Ryokan Yufumomiji — Hotel in Yufu

I’m so glad I’d found this place! It’s probably one of the least pretentious, humble, quaint and peaceful Ryokan I’ve ever stayed in and I loved every moment of it. I stayed during the end of the winter season so temperature was around 0-7oC.

Pros

The Ryokan is run by a couple (who has a superrrr cute kid!!!) who’s just so kind, helpful and friendly (they’ll help book your taxi rides from the Ryokan!) and you can tell that they try their bestest to provide the warmest hospitality to their guests. They’ve only got a few rooms and it’s less than 5 mins taxi ride from Yufuin Eki (seriously just pay for the taxi instead of being ambitious and walk to the place. It’s going to be an uphill battle for you and your sad luggage) so you’ll be ensured the peace and quiet! The room which I stayed in is an old-fashioned design room with tatami-floored living room and a private hot spring bath (oh yes I enjoyed fishing out the few floating leaves from the water!). Place was clean and they had even switched on the A/C for me prior to my arrival so the room was nice and warm! They had also prepared the hot water for me in the jug. Little stuffs like these made me feel so acknowledged and welcomed.

Thank you to the Chef (who’s also the owner!) for the warm and delicious Kaiseki and breakfast. It was plated beautifully. He served almost every kind of common meat there are (fish, chicken, beef, pork) for dinner and I have a pretty big appetite for a woman but I was happily full. Do try out the Yatsushika sake while you have your dinner, the sake is really smooth! I had my dinner in one of their Japanese-style setting private dining rooms so if you’re travelling solo, you won’t be worried about being self conscious about eating and staying in a Ryokan alone (embrace it!).

Cons

Do note that while the toilet is indoors, the shower area is by the onsen bath is outdoors. I was cooooold while showering so I was so grateful for their hot water. It also made me shower fast so that I can get into the onsen bath. I had to adjust the water temperature with the cold water to my liking. You know you’re getting the good stuff when the onsen water is that hot! I enjoyed my dip into the hot water as I listen to the leaves rustling away in the wind. It’s thaaaat good.

I wished they’d provided a floor towel by the sink though. I’m sorry, I’m not that skilled in washing my face without splashing water all around! I turned their small towel into the floor mat towel. Sorry!

Overall an amazing stay, highly recommend for solo travellers or couples who wish to enjoy a humble, private stay with warm Japanese hospitality and setting! Huge thanks...

Me and my female friend has lived in this Ryokan for 1 night. When we were enjoying our outdoor onsen at night, we saw a male’s forehead at the red arrow on the image attached. We screamed and left the onsen and called the police. I have no idea why the separation between rooms is not built all the way to the wooden ceiling, which allowed the neighbour to climb up the fence and try to peek at us. We were traumatised and sadly the hotel staff refused to offer us any spare bathroom to let us shower as the hotel was full, the only suggestion was to shower quickly and ask the other person to keep using the phone camera to take a video facing where the red arrow is, in case the man wanna spy on us again. This outdoor setting is VERY unsafe for girls and if you book this Ryokan, bear your own risk of having Peeping Joe beside your room with no solution at all or any compensation. Although the staff or owner are very apologetic, it is completely the ryokan’s responsibility to ensure the guests' privacies to enjoy their outdoor onsen. We being guests should not feel unsafe when we are in the onsen naked. According to the police, apparently, this kind of incident has increased around these ryokan regions, so please be...

Absolutely LOVE the private onsen experience!!! I find this place affordable but not walkable from train station because it's on a hill. Taxi costs 850 yen. I was a bit disappointed at first because the ryokan is not meticulously clean and bedroom decor is old. But quickly impressed by the relaxing private onsen. I can adjust the temperature of the water and the onsen is big enough to soak my whole body. A bit shocked to find only outdoor shower. Wifi is not very good. There is no view of the mountain because it's blocked by trees. I did get a bit of view when dining because I got a dining room with window. The food is good. There were one other group of guests during my stay. The ryokan is not staffed in the evening after dinner. The staff is based in the restaurant on the right side of the entrance. He is friendly and tried his best to...