Jun Wafu Ryokan Izumiya

Izumiya (泉屋) has been taking guests in Tsuetate Onsen (杖立温泉) for about 150 years. The wooden building sits along the river, and the rooms have views of the water below. There are two large communal baths: the stone-garden bath (Ishi-no-yu, 石の湯) has both an indoor pool and a rock rotenburo, while the tuff-stone bath (Iwa-no-yu, 岩の湯) has been used for kuji (recuperative soaking) since the old days. The two switch between men and women each day. The spring water runs clear, flows fresh through all the baths, and leaves the skin noticeably smooth. Alongside the main baths are four varieties of mushi-yu (蒸し湯), the steam-bath style particular to Tsuetate: seated box styles and lying-down chambers with low ceilings, all scented with hinoki cypress. Overnight guests get a free private bath as well.