Livemax Resort Nasu-Kogen

I first stayed here last November and gave it a perfect score, and this time as well—it’s another perfect score. Above all, the Onsen (milky white sulfur spring) is outstanding. You’ll want to soak again and again. The men’s bath is compact with three washing stations, so it may feel a bit crowded when the Hotel is fully booked, but even so, it has a charm that makes you want to come back. Dinner and breakfast were also excellent—no complaints at all. There is a menu provided, but considering the price, it’s reasonable that the meal is set out on the table from the start. Try to be seated early if possible. The front desk staff and serving staff are very dog-friendly and wonderful. This time I used a Japanese-style Room, and they had prepared simple square mats so dogs wouldn’t slip on the wooden floor area; their thoughtful consideration—making them available as needed—was truly impressive. If I had one request for improvement: the wooden gate at the entrance to the outdoor dog run was partially rotted and starting to break, so I’d be happy if it could be repaired. Even with that, this is a Hotel worthy of a perfect score. I’ll be planning another stay, and I look forward to visiting again then.

This was our first trip with Mameko, our 8-month-old Shiba Inu. We had various concerns, but in the end it was a very satisfying stay. It started with the front desk’s kind and attentive service. It reminded us how important the atmosphere at check-in really is. We quickly made a Reservation for a private bath.Our Japanese-style Room was spacious enough, and the crate was large as well. The view from the window wasn’t great; it seems a Room on the opposite side of the hallway would have been better.Next was the outdoor dog run. It was covered with wood chips, which were gentle on our dog’s paws. However, it didn’t seem well maintained, and we didn’t see any other families using it.Then came the private bath. Dogs aren’t allowed in the bathtub for people, but there was a large tub placed in the washing area, so we could bathe together and still enjoy an Onsen-like experience. One thing to note: there was a brush provided, but it had plenty of hair from a previous dog on it—perhaps it was missed during cleaning—which was disappointing.Dinner was finally served, and both quantity and quality were more than satisfying. The tables were spaced appropriately apart, so we could relax comfortably alongside other dogs as well. The only disappointment was that my favorite salt-grilled ayu wasn’t cooked through enough. Ayu is usually edible from head to tail when properly grilled, but this one had hard bones (head and tail) that couldn’t be eaten. My wife’s portion was nearly raw; they re-grilled it for her, but even then the bones remained too hard to eat. Ayu needs to be grilled slowly over time; this felt like only the surface had been browned with a grill to save time and effort. I believe this should be improved promptly.There are two indoor dog runs as well—both were excellent spaces where we could also get along with other guests’ families.The large public bathhouse was a good size, and above all else, the sulfur Onsen was outstanding. They recommended “time bathing” (going in and out) because it’s hot; I gradually got used to it and eventually enjoyed how pleasantly the sulfur seemed to cling to my skin.After bathing there were massage chairs—three units including newer models—and having them free of charge really lived up to expectations.Breakfast the next morning also left us fully satisfied.One more small point: staff members kindly fussed over Mameko, but since they handle food service as well, I felt it might be better not to touch dogs during meal service.Overall, our 1-night/2-day stay ended on an extremely positive note. Beyond great value for money, we could truly feel everyone’s hospitality—this has become one of our family’s Accommodations we would like to visit again.”