Yufuin Santokan

Santokan is built around hinoki, with traditional Japanese architecture giving the twelve-room inn a consistent material character. The wood’s presence extends from the building into the bathing experience, making the property feel considered as a whole.

Two principal bath styles contrast hinoki with stone. Natural spring water is used on a freely flowing basis, and selected rooms include their own open-air bath. The pairing of water and materials is the most distinctive reason to stay.

The kitchen brings seasonal Oita ingredients into Japanese courses. Santokan suits guests who appreciate the quieter details of a ryokan: timber, filtered light, a well-set meal and another visit to the bath. Its appeal is traditional and contained, with the architecture providing more character than a long list of contemporary facilities.