Ryokan Tarohei

I stayed at the accommodation on August 13th during the Obon season. Although it is not a very large ryokan, the interior felt more spacious than expected. The room consisted of two Japanese-style rooms, with two beds in one of them. We requested dinner to be served in our room. While tidying up after dinner, I had a conversation with a male staff member who mentioned that he had once lived in my region (Kanto), and we enjoyed chatting about local topics! Dinner featured beautifully presented dishes made with vegetables from the ryokan's own garden and included a wide variety of options. Everything was delicious! Breakfast was buffet-style, offering homemade side dishes and pickles prepared by the proprietress, along with other items served by staff. All ingredients were said to be sourced from their garden! I ended up having three bowls of rice! The onsen facilities included not only a large communal bath but also two gender-swapping baths and four private baths for reservation use! The amenities were well-prepared as well. The staff members were kind and attentive, allowing me to enjoy a pleasant stay!

The open-air bath is separate and cannot be accessed directly from the large public bath, which was a bit disappointing. However, the Onsen had an abundant water supply, truly unique to Oyasukyo Onsen with its great geyser. It was a highly satisfying Onsen experience.