When searching for a place to stay in Yufuin, our two primary criteria were cost and location. We wanted to be close in proximity to the center of town and pay a reasonable rate. We had a delicious dinner at Yufumabushi Shin, so we were only looking for a place to spend the night. After narrowing our options down, we ended up going with Yufuin Besso Shikisai Hotel in Yufu. The hotel was located only five minutes by car from the main street leading through town. The rate for the accommodation combined with the Go To Travel campaign was very reasonable. It was dark by the time we got in. We were able to see the entrance from the road thanks to a well lit sign.

We parked in a gravel parking lot and headed towards the entrance of the hotel. The hotel gate was quite grandiose. Combined with the rock formations it looked like something we would see at a temple or shrine. Just beyond the gate is a beautiful moss covered rock lined path with some nice greenery on both sides.

We entered the hotel lobby and got checked in. Everything went smoothly and the staff was very kind and accommodating. After we finished checking in, we were led to a yukata and obi table. Amy was super excited to get to choose her own yukata and obi combination. They had a large selection of cute floral yukata and obi to choose from. This was one of the many additional services that we appreciated. They also had this cool traditional samurai armor on display. Our room was located on the second floor, so we took the elevator. The elevator doors have these beautiful covers.

Yufuin Besso Shikisai Hotel Room Review

The first thing we noticed when we entered the room was how big and spacious it was. There were two large beds on the side with plenty of room for our bags. Parts of the room were filled with an interesting selection of mismatched furniture that seemed a bit out of place. There was an orange and white sofa/bench, two ornate chairs around a small coffee table, and a black recliner. It seemed like there was a lot of empty space in the room and the hotel put these random pieces of furniture to fill it in.

The bathroom area was located in a separate room. There was quite a bit of space inside. The bathtub and shower room was clean and somewhat updated. It looked like it had hardly been used. The toilet room was standard with a bidet and heated seat.

After getting settled in, we set out to try the hotels gender separate public baths. We donned the hotel provided yukata and headed downstairs. The changing room was pretty standard with baskets for our clothes and personal belongings. What made this onsen different was that the initial washing stations were outside. There were half a dozen or so bathing stations in an uninsulated side building with an earthen style floor. It was snowing outside, so it was super chilly and the ground was very cold. I had to tiptoe to the bathing stations and figure out how to use the shower. After washing up I headed over to the open air bath. The bath was nice. It wasn’t too hot and there was an overhang that protected us from the snow. We dried off and headed back upstairs. We had a long day, so we called it a night.

Yufuin Besso Shikisai Hotel Breakfast Review

We slept well throughout the night. We got up, packed up, and headed down to the dining area which was located on the first floor. There was an option to add breakfast when we booked, so we decided to give it a try. The dining area consisted of a good amount of booths with very high walls. The seating provided the maximum amount of privacy. At check in we were asked to choose a time slot for breakfast. When we arrived we were led directly to our table.

The food was already there and it looked delicious. There was a self serve drink area with a variety of juices, milk, and teas. Our breakfast was delicious. We were impressed with the variety of flavors and textures that were present. Our favorites were the fried fish and some of the pickled vegetables. We were also able to enjoy a nice view of the stream outside.

We finished up our food and went back to our room to pick up our bags. Check out went smoothly and we headed out to the car. It was a short five minute drive into town.

As we have done in the past, here is a sampling of the beautiful wallpapers that adorned our room and the hotel.

Final Thoughts

We enjoyed our stay at Yufuin Besso Shikisai Hotel in Yufu. The price and location were excellent and the overall amenities were nice. The room was super spacious and the beds were comfortable. The customer service and hospitality was wonderful. We weren’t big fans of the outdoor bathing facilities. It was uncomfortably cold having to go out to the washing stations. Even when we turned the hot water on, it doesn’t stay on. It requires constant attention to keep pressing the button. The outdoor bath itself was fine, but the long walk back to the changing room and through the washroom was chilly.

We’re very confident in our assertion that the hotel is a refurbished and repurposed apartment building. The corridors to the rooms are on the outside of the building. Glass partitions/windows have semi enclose the space and make it a hallway of sorts. Our main gripe is that they are not completely enclosed, so cold wind whips up and down the hallways. Another indication that this used to be an apartment building is that the rooms have some oddly placed amenities. There is an oddly placed nook with a shelf, that was probably a kitchenette in the past.

More to Come…

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