of the ingredients, the attention to seasoning and presentation was clear, and we enjoyed every moment from start to finish. It was an unforgettable dining experience! This is definitely a place we would love to visit again.