Sumatakyo Onsen Suikoen

This was my fourth stay.I love the relaxing Onsen.The meals don’t use particularly expensive ingredients, but they’re thoughtfully prepared, and the simmered dishes and dressed side dishes are especially delicious. This time, the salt-grilled amago trout was also excellent—I ordered two extra fish and was completely satisfied.

We stayed in a special room with a private hot spring bath for our wedding anniversary. The first thing that struck us was how spacious it was—so much so that we hardly knew where to put our luggage or how to make use of all the space. The area with reclining chairs was a lovely place to relax. What impressed us most was the spacious bathroom. The tub had plenty of room to stretch out, and the washing area had two showers, making it large enough for several people. Opening the glass panels in front revealed the lush greenery of the garden. Combined with the silky, slightly thick texture of the hot spring water, it was the quintessential hot spring experience. I felt as though I was taking a bath whenever I had a spare moment. It was one of the best hot springs among all the ryokan we have stayed at.The food, however, was quite ordinary. The grilled amago trout was not cooked enough, and the tempura batter was oily, so we left some of the food uneaten. We also shared a dining room with two other parties, with no screens or partitions between us. There was no sense of privacy at all, which was very disappointing.With its charming retro lobby, this traditional Japanese inn has a wonderful atmosphere. We felt it could be even better with some thoughtful touches that make the most of the setting and create a greater sense of escape from everyday life.