Yumotokan

This was by far the favourite part of our Japan visit. This was exactly what we needed after the overstimulating activity and crowds of Tokyo. Our family of four -- two adults with two adult children stayed in a Semi Suite Japanese Style Room at Hanare Karoi. We had the half board which provided fabulous multi-course breakfasts and dinners. Food was spectacular. Service was top-notch. As the hotel is not accessible by public transport, the hotel bus picked us up from the train station and took as back on departure day. During our stay, there was another bus available for hotel guests. One took us to the cable car for sightseeing the next day. But because of miscommunication due to language, we ended up getting off the bus at the wrong stop and had to walk a great distance to where we were supposed to get off. This turned out to be a blessing as we walked through residential neighbourhoods that we otherwise wouldn't have seen. We also visited a lovely garden that we discovered by chance, and enjoyed a soba lunch at a 300-year-old soba restaurant recommended by our hotel server. The hotel is not directly on the lake so the scenery wasn't spectacular. Two nights were good but I would be happy to spend a third night to enjoy one more fabulous dinner and more soaks in the onsens. Our server for all our meals was ideal. Friendly, polite, engaged in conversation when we invited it, but was silent and unobtrusive otherwise. Our room had two beds and while at dinner, housekeeping pushed the chairs in the sitting area aside to set up two futons. The toilet was in a separate room from the shower which is ideal for four adults sharing a room. The shower was spacious and a door led out to our balcony with a private onsen. Heavenly. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend. We wouldn't hesitate to return but it wasn't an easy place to get to.