Sendai Akiu Onsen Kagabino-yu Ryokusuitei

Ryokusuitei stands on a high, wooded site above Akiu, apart from the denser centre of the hot-spring town. Its large Japanese garden and views of the surrounding landscape give the 97-room hotel room to breathe, while a reservation shuttle from Sendai Station makes the retreat possible without a car.

The signature Kagaribi no Yu is reached away from the main bathhouse and lit by a live bonfire after dark. Natural hot-spring water rises from a source about 1,000 metres underground and feeds the open-air and large indoor baths; a sauna is also available. The generous scale leaves ample room for the shared bath experience.

Dinner uses seasonal ingredients in colourful Japanese compositions, matching the changing landscape rather than centring on one signature dish. Ryokusuitei is a strong choice for travellers who want a dramatic outdoor bath and a garden setting, and who enjoy the shared rhythm of a larger onsen hotel.