Ichinobo — Hotel in Sendai

We visited here for our honeymoon, and it was an absolutely wonderful all-inclusive resort where we ate to our hearts’ content and felt incredibly happy. If you enjoy drinking, I especially recommend this place. Beer and sparkling wine are available anytime from self-serve dispensers, and during meals, a wide variety of Japanese sake, wine, and spirits are offered. Since the Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery is nearby, the resort sometimes serves single-malt Miyagikyo or Date whiskies during dinner or evening shows, and you can also enjoy unlimited Nikka whisky highballs from the dispenser anytime as well.

Dinner was one of the best I’ve ever had. It’s not a buffet but more like a food court where chefs prepare dishes on the spot when you order. There’s no need to rush or worry about overeating too quickly—you can take your time and enjoy everything. They serve Sendai beef steak, the local specialty grilled beef tongue, freshly fried tempura, and more. The desserts are beautifully presented and can be customized however you like—I especially loved the apple pie. Breakfast was just as delightful, with freshly made French toast and many other satisfying options. In the morning, you can enjoy hand-drip coffee and tea, and if you stay multiple nights, they also offer light snacks in the afternoon.

The open-air baths alternate between men’s and women’s use in the morning and evening. One is large, the other smaller, but the larger one offers a breathtaking view of the valley where the river curves in a U-shape through the rocks, and it also has a sauna. The indoor baths are simple but very clean. The hot spring water is natural and clear, not particularly mineral-rich, but extremely well maintained. After your bath, you can enjoy simmered radish and sweet amazake (a traditional Japanese rice drink) at the Daikon Café.

If you choose the higher-end “Satoyama Retreat” room type, you’ll have a private cypress bath in your room, where you can relax and soak while gazing outside—I personally loved this feature the most.

There are also two ping-pong tables, which made for some fun couple time, though they’re quite popular so it’s best to reserve in advance.

The outdoor hot spring surrounded by beautiful nature was truly moving, and the best part was the peace of mind that came from paying only once at booking and then being able to eat and drink freely as much as we wanted, all at a high quality. Even a year later, we still often talk about the memories of our honeymoon. We’d love to stay at another Ichinobo Group property for our fifth...

I didn't stay here - just a visit to the onsen. I'm male and visited with my partner. Although expensive for an onsen (1,600 yen on a Saturday) it was well worth it. The system and layout is initially a little confusing though (even for the Japanese) so a bit of help follows. ||||We got a train to Sakunami on the way back to Sendai from Yamagata. The hotel mini-bus was waiting when we arrived and we just hopped on. ||||- Enter the foyer. Day onsen trippers have a separate payment point (not the main reception desk). ||- They'll direct you to put shoes in a locker and take a yukata, obi, bath and hand towel.||- Take these upstairs to the 2nd floor locker room and change into the yukata. Don't get naked yet, this is not the bath changing room! When I was there some guys were doing that and were about to walk through the hotel starkers. Wear underpants / T-shirt under your yukata - you're going to go to another changing place before the onsen and may well want to hang around the hotel in it afterwards. ||- The baths are on the basement floors. The baths of course rotate (male - female) depending on the time and day. Coming out of the lift, we saw the male bath and went straight into that - it was ok, but a little disappointing (big, inside square tubs with a wall of glass looking out onto trees). ||- Coming out and ready for a beer, we only then saw the sign to the outdoor baths. There were 2 for the men, down a long corridor and more steps, one semi-outdoor and one with the cliff face and trees looming directly above you (and apparently a chance of seeing monkeys while you relax). Much better, although I have a feeling the women had the better deal at the time with a much larger outdoor bath.||||Once you've figured out where to go and have had your onsen fill, go back to the foyer in your yukata (or go back to the 2nd floor and change if more comfortable). The foyer opens up onto stunning modern decking with seating surrounding an infinity swimming pool. We sat there in the lovely May afternoon sun, helped ourselves to complimentary soft dinks & ice-creams and poured draught beers from a self service machine. Beers are a very reasonable 300 yen - buy a token for the machine at the gift shop. I also made full use of the amazing massage chairs.||||All in all, worth the price. Really recommend it as a half-day trip, though in this case don't necessarily do as the Japanese do and strip off...

I didn't stay here - just a visit to the onsen. I'm male and visited with my partner. Although expensive for an onsen (1,600 yen on a Saturday) it was well worth it. The system and layout is initially a little confusing though (even for the Japanese) so a bit of help follows. ||||We got a train to Sakunami on the way back to Sendai from Yamagata. The hotel mini-bus was waiting when we arrived and we just hopped on. ||||- Enter the foyer. Day onsen trippers have a separate payment point (not the main reception desk). ||- They'll direct you to put shoes in a locker and take a yukata, obi, bath and hand towel.||- Take these upstairs to the 2nd floor locker room and change into the yukata. Don't get naked yet, this is not the bath changing room! When I was there some guys were doing that and were about to walk through the hotel starkers. Wear underpants / T-shirt under your yukata - you're going to go to another changing place before the onsen and may well want to hang around the hotel in it afterwards. ||- The baths are on the basement floors. The baths of course rotate (male - female) depending on the time and day. Coming out of the lift, we saw the male bath and went straight into that - it was ok, but a little disappointing (big, inside square tubs with a wall of glass looking out onto trees). ||- Coming out and ready for a beer, we only then saw the sign to the outdoor baths. There were 2 for the men, down a long corridor and more steps, one semi-outdoor and one with the cliff face and trees looming directly above you (and apparently a chance of seeing monkeys while you relax). Much better, although I have a feeling the women had the better deal at the time with a much larger outdoor bath.||||Once you've figured out where to go and have had your onsen fill, go back to the foyer in your yukata (or go back to the 2nd floor and change if more comfortable). The foyer opens up onto stunning modern decking with seating surrounding an infinity swimming pool. We sat there in the lovely May afternoon sun, helped ourselves to complimentary soft dinks & ice-creams and poured draught beers from a self service machine. Beers are a very reasonable 300 yen - buy a token for the machine at the gift shop. I also made full use of the amazing massage chairs.||||All in all, worth the price. Really recommend it as a half-day trip, though in this case don't necessarily do as the Japanese do and strip off...