Awanoyu

Lovely experience and onsen. I went with family and it was our first time visiting an onsen, and the employees were extremely accommodating to us. The scenery around the hotel is mountainous and peaceful. It was a little fancy for our tastes, especially the multi-course dinner that we weren't used to, but the onsen bath was an amazing experience. The outside onsen water was about body temperature, and the inside tubs were warmer. I went in the onsen a few times, at night and during the day, and both times it was beautiful and relaxing to observe the landscape while soaking in the milky water. There was a great ambiance in the hotel, it was very soothing and the futons were comfortable. The breakfast was delicious and they had self-serve coffee after breakfast. We stayed two nights which felt like a little much, and I think one night would have been better.

We came here because it was the only outdoor onsen we could find that had mixed gender bathing. I had the impression that it was "towel-optional" for ladies, but another female (Japanese) guest rushed over to me when I entered the bath with just a modesty towel and ushered me back to the changing room to get a proper wrap around towel. Then when I came out with it, she pointed out that it had snaps along the top to make sure the towels wouldn't reveal anything, and actually snapped my snaps herself. She was kind and motherly about it - not rude or aggressive. Still, people thinking this is towel optional should be aware of this expectation. I was not aware that there is an annex where couples can enjoy the time together. They had convenient parking and helped us with our bags. Little to no English spoken. The stay was a gift for my husband who had never been to Japan and loves seeking out wild hotsprings in the US. So, the room and the kaiseki did not disappoint. The bathing while beautiful was a little akward. And we would have preferred to have our meal in the company of others, especially since we had no idea about what we were eating. I don't think it's so difficult these days to run a menu through a translator program and print it. So, I'm glad we experienced it. It was far and above the most expensive place we stayed in Japan. For any further visits, I think we'll look for a place outdoor private baths.

Traditional culture. Relaxing and quiet stay. Nice spa. Good service.