Wagokoro no Yado Omori

Although we arrived on a rainy day, we were able to leave the car at the main entrance and check in smoothly, which really helped us keep our luggage dry. The Room was spacious and spotless, and we were impressed by the thoughtful touches—such as an extension cord provided—so charging our phones was never an issue. The only small concern was whether the toilet exhaust fan was working properly. The hotel is barefoot indoors, but socks were provided along with the yukata, which made it very comfortable. The open-air bath had rain hats available, so even on a rainy day we could enjoy a wonderfully atmospheric soak amid the steam. The food was far better than expected and perfectly portioned, and the additional horse sashimi and salted seafood were also outstanding. There seemed to be many international staff members, but their Japanese was very fluent and we had no trouble at all. Breakfast was especially delicious—the egg-over-rice and vegetables served with red shiso ponzu were amazing. It’s also just a short walk to the stone steps, so we enjoyed a stroll even after checkout. It was a wonderful stay that left both our stomachs and hearts full. We would love to visit again once the renovation is complete—and next time, I plan to buy some red shiso ponzu to take home.

The staff were excellent everywhere—from outside the entrance to the lobby and the dining area. For breakfast, we enjoyed both rice porridge and rice with raw egg, and a rice tub was placed on the table. There were plenty of side dishes as well. Dinner included a miso-flavored hot pot, and the meat was tender and delicious.The view from the open-air bath was wonderful, and in the morning we were able to take our time enjoying the sunrise.