白雲荘 — Hotel in Yugawara

On booking websites this property is also referred to as 'Manyou no Sato Hakuunso'||||We spent a night here in July at the end of a 2 week trip to Japan, and this was the highlight. The property is about a 10 minute cab ride from Yugawara station (which is great for those who have a JR pass) and is located in the mountains. We arrived at the hotel and were greeted by the lady who was looking after us. We were served tea and a snack while our bags were whisked away and we were checked in.||||We opted for a 15.5sqm room with its own onsen bath. The room was traditionally outfiited with tatami mats, sliding doors and low tables and chairs for formal dining, and a smaller section for relaxing. The decorations were minimal and elegant. The balcony looked over a babbling brook and included an outdoor shower and an onsen bath (with water piped in from the hot springs). All very private and secluded.||||We were asked to select a time for dinner and breakfast. When dinner time came around, we heard a knock on the door and the table was set...and then the feast started. The dishes were brought in one by one - small appetisers, sashimi, sushi, tempura, Kobe beef and desserts - each dish beautifully presented, perfectly balanced and in tune with the season. Breakfast was a similar affair. Lavish and delicious!||||The staff did not speak much English, but we could make ourselves understood with no trouble.||The experience wasn't cheap, but it was worth every cent and I'd highly recommend a night at Hakuunsou!||||A couple of extra notes:||- There is a shared onsen if you want the 'getting naked in front of strangers' experience :)||- All of the amenities are taken care of including toiletries and a yukata to swan around in, so you can travel light (in hindsight.||- I didn't notice any internet access points and there was no wireless but I believe they might have computers/cables available for use somewhere||- There was a bar/lounge area to hang out in (though we didn't use it)||- There are TVs in the room in case you're craving some modern...

We spent a night here in July at the end of a 2 week trip to Japan, and this was the highlight. The property is about a 10 minute cab ride from Yugawara station (which is great for those who have a JR pass) and is located in the mountains. We arrived at the hotel and were greeted by the lady who was looking after us. We were served tea and a snack while our bags were whisked away and we were checked in.

We opted for a 15.5sqm room with its own onsen bath. The room was traditionally outfiited with tatami mats, sliding doors and low tables and chairs for formal dining, and a smaller section for relaxing. The decorations were minimal and elegant. The balcony looked over a babbling brook and included an outdoor shower and an onsen bath (with water piped in from the hot springs). All very private and secluded.

We were asked to select a time for dinner and breakfast. When dinner time came around, we heard a knock on the door and the table was set...and then the feast started. The dishes were brought in one by one - small appetisers, sashimi, sushi, tempura, Kobe beef and desserts - each dish beautifully presented, perfectly balanced and in tune with the season. Breakfast was a similar affair. Lavish and delicious!

The staff did not speak much English, but we could make ourselves understood with no trouble. The experience wasn't cheap, but it was worth every cent and I'd highly recommend a night at Hakuunsou!

A couple of extra notes: There is a shared onsen if you want the 'getting naked in front of strangers' experience :) All of the amenities are taken care of including toiletries and a yukata to swan around in, so you can travel light (in hindsight. I didn't notice any internet access points and there was no wireless but I believe they might have computers/cables available for use somewhere There was a bar/lounge area to hang out in (though we didn't use it) There are TVs in the room in case you're craving some modern...

Really nice affordable luxury, great service and quiet area. Great for a one night getaway from Tokyo, especially for a couple. Some rooms have private onsen baths, but even the ones without are super comfortable and spacious. The main bath was surprisingly small, but you can time it right while others are eating and have mostly to yourself. There's also a private bath that that can be reserved for free. I really appreciated that the water was not too hot. The food was fantastic, almost too much to eat, but typical seafood-heavy Japanese kaiseki and savory breakfast, so not great for anyone with strong preferences. I just wish their sake pairing menu was more focused on the great breweries in Kanagawa and Shizuoka. Finally, it is worth getting there early to check in, otherwise your dining time options and private bath availability...