Okuyugawara YUI

I don’t usually post Reviews, but this was such a wonderful Accommodation that I wanted to share it in case it helps anyone considering a stay.I live in central Tokyo, and staying at luxury Hotels in Tokyo is one of my hobbies. A Hotel stay refreshes me and boosts my motivation for work. When I’m craving an Onsen, I choose highly rated Ryokan based on Reviews.YUI has become one of my favorite Accommodations—easily among the top Ryokan I’ve stayed at so far.First, the Room was spotless. I’m a bit particular about cleanliness, but there wasn’t a single thing that bothered me—I was completely comfortable. The meals were delicious, and all the staff were kind and welcoming with genuinely pleasant service.Check-in and check-out are completed in your Room, so you hardly run into other guests. If you want to relax quietly at your own pace, I highly recommend it.I had seen some strict Reviews about the food and was slightly worried, but everything tasted great to me. I was also happy that the drink prices were reasonable (laugh).A river runs right in front of you, and you can fully enjoy nature that you simply can’t experience in the city. The open-air bath in the guest room was especially soothing—I could soak slowly without worrying about anyone’s eyes.Many people dislike insects; what surprised me most was how few came inside. In Rooms with an open-air bath, that’s always something I worry about because I’m not good with bugs—but this time there wasn’t even one insect in the tub or bathroom when I woke up in the morning, which made it extremely comfortable. (You can see insects outside, but somehow they don’t come in.)Also, when it comes to summer Onsen bathing, I usually don’t like stepping outside into heavy humidity before getting in. At YUI, even when going outdoors I barely felt that muggy heat at all, so I could enjoy the Onsen very comfortably even in summer. (I’m not sure if it’s because of Yugawara, the building design, or being surrounded by nature.)This might get me scolded for nitpicking—but if I had to mention any downsides:The towels are clean and fluffy, but their absorbency is slightly weak. Also, if you’re arriving by supercar/low-clearance vehicle (?), you’ll need to choose your Room carefully—advance consultation is essential.To everyone at YUI: thank you very much for taking such great care of us during our stay. Sorry I couldn’t include photos—I’m not good at taking them. We will definitely visit again. I'm already looking forward to deciding which Room to stay in next time.

I stayed in Fuka on the 3rd floor. Since it’s the only Room on that floor, it feels very peaceful. It’s incredibly spacious—even all the way out to the open-air bath. I also really enjoyed the sauna, and I loved soaking in the bath while listening to the sound of the large river. For older guests like me, it would be nice to have a chair in the shower room. The ReFa hair dryer was a small, portable latest model, but it’s hard to dry hair with. It’s fine for carrying around yourself, but as an amenity, wouldn’t a larger one be easier to use? The meals were extremely satisfying! Delicious and thoughtfully prepared, with no shortcuts even at breakfast. After eating that food, I felt that price was understandable. All of the staff were wonderfully attentive and considerate—I truly had a very comfortable stay.