Sakataya Inn

A plain, old ryokan on the Japan Sea coast in Yuza, Yamagata. The bath is indoors only, and the water is gentle and lukewarm, the kind you can stay in for a long time. It suits people who like nuruyu (ぬる湯), less so anyone after a hot soak. The bath has some atmosphere, and the sunset can be seen from it on a clear evening. The building is old and creaks, in the spirit of a countryside grandmother's house, but it is kept clean. Rooms face the sea, and the sound of the waves carries through the night. Meals are built around fresh local fish.