Oyado of Yufu firefly — Hotel in Yufu

Hotaru usually is visited by local Japanese looking for a family getaway relaxing onsen/ryokan trip. But me and my gf decided to give it a try||||We went there with high hopes of an amazing hot spring/onsen exprience and we were not disappointed. The room we booked came with its own private onsen and that was an option we could not miss. There was no way you could get to Hotaru on your own without a pickup from the Yufuin train station but Manager Mizoguchi-san made sure it was as easy as could be. ||||Mizoguchi-san's hospitality was another bright point as he explained how he got his American accent from years of studying abroad. His English was perfect and that was definitely a rare scene among the Japanese hospitality industry.||||The room was simplistic as you expect - spacious tatami. We were led to the dining area for dinner shortly after, and I kid you not, it was one of the most enjoyable meals we ever had on a trip. From sashimi to yakitori to tempura, everything was exquisite and made to perfection. The attention to detail and excellence to whatever Japanese stood for was displayed in its entirety. ||||In our room waiting for us were our beds set up in typical Japanese futon style. Simplistic yet effective. We cared little about anything else and jumped into the Onsen for the remainder of the night looking into the stars and sky (unfortunately there was a little rain and it was cloudy too.||||There are also other private/public Onsens within the property and you are free to use any of them. ||||It was a shame that we only had planned for a night here but we enjoyed every second of our Onsen/Ryokan experience. It wasnt cheap for this experience (i recall it was around 40,000 yen for the 2 of us, but it was every Yen...

Hotaru usually is visited by local Japanese looking for a family getaway relaxing onsen/ryokan trip. But me and my gf decided to give it a try||||We went there with high hopes of an amazing hot spring/onsen exprience and we were not disappointed. The room we booked came with its own private onsen and that was an option we could not miss. There was no way you could get to Hotaru on your own without a pickup from the Yufuin train station but Manager Mizoguchi-san made sure it was as easy as could be. ||||Mizoguchi-san's hospitality was another bright point as he explained how he got his American accent from years of studying abroad. His English was perfect and that was definitely a rare scene among the Japanese hospitality industry.||||The room was simplistic as you expect - spacious tatami. We were led to the dining area for dinner shortly after, and I kid you not, it was one of the most enjoyable meals we ever had on a trip. From sashimi to yakitori to tempura, everything was exquisite and made to perfection. The attention to detail and excellence to whatever Japanese stood for was displayed in its entirety. ||||In our room waiting for us were our beds set up in typical Japanese futon style. Simplistic yet effective. We cared little about anything else and jumped into the Onsen for the remainder of the night looking into the stars and sky (unfortunately there was a little rain and it was cloudy too.||||There are also other private/public Onsens within the property and you are free to use any of them. ||||It was a shame that we only had planned for a night here but we enjoyed every second of our Onsen/Ryokan experience. It wasnt cheap for this experience (i recall it was around 40,000 yen for the 2 of us, but it was every Yen...

Our family stay at Yufu no Oyado Hotaru was a truly memorable experience. Nestled in the peaceful surroundings of Yufuin, the ryokan offered a serene and authentic Japanese atmosphere that immediately put us at ease. The room was spacious, clean, and beautifully designed with a traditional touch, making it comfortable for the whole family.

The highlight was definitely the private onsen — relaxing in the hot spring while surrounded by nature was a wonderful experience for both adults and kids. Dinner and breakfast were thoughtfully prepared kaiseki-style meals, showcasing fresh local ingredients and a variety of flavors that we all enjoyed.

The staff were warm, attentive, and went out of their way to make our family feel welcome, even helping with little details that made our stay smoother. It was a perfect balance of comfort, hospitality, and cultural charm.

Overall, our visit to Yufu no Oyado Hotaru was a delightful part of our trip, and we would highly recommend it to families looking to experience both relaxation and traditional Japanese...