Hotel Shirakawa Yunokura

Hotel Shirakawa Yunokura looks across the Kinugawa gorge, bringing the river into rooms, public baths and the open-air pool. Retro-modern rooms with horigotatsu seating offer a comfortable place to settle after bathing, combining Japanese floor-level living with easier seating.

The bathhouse includes a large indoor bath, river-facing open-air bath, private baths and a sauna. It is a broad shared circuit with enough alternatives for couples who also want time on their own.

Dinner is served in calm sukiya-style private dining rooms. Seasonal dishes are joined by Nikko Himitsu pork, a local ingredient that gives the meal a clearer identity than generic hotel kaiseki. Yunokura is a practical, well-rounded choice for travellers seeking views, privacy at dinner and several ways to bathe without moving into the largest Kinugawa resorts.