Ryokan Tamagoyu

I was generally satisfied, but it was disappointing that the apple juice at breakfast time (from 8am) was out of stock.

I had heard good things about it, but this was my first time staying there. Of course, my main purpose was the open-air bath with natural hot spring water. I had imagined a rustic inn, but I was surprised to see a five-story reinforced concrete building. However, Tamagoyu, located along the river, is a thatched bathhouse with a history of over 150 years, and gives off the atmosphere of a former hot spring resort. Further down the river is the open-air bath for women only, Seoto (apparently it can also be used as a private bath), and at the very bottom is the open-air rock bath, Tenkei no Yu. The water is poured from between the rocks, and the bath is filled with a murky pale sulfur spring, but what was a bit disappointing was that it was covered with a carpet that looked like artificial turf. I think it was to prevent falls, but it ruined the atmosphere. Still, the bath was amazing! There was a large indoor bath, Taki no Yu, and a small indoor bath, Senki no Yu, and I enjoyed the natural hot spring water to the point that my skin was tingling and burning. The superior Japanese-style room I stayed in was relatively new and clean. The dinner was a bit ingenious, but it was nothing special. The free-flowing hot spring water and the luxurious hotel-style lobby were a mismatch, and the concept of a hot spring inn seemed half-baked.

It was a ryokan that satisfies everything, including hot springs, facilities, and meals. The free-flowing hot spring that I was looking for is outside the ryokan building, and there are three open-air baths, one for mixed bathing, one for women only, and one for men only, each in its own building. (Of course, the indoor bath is inside the building.) If the weather is fine, there should be no problem, but if the weather is bad or in winter, some concerns remain. The hot spring was a wonderful cloudy sulfur spring. I thought it was a sulfur hot spring with a strong sulfur smell, but it was a moderately weak sulfur hot spring. It was a highly recommended ryokan for those who want to encounter real natural hot springs.