Here’s where you should stay! 10 recommended ryokans in Nagato Yumoto Onsen + α [Otani Sanso, KAI Nagato, SOIL Nagatoyumoto, etc.]

Yamaguchi Prefecture is one of the most popular areas in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, with many hot spring sources and resorts attracting tourists from all over in search of healing. Among them, Nagato Yumoto Onsen in Nagato City is known as the oldest hot spring resort in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and remains highly popular for its concentration of shops and hot spring-related facilities that blend traditional hot spring culture with a modern atmosphere. In this article, we will explain what you need to know to fully enjoy Nagato Yumoto Onsen, as well as key points for selecting recommended ryokans and facilities.

What is Nagato Yumoto Onsen?

Nagato Yumoto Onsen has maintained its 600-year history and was renewed under the "Nagato Yumoto Onsen Tourism Town Development Plan" for 2017-20. It is a hot spring resort where visitors can enjoy activities centered on strolling around the hot spring town under the theme of "Osoto Tengoku" (Outdoor Paradise).

Many visitors to Nagato come by their own cars or rental cars, but direct buses also operate from Hakata/Tenjin and Yamaguchi-Ube Airport, attracting visitors of all ages from various parts of Japan.

→Click here for the official Nagato Yumoto Onsen website
https://yumotoonsen.com/

Here's where you should stay! 10 recommended ryokans in Nagato Yumoto Onsen + α

The hot spring resort town of Nagato Yumoto is the best place to stay in the city with a variety of unique lodging facilities, and many people use it as a base to enjoy sightseeing in Yamaguchi, including Motonosumi Shrine, Tsunoshima Island, Hagi City, and Akiyoshidai. Here we introduce 10 recommended accommodations that you should definitely visit during your trip to Yamaguchi. Please take a look at each one and make your choice according to your preferences.

SOIL Nagatoyumoto 

SOIL Nagatoyumoto is an accommodation facility where you can fully enjoy the attractions of Nagato City as well as Nagato Yumoto under the themes of "nature education," "food education," and "hot spring education."

With a sauna with a spectacular view overlooking the hot spring resort, an Italian restaurant that uses local ingredients in abundance, and activities such as SUP experiences, each guest can choose how they would like to enjoy their stay.

KAI Nagato 

KAI Nagato is operated by Hoshino Resorts, and while its motif is an Edo Period "Ochaya-yashiki" (tea house mansion), it has a modern atmosphere.

Not only can you enjoy the luxury of free-flowing hot spring water in an open-air bath, but you can also have the open-air bath in your room all to yourself in a special room. The hotel also offers kaiseki cuisine unique to Yamaguchi and Nagato, including fresh seafood, and is recommended for those who wish to enjoy the gourmet delights that only the local area can offer.

Ryokan Inspired by Yang Guifei Gyokusenkaku 

Ryokan Inspired by Yang Guifei Gyokusenkaku is a ryokan with a variety of rooms for couples, families, and business travelers.

As for the baths, as the name "Ryokan Inspired by Yang Guifei" suggests, they are characterized by a Chinese atmosphere, and women in particular can enjoy Kasei-yu, which was inspired by the baths of Yang Guifei.

Yamamura Bekkan

Yamamura Bekkan is a long-established hot spring inn established in 1925 and located in Nagato Yumoto Onsen, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

It boasts hot water with a pH of 9.7 for beautiful skin, and is equipped with a Western-style open-air bath with a star-filled sky and private baths, as well as seasonal kaiseki cuisine that makes the most of local seafood and mountain produce.

Otani Sanso/Bettei Otozure 

Otani Sanso is a ryokan where you can enjoy the abundant nature and seasonal bounty of Nagato along with its full range of facilities.

In addition to hot springs and cuisine, visitors can enjoy the charms of Nagato from various angles, including a riverbed overlooking the Otozure River, a celestial dome, a bakery, and a gallery of Hagi ware and Fukagawa kilns.

In addition, Bettei Otozure, operated by Otani Sanso, is a ryokan with an open-air bath in every room.

