Shiobara Yuuka-an

Our stay at Shiobara Yukaan was fantastic. The friendliness and helpful attitude of the staff made our first-time stay at a hot springs (onsen) hotel a real pleasure. We enjoyed the indoor baths and the private outdoor baths several times a day. And the food was incredible–both the multi-course breakfasts and dinners. The food is so abundant that we skipped lunch every day we were there. The servers went out of their way to explain what the many dishes were and how to use the on table grilling devices to cook certain dishes. We stayed several nights and the chef went out of his way to give us a wide variety of dishes each night with very little repetition. Shiobara is in a narrow valley with spectacular scenery all around. We were fortunate to hit the peak of the fall color. The river canyon that runs through the town is amazing with massive sculpted boulders, rapids, and waterfalls. We used the bus service to link to rail and visited Nikko and Sendai with help from the front desk staff. We will never forget the warm and gracious sendoff we received from the staff, including the chef, when we departed. If it was possible, I would give Shiobara six stars.