Hotel Iya Onsen

I learned about this accommodation from the Nikkei newspaper and had always wanted to stay here. I was lucky to get a spot on the cancellation list. The natural onsen with free-flowing spring water, accessed by cable car, has pleasantly warm water that you can soak in for hours. It was truly a blissful experience. The renovated room was thoughtfully designed and very user-friendly, and I was especially impressed by the spacious washbasin area. Every dish made with fresh ingredients was delicious, with the simmered dishes being particularly exceptional. This hidden gem of an accommodation is one I would love to visit again while I'm still fit enough to manage the stairs!

The room was clean, and the autumn-colored mountains could be seen from various spots. However, the mattress near the entrance of the room we stayed in made squeaking noises, causing my companion to have a sleepless night. It might be better to replace or repair this mattress.The onsen located beyond the ropeway had excellent water quality and stunning views. The lower temperature allowed for longer bathing times, which was enjoyable.For future guests, please note that on our way to arrive at the accommodation around 3 PM (near Hinoji Valley, about 3 minutes by car from the accommodation), we were stopped for 50 minutes due to rockfall prevention construction. There was no prior warning from the accommodation or notifications from local authorities or contractors; it seems these works start suddenly without notice. Even if there is no announcement on their website, it would be advisable to check past notices regarding road closures due to construction and adjust your travel time accordingly. The road is narrow and taking an alternative route in reverse direction takes more time; therefore, detours are not recommended.During this incident, I called the accommodation while being stopped but received no particular support or action at reception afterward, which was disappointing. It seems even their shuttle service vehicle was affected by this stoppage. This issue should ideally be addressed with Tokushima Prefecture or construction contractors as well. This experience also highlighted how challenging it can be to visit such remote areas.