Okutsusou

Through extensive research, mainly via Japanese review sites, blogs and articles, I learned that OkutsuSo is - among luxury Onsen (hot springs) Ryokan enthusiasts - among the highest rated properties in all of Japan, particularly as a result of its food and Onsen quality. Being that it would not be much of a detour during our Western Japan road trip, we decided to visit this renowned ryokan located in the Okutsu Onsen area of Okayama Prefecture. For what it's worth, the three most famous Onsen areas in Okayama are Yunogo Onsen, Yubara Onsen and Okutsu Onsen. Having now visited two of the three (Yunogo being the other), they are not as "developed," crowded or action-filled as places like Kinosaki Onsen or Kusatsu Onsen. The three towns in Okayama are far sleepier, which is a plus or minus, depending on what you liked. Given that our main purpose was to find out if OkutsuSo was worthy of "destination ryokan" status, our decision to visit the area was an easy one.... and we came away somewhat confused (as to what the fuss is about) and disappointed. OkutsuSo is located in the heart of Okutsu town and is set along the banks of the Yoshii River. It's a convenient location, but the drawback is in its lack of any semblance of property grounds. No gardens, no pond, nothing. While there are certainly top ryokans that forgo such visual splendor, they generally overcome such a shortcoming by making it up via great food, service, Onsen and rooms. In OkutsuSo's case, it did not deliver in many of those aspects. It's a small, family-owned ryokan that was established in 1927, and the main building (and interior layout and decor) is well preserved in its original form. This is definitely a "traditional" ryokan in the truest sense, which will please guests looking for an authentic Japan experience. It's also very small and intimate - just 8 rooms call OkutsuSo home, with 2 of them being "Hanare" detached Villa-style structures, offering a bit more privacy (including from noise) and space. We stayed in one of the Hanare rooms - ours was named "Seikantei", which is described by the ryokan as a "detached cabin special room with outdoor open-air onsen bath." It had a separate bedroom and living room as well as an Onsen bath on its deck - some rooms don't have Onsens and many only have one main room that is used as both a living room and (by rolling out Futons at night) the bedroom. The room was reasonably spacious, although some of the drawbacks at similar old properties are evident here. This includes the lack of a shower in the room (which is weird, since that means people would jump into the in-room Onsen without cleaning up first, which a is very un-Japanese thing to do), just one sink, and the semi-hallway that runs between the living room and the deck, as well as the entrance foyer, get very cold at night in the winter. The bedroom and living rooms benefit from heaters, but not the hallways that connect the rooms to the bathroom, entrance, toilet as well as t

奥津荘は国の登録有形文化財に指定されていて施設は古いですが、温泉の泉質は最高クラスです。また、部屋付きの露天風呂には、常に源泉掛け流しの温泉が満たされていて、心ゆくまで温泉を楽しめる。客室数も少なく、貸し切り風呂もいつでも入れるのが嬉しい。部屋は清潔感もあり、雰囲気も良い。料理のレベルも高いので、夕食も朝食も楽しめる。

奥津温泉にある登録有形文化財の旅館。小さな旅館ですが、温泉も食事もよかった。部屋は川沿いで水の音が心地よい。内湯は歴史ある鍵湯と立湯が男女交代制、あと2つの貸切風呂は空いていれば自由に利用できる。鍵湯と立湯は足元湧出の貴重な温泉。浴室の風情も含めて素晴らしい。夕食後は旅館向かいの休憩所ラウンジで、日本酒やワイン、コーヒーなどがフリーでいただけ、いい時間が過ごせました。朝食後も使えるとさらによし。部屋は昔ながらですが過不足なし。棟方志功も宿泊し、版画が館内におかれ、民藝調の落ち着いた雰囲気。奥津温泉は静かで本当にいい温泉てす。

山奥なので雪が心配だったけど無事辿り着けました。 建物の趣とおもてなし良かったです。 湯の底の石の配置も面白かったです。

温泉に惹かれて予約をしました。泊まったのは離れの聴泉亭。川沿いのお部屋で水の流れる音が心地よく、大きな樹が二本どっしりとお部屋に寄り添っていて雰囲気のあるお部屋でした。 温泉は期待通りで、宿泊客が少なかったこともあり、大浴場（男女入れ替え　８時・２０時）、お部屋の露天風呂、貸切風呂２つに入り温泉三昧。お料理は地のものを使われていて伝統的なお料理もあり、ユニークで美味しかったです。 接客についてマイナスなコメントを読んでいましたが、私たちのお部屋を担当して下さった方はとてもプロフェッショナルなお仕事をされる方でした。知識も豊富で、距離感も言うことなし。夕食をお部屋食、朝食を個室にしたことで宿泊料は２名で９万円台と高くなりましたが、ここでしか味わえない温泉とお料理を堪能できたので満足です。