Yunohana Tsukiya

My daughter, her husband, and I went to Tsukiya, a hot spring resort close to Kyoto city, to enjoy some delicious food and drinks. The phone service was excellent, and when we mentioned we were elderly, they upgraded us to a room with a private open-air bath at check-in. Despite only being open for a few years, the maintenance was excellent, and everything was clean and pleasant. Kyoto's famous kumiko woodworking was incorporated throughout the building, and the abundant use of wood and bamboo from Keihoku created a warm and inviting atmosphere. We ate in private rooms, and both dinner and breakfast were delicious, with meticulous attention to detail in the cuisine. The young staff were all kind and friendly. The hot springs warmed us to the core, and after soaking three times, I felt so energized that I almost forgot my cane! The free drinks in the lobby and the amenities in our room were also excellent, and we would definitely like to visit again if we have the opportunity. Thank you very much.

After checking in, I found a lounge at the back of the first floor, offering complimentary alcoholic beverages and juices. The room was new, a Western-style room with a bed and a table with chairs. It felt quite comfortable and cozy. The hot springs were accessible through a separate building, which was a bit daunting during the colder months. There was also a private open-air bath, but it felt shoddily constructed on the balcony, with the air conditioner unit directly overhead, making it difficult to relax and enjoy a bath. I quickly left. The dinner area had a private izakaya-style feel, but it was extremely cramped. The tables were also narrow, making it difficult to relax and enjoy a meal. The biggest drag was the dinner itself. While the menu offered a wide variety of dishes, the portions were all very small. The sashimi served was a 1.5cm cube of tuna. It was too small to even enjoy. All the dishes were the same size as breakfasts at other hotels. The last dish, Kamameshi, was not served at the table, but was served in a bowl. This made sense when the staff asked us at check-in if we wanted to order additional dishes. Overall, it was an izakaya-style inn, with no greetings from staff and everything left to the part-timers.