悠湯の郷 ゆさ & おふろcafé yusa — Hotel in Yamagata

Surrounded by warehouses and highways, the area of Kurosawa Hot Springs are not really known for healing springs. Yusa apparently is aware of its shortcomings and has since turned to a gourmet-focused experience. I think it's a success!

LOCATION ◣ Kurosawa Hot Springs is located between Yamagata city and Kaminoyama city, about 30 minutes from the Yamagata station by an hourly public bus. Yusa is less than 10 minutes walk away from the bus stop.

FIRST IMPRESSION ◣ The former government property boasts an airy lobby with some seatings and a small souvenir shop behind the reception. Staff speak very limited English, but are eager to please.

ROOM ◣ Room type was not guaranteed for the special rate I booked, but I was given a spacious Japanese room that can sleep five guests. Open view facing Zao mountain. Additional bathroom amenities in the corridor. The futon mattress was on the thin side, however. No light-blocking curtains.

PUBLIC BATH ◣ There was no bathtub or shower inside my room and visiting the public bath on the top floor was the only option. The chemical content of the natural spring at Yusa prevents it from advertising it as a "natural hot spring", but the hotel spared no effort to stress its water comes from a natural source. Overall it was a pleasant experience, though there was a slight chlorine odor and the outdoor bath was closed during my visit.

DINNER ◣ Like many Japanese hotels, Yusa offers a wide-ranging dinner menu to go with the room plan - unfortunately only available on the Japanese websites. I picked a ten-course meal with shabu shabu, featuring grain-fed pork from a local farm. I also opted for the Yamagata beef sukiyaki add-on for 1800 yen.

There was not a single weak spot throughout the meal! The marbled beef was of very high grade; the pork was flavourful; the seasonal sushi was fresh; the appetiser combo put together traditional Japanese pickles and smoked salmon vegetable jelly in a meticulous presentation.

More courses came after the appetiser - there was a puff pastry oxtail soup that was as thick as curry. The highly regarded local rice was served with cherry pickles. They even added apple slices on top of the almond pudding to match the red cup. The feast was satisfying - visually, gastronomically and maybe culturally, as I got to sample so much local produce.

It's noteworthy that the ten-course shabu shabu was probably the second-most affordable dinner-room plan. There are more indulgent options that include even more elaborate appetizers, abalones or grilled Yamagata beef.

BREAKFAST ◣ Everyone who has breakfast included for their stay gets a nine-item, well-plated bento box with all-you-can-eat rice, soup, congee, breads, salad and yogurt. I got to say the congee made with Yamagata rice was most impressive among all.

All in all I highly recommend this place for the impressive gourmet experience, decent room and public bath. Its location also makes it a proper base for exploring...

It was delighted to spend 2 nights in this incredible hotel.

I fell in love with this hotel as noon as I stepped inside. The huge book shelves are enjoyable to see.

The staff are all friendly and helpful. They speak the Yamagata local dialect of Japanese and that sounds so charming.

I booked the cheapest room, but I was pleasantly surprised by its excellent amenities including quality tea, water and some snacks. The view from the window was like a painting with magnificent Zao mountains and serene river.

There is a restaurant and it offers a variety of attractive dishes made with local ingredients. A robot carry dishes and children looked excited.

The public hot spring on the 5 floor is spectacular offering a breathtaking view of Zao mountains and a river. It has an outside bath and the sound of the river is gentle and relaxing, creating a tranquil atmosphere at the hot spring.

Free water and free coffee, free clothes, everything...

We came to Yamagata after 10 hours via Tokyo. From the kosekiya ryokan honkan in ginzan onsen to the Takamiya Miyamaso on the Zao onsen and here we are Yuyuno sato Yusa ryokan . Be setted the special quality sukiyaki meat came out like a PICTURE 1, and I was so unhappy and surprised that this meat has too much part of fat(PICTURE2), so complain this. Than the chef in restaurant accepted it and show us the new real meat(PICTURE3) and promised one again with the showed meat. By the way, the sukiyaki that came back again was already cooked in the kitchen(we can't see the showed meat), and the meat was lightly stripped of the fat and same part with the picture 1. When I protested again, the chef said the opposite side is like this(PICTURE 4, 5). Another surprise. I was very disappointed and feel ridiculed. I made a direct reservation and paid 46,500 yen for a standard twin room per night. It is not a...