Matsunoya Hanaizumi

There was still a little snow left when we visited, but since the open-air baths rotate and you can use both, I went in right after check-in, again after dinner, and again in the morning. The water felt slightly silky and was very nice. It was a bit disappointing that the weather wasn’t great.We chose the meal plan with Japanese wagyu. Everything was very delicious, and the staff were wonderful. I even had a second serving of rice. The yudofu (tofu hot pot) and miso at breakfast were also excellent.

There are many types of baths to enjoy, but one of them felt a bit small and didn’t seem able to accommodate many people at once. Also, in the morning it seems the hot water in the women’s bath was not running, and with no staff at the front desk they could not be reached by phone. They also take your car key and park the car for you; this time it wasn’t an issue, but if the front desk is unattended at night, it could be worrying if you suddenly need to leave for work.The bath itself had a great temperature, and the Onsen water left my skin smooth and felt wonderful. The meal was served at a fast pace to suit family members who don’t drink alcohol. There was still snow outside, but the Room had a fan heater in addition to air conditioning, and blankets were provided as well, so we stayed warm. The haori jacket worn over the yukata had pockets, which was convenient for carrying the Room key and phone—many don’t have pockets. There were also two keys provided, which made it easy for men and women to carry them separately.