Tsuetate Onsen Hizenya

“Lovely relaxing onsen trip”

We found a good deal on the web site, which included discounts for having proof of vaccines, plus coupons totaling ¥8,000. I think the coupons were part of the "Go To Travel" campaign. These coupons could only be used in Oita prefecture, by the next day. The hotel has a grand, luxurious appeara... more

We found a good deal on the web site, which included discounts for having proof of vaccines, plus coupons totaling ¥8,000. I think the coupons were part of the "Go To Travel" campaign. These coupons could only be used in Oita prefecture, by the next day. The hotel has a grand, luxurious appearance and feel, but also feels dated. After check-in, we took the shuttle bus to the outside onsen (about 5 minutes away). This was included in the price (I am not sure if it is actually owned by the hotel. There is a fee for people who are not staying at the hotel). This onsen was glorious! All the baths are outside, surrounded by trees and nature. The only caveat is that there were many stairs going down to the onsen. I did not expect that at all, and it was not easy on my knees (no problem for my partner). The other onsen in the hotel (there were two) also involved walking (it is as large hotel), and some stairs too. The floors in the onsen seemed more slippery than I remember any other onsen I have visited before. Dinner was buffet style. Due to COVID restrictions, we had to get our temperature checked, and wear plastic gloves while serving ourselves (there was a box at the table, and a container for disposal of them). The seating was partitioned, and it was very comfortable. Even though it was a buffet, there were 3 choices for seating: 5:00 pm, 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm, with a 90 minute limit. The food was good, but my partner had to stand in line at a station for freshly prepared meat for 30 minutes. Breakfast was served in the same place as dinner. We got a lower-priced deal, and our room was on the 1st floor. The hallway was a little dark compared to the other floors (which we had to access for the front desk/entrance to the hotel and to get to the dining area and the onsen). To me, there was a musty smell that my partner did not notice. The place is older, and it is right next to the river, and it was the middle of Japanese (humid) summer, and I assume not all the rooms are like this. There was a can of roach spray in the closet (which thankful we did not need!), and requests not to open the windows to prevent bugs from getting in the room. The sound and site of the river outside the window was wonderful. The beds (two twin beds) were comfortable and we got a good night's sleep. It was my partner's 50th birthday, so we mentioned this to see if they had any thing special (even for an extra charge). They gave a card and a plastic rose (I think the rose was for the birthday), but said they did not have anything else. The water pot already had hot water in it when we arrived. I appreciate that. They also had the kind of coffee in which you open the single pack, put it over the cup (good size, not tiny like some places) and pour hot water on it (like a one cup drip coffee- not instant). I often travel with these types of coffee packs as a lot of hotels in Kyushu only have instant coffee or none at all in the rooms. The room has the standard yukata (there were 4 sizes in our room) which is common to wear to dinner or while walking to and from the onsen. Also, the standard amenities- toothbrush, hairbrush (plastic), shower cap, room slippers (not disposable) are in the room. Since it is an onsen hotel in an onsen town, we did not use the room's shower or tub. The onsen provides body soap, shampoo and conditioner. It seems these were all made with horse oil, which is popular in the area for skin care too. (We did not have it, but the area is also famous for horse meat). I just thought I would mention that as I am sure some people would prefer not to use it. One of the onsen was open all night. We did not use it in the middle of the night, but I liked having that as an option! There is adequate complimentary parking (you can drop your luggage off, as you might have to walk from the parking a lot just a little. I do think there is any access besides car (but I am not sure on that). The hotel straddles two prefectures, Kumamoto and Oita. You can stay in either Kumamoto or Oita! Go for the included meal plan. There were no other open restaurants at the time of our stay, and nothing seemed to be in the area. Besides the onsen, the staff were one of the best features of the hotel. Friendly and professional. All and all, to sum up, it is a great place, but it is not "new", which is typical of the area.

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