I love Shimane Prefecture and I have been many times, but I had never visited Yunotsu Onsen before. Luckily for me, that all changed last month and now I can’t stop thinking about it.
This onsen town was a once a bustling port town, but in recent years it had seen a decline in visitors. With help of some very determined people though, it’s slowly growing again. New businesses have opened up over the last couple of years. Some new restaurants and some old houses have been renovated so they can be lodging options for visitors. I didn’t get a chance to visit all of the restaurants (I have to go back!), or stay in one of the renovated houses, but I was fortunate enough to tour the houses and they are beautiful. The first house I toured would be perfect for a couple’s getaway or a family getaway.
The other house is perfect for a larger family getaway or a girls’ weekend away. It’s also very close to a little beach.
Both houses offer the choice of hiring a chef to come and prepare a full meal for everyone. What a great way to have a truly relaxing weekend!
Yunotsu Onsen also offers some good options for a bite to eat. A burger spot, a curry spot that has vegetarian options, a shared kitchen where a different chef takes over for a week or two, and a few other restaurants offer a variety of cuisines to choose from. We had dinner at Shiki and we ended up ordering half of their menu and sharing everything. While we all thought everything was good, we couldn’t stop talking about the truffle risotto and the desserts. Make sure you leave room for dessert so you can try their Basque Cheesecake. If you have enough room or enough people to share with, be sure to try their brownie dessert too. Both desserts are perfect for sharing.
After dinner we headed to the only bar in town, which is also an Inn. While Soho Yunotsu Old Village Inn & Bar is a small bar, they offer a nice variety of drinks.
When we visited, he was offering a sake cocktail made with sake from the sake brewery in town. I decided to go with his fresh fruit cocktail and I was very happy with my choice. Since it is strawberry season, he used fresh Shimane strawberries. The cocktail was really good and it was so refreshing. I also enjoyed the classic tunes playing in the background. The volume was perfect. Loud enough to enjoy, but not so loud that I couldn’t have conversations with my friends and the bartender.
Since I am an onsen lover, I was very excited to be staying in the oldest ryokan in Yunotsu. Masuya Ryokan has been open since 1910 and they still have that old ryokan charm in their classic rooms.
They have also renovated some rooms to give them a more modern look. I was very excited when I found out that I would be staying in the “Art Room”. The room was beautifully done with a mix of modern features and traditional Japanese features. The star of the show though was definitely the large piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall. It was quite impressive and grabbed my attention as soon as I walked in. I think I gasped a little bit because it was such a beautiful piece.
The room was also very spacious and very comfortable.
After spending the day out and about in the cold, I was really looking forward to soaking in their onsen. Their onsen is an older one with lots of character and I had it all to myself. What a relaxing and perfect way to end a busy day of adventures.
If you visit Yunotsu Onsen over a weekend, be sure to check out a Kagura performance at Tatsunogozen Shrine.
It’s a rare opportunity to watch a Kagura performance inside of a shrine. I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary. It’s my understanding that tickets are required. They do have a dedicated telephone number for reservations, 050-1808-2216. It might be best to have someone who speaks Japanese help in making reservations. I’m not sure if they have English speakers on staff. Here is a link with more information on what Kagura dance is all about.
When planning your overnight (or longer!) getaway to Yunotsu Onsen, you can make it very relaxing, you can plan an activity or two, or you can plan a jam-packed itinerary. Everyone travels differently and I am a jam-packed itinerary kind of gal. If that is not your thing though, I recommend renting one of the houses I mentioned above. Enjoy some beach time. Hire that chef. Want to explore the area? Head over to Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. I have a blog post here that provides more information about that area. The little town that is connected to it is also worth visiting. If you want to grab lunch while you are here, I recommend Gungendo Store & Cafe. Delicious food and they have a lovely shop where you can buy local pottery and other items. If you have time, I also recommend visiting Kyuuan to make a silver ring for yourself or for someone special in your life. It would be fun to go as a couple and make matching rings too.
Whatever you decide to do here, I believe this little town will steal a piece of your heart. It will have you wanting to come back again and again.
If you have a few minutes, please fill out this survey
*Photos taken by Mr. Takahashi and Linda Sue
Leave a Reply