I’d long wanted to visit Bessho Onsen. It had great Reviews on Google Maps, and when I searched IKYU.com for “solo travel” and “Western-style room,” I chose Midoriya—Done! I was a little concerned about the cutting-edge, tech-driven operation, but that worry was unfounded: the smartphone-based process was very smooth. It also made me feel this is something I should get used to—and that it may well become a new standard.
This time I booked a breakfast-only Plan for a Multiple Night Stay, and during my stay I used three private Onsen baths a total of six times. What I loved was being able to experience different types of water depending on the bath and the day—clear, slightly greenish, milky white, or with soft yunohana drifting in the water. Each bath has both an indoor bath and an open-air bath, and I thoroughly enjoyed historic Bessho Onsen with its skin-beautifying qualities, gentle feel, and subtle sulfur scent.
During my stay, I saw all kinds of guests—a mom with her baby along with her own mother, a young European couple, and solo female international travelers—and it was clear everyone was enjoying their time in their own way.