Kawayu Onsen Fujiya

Best hotel on our Japan trip. It's quite dated, off the beaten track, and not particularly geared towards foreigners, but that's definitely part of the experience. We had renovated rooms and a fantastic private onsen bath with a view of the valley from the balcony. You can also dig your own hole in the gravel by the river – the hotel provides shovels – which then fills with warm water. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. But the best thing is the food, which is prepared with an unbelievable amount of love and skill. Admittedly, the price is steep, but I was happy to pay it.

Although we stayed as a group of two, the inn kindly provided us with a spacious Japanese-style room for five, allowing us to relax comfortably. [Rooms & Facilities] The entire building evokes a sense of history. The toilet in our room still had ashtray marks, and the safe had a traditional, heavy-duty lock, creating a retro atmosphere. [Hot Springs & Baths] The indoor and outdoor baths are in separate areas. There was also a washing area in the outdoor bath. The hair dryer in the large bath is a wall-mounted, gentle breeze type, so if you have long hair, we highly recommend bringing your own. The shampoos provided are also simple, so if you're particular about your hair, it's a good idea to bring your own. [Food] The kaiseki cuisine made with local and seasonal ingredients was especially delicious, with the sukiyaki and rice cooked right at the table, served piping hot! [Kawayu Onsen & Senninburo] Kawayu Onsen is right in front of the inn! From December to the end of February, you can enjoy the famous "Senninburo" bath (6:30 AM - 10:00 PM). Bathing suits are available for rental (150 yen for men/300 yen for women), so it's great that you can enjoy the bath empty-handed. I recommend warming up your body in the inn's open-air bath before entering the Senninburo. I went in early in the morning on New Year's Day, and once I was in the hot spring, I didn't feel cold at all and my body was warm. An outdoor open-air bath in the middle of winter was something special. Customers from overseas were also enjoying themselves!

When choosing a hotel for my Kumano Kodo (Central Path) hike, I opted for Fujiya Onsen Hotel because it offered a shuttle service to Hoshinmon Oji Shrine, had good facilities, and was reasonably priced. In my experience, the two foreign staff at the hotel counter and the two foreign service staff at the restaurant were excellent and very professional. Dinner was delicious and plentiful, but breakfast was a bit simple and unremarkable. The shuttle service to Hongu Taisha Shrine and Hoshinmon Oji Shrine was incredibly convenient. Upon arrival at Hoshinmon Oji Shrine, the driver was extremely professional, providing us with a map, detailed explanations, pointing out the starting point, and even taking photos for me. His service was exceptionally professional and thoughtful. The riverside Senjinyu (Master's Bath) was also very unique! I highly recommend staying and dining here.