Yamanaka Onsen Yubatake no Yado Hanatsubaki

I visited the accommodation looking forward to enjoying the onsen! Although some parts, such as the standing bath at Yubatake, were not heated and could not be used, I was still able to fully enjoy the onsen! There seemed to be fewer visitors from certain regions, and there were no loud conversations. Foreign guests also appeared to follow Japanese manners, which made for a very pleasant experience!

We stayed at the accommodation for a family trip with breakfast only. Upon arrival, the parking lot and interior were quite empty, so we thought it might not be great, but it turned out to be amazing with an excellent mixed-gender open-air onsen and a fantastic room. All the staff were kind and welcoming with smiles. The mixed-gender open-air onsen was especially wonderful as it provided bathing clothes, allowing our whole family to enjoy it comfortably. Soaking in the onsen surrounded by nature was incredibly refreshing. The room was clean, and breakfast was delicious. Despite being such a great accommodation, there were few guests, which made us concerned about its business situation. Yamanaka Onsen is also a charming hot spring town full of character; however, it felt sparsely populated. We hope efforts are made to attract more visitors so that it doesn’t become deserted over time. Afterward, we visited Kanazawa’s tea district but found this experience far more enjoyable in comparison! There were many international tourists around as well as foreign staff working here due to the necessity of English communication.Some reviews mentioned insects appearing; however, given that this is an onsen town surrounded by nature, encountering insects seems natural—those who dislike them might prefer staying at hotels surrounded by urban buildings instead! Please note that accessing the mixed-gender open-air onsen involves steep stairs (about 60 steps), making it unsuitable for those with weak legs or mobility issues.As for areas of improvement: - The green lighting at night in the mixed-gender open-air onsen slightly detracts from its charm; warm-colored lighting would create a better atmosphere.- Since restaurants and convenience stores require car travel to reach them easily—offering beer or local sake sales at reception could enhance convenience alongside snacks available late into nighttime hours (e.g., until 11 PM). A simple bar serving light bites within lobby spaces could also boost revenue opportunities.- Lastly—the room felt slightly cold during our stay—a heating device would have been appreciated!