Echizen Awara Onsen Tsuruya

The bath, the meals, and the hospitality were all perfect. We would love to stay again if we have the opportunity.

On arrival, the attendants greeted us at the entrance, kneeling formally on the floor. We were then shown to a lounge-like area, where we checked in over matcha and sweets. After a short wait, an attendant escorted us to our room.Tired after a long journey, I would have preferred to go straight to the room and rest.We booked a Japanese-Western-style room with two beds. It was spacious and thoroughly cleaned, but felt rather warm and humid. The wall-mounted controller only offered heating, and just as I was about to give up, I found a separate air-conditioning controller and managed to turn on the cooling. The attendant explained the room’s facilities, but it was disappointing that they did not ask whether the temperature was comfortable.The room’s washbasin area only had skincare amenities for women, such as facial toner. Men’s products were available only in the communal baths. I had assumed a luxury inn would provide everything, so not bringing my own toner was a mistake.Dinner and breakfast were served in a private dining room. Our attendant from Myanmar, who was different from the person who showed us to our room, served us attentively and with a smile. They also asked whether the room temperature was comfortable and lowered the setting at our request. Their explanations of the dishes and ingredients were excellent. Knowing how challenging living abroad can be, I was impressed by their command of Japanese and mastery of Japanese hospitality. The food was delicious, and the portions were just right.The communal baths were more medium-sized than large, but there were few other guests, so we could soak and relax. The two bathing areas alternate between men and women at different times, and each has a distinct atmosphere, so I highly recommend trying both. It was also nice that the baths were available from 3:00 p.m. until 10:00 a.m. the next morning, apart from an overnight cleaning period.The inn has a lounge where you can enjoy a footbath and try cooking eggs in naturally flowing hot spring water. Unlimited canned beer, wine, and coffee are available until 11:00 p.m., along with ice pops. From 5:00 a.m., orange juice replaces the alcoholic drinks. It was too crowded to use until around 6:00 p.m., but there were few people later in the evening or the following morning.Checkout is at 11:00 a.m., allowing for a leisurely morning. At checkout, a staff member, possibly the proprietress, chatted with us warmly and took a souvenir photo for us at the entrance.As expected of a long-established inn with a rich history, the attendants’ thoughtfulness and hospitality were impressive.