This little town and the place we stayed was the highlight of our trip to Japan. First of all, the town itself was such a breath of fresh air after being in the middle of Tokyo most of the week. Quiet, surrounded by nature, and then we came to the place we were staying. Traditional, you have to leave your shoes by the front door upon entering. The staff was very friendly throughout our whole stay.
The room was a good size, and opening the window gave you a great white noise from the river running below. There was a traditional sitting area along with 2 beds and a bathroom. There are shared private showers on the 3rd floor. There is a shared kitchen area you can use, and you can order food part of the day. There are vending machines, one for drinks and one for ice cream. They had some flavors I hadn't seen before, so if you like ice cream, check it out! There is also frozen sake drinks for sale in the freezer downstairs. Give one a try!
The onsen was an incredible experience. It's not like any other hot tub or hot spring I've ever been in. The way you feel after having a soak is incredible! There are private ones you can rent, or there are the public ones for men and women. They are tattoo friendly!! That was important for everyone involved with my group. I know the process is a bit strange to some foreigners, myself included, but it was honestly one of the highlights of my whole trip, and my biggest regret is that I didnt go more than I did!
I hope to be back one day!