Sanso Warabino — Hotel in Yufu

this was overwhelmingly our favourite place that we've stayed in japan and arguably ranks top compared to anywhere else on our travels. we stayed in a self contained ryokan - ie we had our own villa like ryokan with multiple rooms as well as indoor and outdoor onsen so the size was unique relative to other ryokans - we travelled with 2 kids so it was convenient having the separate bedroom. the private garden was simply serene. the service was impeccable across all the staff but special mention must go to yuki who spoke fluent english and gave us special local insights re what to see/do/eat.. the food was spectacular and their attention to detail was unexpected ie. our daughter is allergic to dairy and they thrilled her with a non dairy ice cream for dessert..believe me its hard to find that requirement in japan so was a very special treat. ||||the only downside is that its a little far from the town..probably a 25-30min walk altho only 5 mins by cab..altho everything else more than...

We stayed at the Ryokan almost three months ago. And I still did not write a review. We stayed there almost by accident, as the Ryokan we intended to stay in had only a vacancy for one night. There was time pressure. So I accepted their suggestion of their colleagues. Maybe I would not have picked it if I had looked into it better as I prefer a traditional house and here the old house (badly damaged by an earthquake) has been erased and replaced with daring new architecture. Yet is turned out to be the best place of our trip, one of the best places I stayed in, and I have been in many places all over Japan. How to write a review that does justice to this special place ? A place that has all the old fashioned refinery, mastering the tradition of omotenashi, blending it perfectly with a young vibrant savoir-vivre, global art and gastronomy. |I cannot write a review. Please read all the other ones, I only want to say : thank you, arigato...

Stayed a couple nights in this brand new ryokan (after full reconstruction) with family with small kids. The room is large and has excellent decor which is modern Japanese style. Has heated floor across the whole room and washroom which is very welcome for winter visit. The in-room onsen is like a miniature public onsen in large public resort, and is large enough to accommodate the whole family. Each room has its own little garden. The hotel photos accurately reflect the excellent condition of the ryokan. ||For a small property with only about 10 rooms, there are a decent number of staffs attending to guests’ needs. Whenever we walk out of the room, there is either a staff greeting us or help us with luggages and etc. The dinner in the restaurant is also very well cooked. There is also a small bar playing very nice jazz or oldies. ||Highly recommended for anyone looking for a onsen getaway which is only a short drive away...