Shogawa Onsen Furuamidou Zashiki Yumetsuzuri

We stayed here a few years ago, and returned again because my husband said he “definitely wants to come back.” The welcome sweets—warabi mochi—were so delicious that we bought some as souvenirs. The tatami flooring in the corridors and even inside the elevator was very comfortable, and the open-air bath felt like soaking right in a Japanese garden. Dinner was excellent; we asked for a smaller portion, but it was more than enough. The Room was spacious, and the sunlit table by the window being a sunken kotatsu made it especially relaxing.Many Accommodations ask guests to bring towels from their Room to the public bath, so being able to go empty-handed felt wonderful. Breakfast was also very tasty. We had planned to leave at a leisurely pace, but there were thunderstorms and heavy rain from midnight onward, and we ended up driving for two hours through an intense rain band on our way home. Afterward we saw news about flooding, and we’re worried whether there was any damage to the Hotel or surrounding area.We’re already talking about coming again during apple season. Thank you very much—everything was truly delicious.

This stay was our long-awaited “revenge trip” after we had to cancel in February because a family member came down with the flu.Because the entire Accommodation is covered with tatami, our family member with mobility issues didn’t need to put on geta or slippers, and we were able to relax without stress. The Room was spotless and well maintained, making it very comfortable, and the view opened straight onto an unspoiled rural landscape.We took a breather with a welcome drink before dinner. Dinner featured an abundance of seasonal ingredients such as red snow crab, roe-bearing sweetfish, and matsutake mushrooms—delighting not only the palate but also the eyes and nose. The large public bath felt wonderfully open, as if an outdoor bath were floating within the garden. Towels were also stacked in front of the bath area, so there was no need to bring them from your Room as is common these days. If I had to mention one thing, I feel it would be more fitting to have towels rather than paper towels placed near the sink in the Room.At departure they even removed leaves stuck to our car’s windshield. There was no pushy “this-and-that” service; instead, their thoughtful attention that reaches exactly where needed was truly pleasant. It was an exceptional Accommodation that made us want to return in another season.