Yufuin Akarinoyado

Great service, very detailed explanations. The hot spring can be booked privately, so you don't have to share it with others. There's also a restaurant, and it's conveniently located right behind a supermarket where you can buy sushi. No washing machine though. It's also close to the street and the train station.

I stayed here during my solo trip to Yufuin. On the day I checked in, I was playing nearby and accidentally fell into the river. I arrived around 2 PM, earlier than the official check-in time, and asked if an early check-in was possible. They initially said it was only possible at 3 PM. However, the female owner saw that I was completely soaked and immediately guided me to the public bath. She also told me where the nearest coin laundry was and even lent me a pair of slippers since my shoes were drenched. My solo trip could have been very difficult, but thanks to the owner, I was able to finish it healthy and happy. I'm incredibly grateful. If I ever visit Yufuin again with friends or family, I will definitely come back here. Thank you!

Make sure to check the room amenities carefully. I booked this place and only realized after receiving an email that there was no private bathroom and that I'd have to use a shared one. However, it was clean and odor-free. If your room is on the 3rd floor, the stairs are quite high, so if you have large luggage or mobility issues, you should definitely consider that. I was a bit nervous about the cat mentioned in previous reviews, as I'm allergic. Turns out the cat is very well-behaved and stays mostly in the lobby on the ground floor; you barely even see it, so that was fine.

Great location, but the shared bathroom and lack of an elevator made for a mediocre experience overall.

This was truly eye-opening. The hotel's basement dining area had a coffee machine, but no cups, and guests weren't allowed to use their own cups to take coffee away. The shared kitchen on the upper floors only had glasses and utensils; there were no bowls or plates, so even if you bought oden, you couldn't get any. Most importantly, the staff showed absolutely no hospitality. When guests had questions, they responded with a stern face, wiping off signs with the hotel's rules, and their attitude was extremely rude. Aside from the decent hot springs, this is a NO hotel – No Smile, No Service, No Stairs!!!

The hot spring water was inconsistently hot and cold, and guests were not allowed to enter the rest area after check-out, preventing them from even resting before setting off. Some staff members were also unfriendly.