With the concept of "Hot Spring Therapy Modern," the hotel's interior design and services make good use of Japanese culture, and it has been selected as a "Michelin Key Hotel" for two consecutive years from 2024 to 2025.

Haradaya Ryokan

Haradaya Ryokan is a long-established ryokan with a history dating back to the Meiji era. Located near the symbolic Onto in the center of the hot spring resort area, you can enjoy the food and hot spring baths while feeling the murmuring of the Otozure River. The cuisine offers both sea and mountain delicacies, and is recommended for those who want to savor the flavors of Nagato at a leisurely pace.

Yumoto Kanko Hotel Saikyo

Yumoto Kanko Hotel Saikyo is a hot spring inn with a wide variety of facilities located in Yumoto Onsen, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

In addition to guest rooms with hot spring open-air baths and large public baths, the resort offers a variety of activities such as bowling and karaoke, allowing guests to enjoy a resort experience that combines sightseeing and relaxation.

Hotel Nagato Harada

Hotel Nagato Harada is a Japanese-style ryokan located in Nagato Yumoto Onsen, the oldest hot spring in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

In addition to enjoying the high quality hot spring water, which is called "God-given hot spring for beautiful skin," pets are allowed in the warm, pure Japanese-style guest rooms, and you can enjoy a relaxing stroll along the Otozure River.

 Highland Hotel Fuji

Highland Hotel Fuji is an onsen ryokan located in Nagato Yumoto Onsen that offers heartwarming hospitality.

The hotel boasts of its beautiful skin bathing in a large bath made of marble from Akiyoshidai and its cuisine using seasonal ingredients.

Located along the Fukagawa River, the location is ideal for foot baths and walking around town, offering a natural and healing experience.

Ippuku Ryokan

Ippuku Ryokan is an inn with a family-like atmosphere located in the center of the Nagato Yumoto hot spring resort area.

The couple's homemade cuisine, using home-grown vegetables, has a rustic flavor, and together with the free-flowing hot spring water, it is sure to soothe both body and soul.

Although it is not flashy, it is a warm and relaxing retreat that is widely used by tourists, business travelers, and student camps.

→Click here for a list of ryokans in Nagato Yumoto Onsen!
 https://nanavi.jp/stay/onsen/nagatoyumotoonsen/

What you need to know before going to a ryokan! What are the features of Nagato Yumoto Onsen?

Here are two features of Nagato Yumoto Onsen that you should know before visiting a ryokan. If you would like to know more about the benefits of the hot spring, please refer to this page.

Spring water with skin beautifying effects

Nagato Yumoto Onsen is a clear, colorless, alkaline simple hot spring.

It is famous as "hot water for beautiful skin" because it softly blends into the skin and has the same effect as lotion.

The water temperature is not that high, making it the perfect hot spring for those who want to relax and warm their core.

Full of features to enjoy strolling, such as the Kawadoko terrace

Nagato Yumoto Onsen Town is dotted with Kawadoko terraces where you can enjoy the murmuring of the Otozure River.

• In front of Otani Sanso
• Hoshino Resorts
• KAI Nagato
• In front of Day-use Onsen Onto
• In front of Gyokusenkaku

Some facilities also incorporate seasonal events utilizing the riverbed into their accommodation plans, so please check out their plans.

What are the key points for choosing the perfect Nagato Yumoto Onsen ryokan for you?

To fully enjoy Nagato Yumoto Onsen to your liking, you should check the following points when selecting a ryokan.

• Amenities and facilities
• Cuisine
• Onsen atmosphere
• Price

We recommend that you also look into seasonal menus, spa atmosphere, and activities.

Summary

In this article, we have described recommended ryokans and points to consider when choosing a ryokan, which you should know in order to fully enjoy the popular Nagato Yumoto Onsen. There are many unique ryokans in Nagato Yumoto Onsen, so it is important to choose the ryokan that best suits your tastes. Some ryokans also offer day-use bathing, so please consider hopping between hot springs.