Manyou no Sato Hakuunso in Yugawara

This is one of my favorite accommodations.
While the view from the room might not be spectacular, the food, rooms, and service were excellent. The place isn't very big, so it's very quiet and private.
The onsen room is large and clean. Overall, I was very impressed.

The facilities, view, atmosphere, and hot spring were all very nice. The staff were all friendly.

We spent a night here in July at the end of a 2 week trip to Japan, and this was the highlight. The property is about a 10 minute cab ride from Yugawara station (which is great for those who have a JR pass) and is located in the mountains. We arrived at the hotel and were greeted by the lady who was looking after us. We were served tea and a snack while our bags were whisked away and we were checked in.

We opted for a 15.5sqm room with its own onsen bath. The room was traditionally outfiited with tatami mats, sliding doors and low tables and chairs for formal dining, and a smaller section for relaxing. The decorations were minimal and elegant. The balcony looked over a babbling brook and included an outdoor shower and an onsen bath (with water piped in from the hot springs). All very private and secluded.

We were asked to select a time for dinner and breakfast. When dinner time came around, we heard a knock on the door and the table was set...and then the feast started. The dishes were brought in one by one - small appetisers, sashimi, sushi, tempura, Kobe beef and desserts - each dish beautifully presented, perfectly balanced and in tune with the season. Breakfast was a similar affair. Lavish and delicious!

The staff did not speak much English, but we could make ourselves understood with no trouble.
The experience wasn't cheap, but it was worth every cent and I'd highly recommend a night at Hakuunsou!

A couple of extra notes:
- There is a shared onsen if you want the 'getting naked in front of strangers' experience :)
- All of the amenities are taken care of including toiletries and a yukata to swan around in, so you can travel light (in hindsight.
- I didn't notice any internet access points and there was no wireless but I believe they might have computers/cables available for use somewhere
- There was a bar/lounge area to hang out in (though we didn't use it)
- There are TVs in the room in case you're craving some modern entertainment

Great service and clean rooms. Great place for a quick get away onsen trip.

Good thing the big communal bathhouse was slow to open because of corona. The rice was delicious too. The trip was intense but wonderful.

It was good that the large communal bath was rented out slowly because of the corona. The rice was also delicious. It was a rich trip, but it was a wonderful trip.

Overall good but the food could be better especially the dessert.