Tamanoyu

Tamanoyu Hotel was used as a lodge for Zen monks in retreat until its conversion into a modern hotel in the 1970s. This current reincarnation is a luxury experience, but the property maintains the focus on offering sanctuary to weary souls. Its Japanese-style rooms are spread across two and a half acres of forest, with paths connecting them to the restaurant, cafe, front desk, and shop. Each room has a "tatami" sitting room and a private hot-spring bath with a cedar tub. The restaurant prepares a rotating, seasonal menu. There are several set menus to choose from for dinner, and both the restaurant and the cafe offer breakfast options. There is an onsite bar for an evening tipple, featuring many Japanese whiskeys, sake, wine, and beer.

In the spirit of contemplation, start the morning with an early wander through the village before breakfast, enjoying the mountain air and the dew. Tamanoyu is one of the best places from which to explore the Yufuin Onsen. In the evenings, take a bath at one of the many onsens in the village. If you choose carefully, you'll find an outdoor pool in which you can watch the stars come out from behind the mountain.