Sansuikan Kawayu Matsuya — Hotel in Tanabe

I highly recommend this hotel. The location is great, only 2 min walk from the bus station and right beside the river with 2 outdoor spring pools. I love the room as it is traditional and provides you almost everything you need. I will have to thank all the staffs here, as they are very friendly, responsive, and helpful with what you need, and very easy to communicate with. I lost my camera at Hongu Taisha Shrine and got fuss about it and have no clue how to get it back as the public transport at Kawayu Onsen is not that great and I can’t speak Japanese. The staff at the reception especially Yuki helped me with calling all the bus drivers and staffs at the shrine and I managed to get my camera back. I really enjoy my stay there and I would highly recommend this place if you want to have a nice couple of days in the mountains and enjoy your time without worrying...

Kind of annex of the sister hotel next door. In the annex is an onsen, washing machine and dryer (free to use), vending machines with beer and drinks and noodles. Room is basic. I had a great view on the river. Small balcony, but dirty and no chair. The annex is okay to stay if you are hiking. The best thing is the sister hotel. A great onsen with outdoor bath. Nice souvenir shop with a bit more food. Staff are super friendly and helpful. They also provide bus services (bring and pickup to Hongu Taisha, the other onsen places, the trailhead busstop) which you can use! Just call them if you want to be picked up. I did not realize Kawayu Onsen is a very small place with NO supermarket. If you did not book breakfast (served at the sister) bring your own into town or eat instant noodles. There are 2 small restaurants with...

Value for money accommodation! Indoor bath on the 3rd floor is segregated. Meals are in Sansuikan Kawayu Midora. For outdoor Onsen experience, either use the twin baths by the Oto River at Midora or the public Kawayu Sennin-buro (thousand people bath) right in the river, in front of Ashitanomori Pension. If you feel like lunching in, there are microwave ovens and vending machines on the 4th floor. A coin laundromat is available on the 5th floor.

Psst! To enjoy the Kawayu Sennin-buro bath, about 10-minute walk, wear your yukata over your swimming attire, and wooden clogs in your hotel room. Don your winter jacket (in winter), bring a hotel towel and a bottle of water, and you are good to go. Test the river water (varies in different spots) before you remove...