Takinoyu Japan Onsen Ryokan

Hohoemi no Yado Taki no Yu is a hot-spring ryokan about a 15-minute walk from JR Tendo Station. A free shuttle service is also available with advance reservation, which is convenient on heavily snowy days. The ryokan is known for valuing everyone’s “smiles” above all, and it is also famous as a frequent match venue for the shogi “Ryuo-sen” title games. The property consists of a main building and a new building and offers 16 creatively designed guest rooms. Some rooms provide wonderful views over Tendo city and Yamagata’s great mountains; others are warm sukiya-style rooms; and some rooms even feature a hinoki (cypress) bath as a private indoor bath. The baths use a sulfate spring rich in sodium and calcium. In addition to benefits for neuralgia, joint pain, sensitivity to cold, and fatigue recovery, drinking the water (toinsen) is said to have effects for conditions such as diabetes, gallstones, and gout, making it very popular. They also sell a 1,000-yen ticket that lets you enjoy the hot springs of two ryokan in Tendo Onsen—so after checkout you can enjoy another bath, making it a good value.