Yunoshimakan

This place is entirely about the experience. It is a massive historic ryokan where navigating the maze-like corridors feels like an adventure in itself, especially with so many historical artifacts displayed throughout the property. The public onsens offer city views if you stand up, but my absolute favorite was the foot bath overlooking the surroundings. The breakfast was excellent. For dinner, you can opt for the full kaiseki experience or head to their small casual cafe that serves ramen and a few other simple dishes. The cafe is popular, so I highly recommend timing your visit slightly before it opens or just before it closes.Service was efficient. And I loved yuzu tea from their gift shop. My only regret is not buying more!

69. Yunoshimakan, Gero Onsen, Gifu (pt.1) ★★★ A ryokan from the fan-made list of onsens that supposedly inspired Miyazaki’s depiction of the onsen in Spirited Away. Visually, there are definitely arguments for that: - the front facade of the ryokan’s old building resembles the one in the anime; - the overall layout of a large, multi-building property with onsens that you keep moving between. The ryokan consists of many buildings spread across the mountainside. The main ones are: - the old first front wooden building, which is registered as a tangible cultural property. It has three floors, with guest rooms; - an additional building from the Showa period. It also has rooms with rotenburo; - the farthest, tallest concrete building. It has rooms with small semi-open baths and mountain views, located the highest up, up to the 11th floor in total if you count all the floors of Yunoshimakan’s buildings together as they stretch up the mountain. In front of the main building there is a small garden, which lets you enjoy the facade from different angles and at different times of day. Inside the ryokan, there is a pleasant mix of good Showa-era atmosphere and old-fashioned charm. The facilities are also more than enough: a foot bath with a view, several à la carte restaurants, a tennis table, billiards, several lounge areas, a shop, and an indoor observation area. Near the ryokan is the Onsenji temple. 11.04.2024 12.04.2024 13.03.2026 14.03.2026

69. Yunoshimakan, Gero Onsen, Gifu (pt.2) ★★★ I stayed overnight in 2024 in the main front building, and in 2026 in the far building on the top 11th floor, with an onsen in the room. The rooms are in a traditional style. The room in the front building had a view of the inner garden, and the room on the 11th floor had a view of the mountains. Inside the ryokan there is a simple stamp rally of its own, which is useful first of all for getting to know the ryokan properly and not missing anything. The ryokan has Japanese staff and a lot of foreign staff. The level of service you get depends a lot on that. On average the service was comfortable, and on the second stay in 2026 it was especially pleasant: they served dinner 30 minutes later than the last slot (I asked them to do that so I could make it to the right higaeri in Gero), and they checked me in on the top floor (as I requested). I should also mention the woman at dinner, as I understood it she was a foreigner from Asia, but the service was at a very high level, matching how the best Japanese staff do it: the sequence of actions according to protocol was very clear, and it created that "ryokan awkwardness" effect. Both times I took meals for one. In 2024, dinner was served in a separate shared dining room with a serau at the entrance, and in 2026 it was served in the room. Breakfast was served in the shared dining room both times. Another very important point about staying here, which should be taken into account when planning your time. The ryokan is extremely popular with foreign tourists, so at prime time the ryokan can have an overly hectic atmosphere, which is best avoided. With advance booking, higaeri meals and onsen are available at the ryokan for 15 400. This is a top place. The visuals and atmosphere are great, and the onsen are excellent. It will be very hard not to stay here again if I end up in Gero again. There is a bath rotation between men and women. For booking, one of four simple private baths is available. About the onsen: 1. Private bath in the room on the 11th floor. Mountain view through a tall window. In practice the bath is semi-open-air, since the windows can be fully opened. By default the bath is drained. The temperature can be adjusted to the desired level, and I got 40-41. 2. Private indoor bath Ginreisen. The water is clear. The temperature is 44, and there are taps with cold water and hot onsen water for adjusting the temperature. Breathing inside is tolerable, but you can open a small window for ventilation. 11.04.2024 12.04.2024 13.03.2026 14.03.2026

69. Yunoshimakan, Gero Onsen, Gifu (pt.3) ★★★ About the onsen: 3. The first set of baths, alternating between men and women. 3.1. Outdoor stone bath. Standing, there is a view of the town and mountains, sitting in the bath, there is a view of the mountains. The atmosphere is very natural and cozy. The water is clear, temperature 42.5. 3.2. Indoor round bath. There is a view of the mountains through the window, but it is narrow, there is some clouding at the top and bottom. The water is clear, temperature 41.5. Breathing inside is tolerable. 11.04.2024 12.04.2024 13.03.2026 14.03.2026

69. Yunoshimakan, Gero Onsen, Gifu (pt.4) ★★★ About the onsen: 4. The second set of baths, switched between men and women. 4.1. Outdoor stone bath. Standing, there is a view of the town and mountains, sitting in the bath, there is a view of the mountains. In the evening, the stars are clearly visible, there are several separate rocks where you can lie down and look at the stars. The water is clear, temperature 43. 4.2. Indoor square bath. A spacious and cozy room. During the day, there is a good wide view of the mountains through the window, but at night almost nothing is visible. The water is clear, temperature 41.5. It is comfortable to breathe inside. 11.04.2024 12.04.2024 13.03.2026 14.03.2026

Food (dinner and breakfast) at Yunoshimakan, Gero Onsen 13.03.2026 14.03.2026