One of the highlights of our stay. The hotel is incredibly cool, with a beautifully redesigned interior that feels fresh and youthful. Our river-view suite was gorgeous and easily the biggest room we’ve stayed in during our time in Japan. For a couple of days, I felt as though I were living in a lifestyle magazine—or pretending to be a travel influencer.
Yamato Onsen offers everything I wanted from an onsen town, but with a more contemporary, relaxed feel than a traditional ryokan while retaining a strong sense of local onsen culture.
The welcoming staff included several English speakers, making settling in easy.
The journey from Hiroshima was straightforward, especially by car. I’d definitely return: this is a magical, calming getaway for a couple of nights. If you’re visiting Japan and want to experience an onsen town without staying in a traditional ryokan, it’s well worth considering.