Yoshinoonsen Motoyu

The place is perfect for a stay on Mount Yoshino. It’s a short walk to the Main Street where you can get the bus to the top of the viewpoint. The rooms are very traditional with tatami mats and super comfortable futons. The garden is absolutely beautiful and the Onsen nice and hot. The meal was exceptional and had 12 courses! I’m vegetarian and the talented chefs accommodated my diet by providing a wonderfully tasty and seasonal meal with short notice. A very special place!

The Onsen outlook to private garden area could be a bit nicer.

Food and staff were amazing. Location was also very out of the way, rather than in the main strip of Yoshino, which I liked.

What can I say about this magical mountain place that paints the right picture? It is very difficult to explain and this wasn't even during sakura season... First of all, I definitely had the best room by luck and an incredible view of the forest. This meant I was meeting an animal every day, just through my window. I saw a deer mum and her baby, briefly a tanuki and twice I saw a musasabi. Even if you don't see them, you will definitely hear the musasabi! As for the place itself, the room is very carefully decorated and well kept as is the whole property. I could've genuinely stayed inside the whole time, but the nature is a must. There are incredibly tall trees and a very charming street with restaurants and shops as well as the temple and more, but you need to walk uphill to it if you don't have a car. The host may be able to drive you as he is very welcoming and I must not forget to mention, the amazing food! Be ready to eat a lot and experience a variety of impressive flavours. Bonus: you can enjoy a calm garden if you don't want to go on adventures and there is a cute sleepy shiba inu mascot called Tetsu. I genuinely can't emphasise enough how much I enjoyed this place and area. It was a treat for myself, but it truly surprised me. Thank you to the whole team for making it so comfortable, this was especially appreciated as a solo traveller. Can't wait to be back, maybe with sakura blooming :)

It was a little tricky finding lunch nearby during off-season but not a big issue as the food at the inn was plenty. I would be more prepared next time or book a meal plan. My only real wish is that I could stay longer :)

Location

View from room was just okay. Other guests were very loud.