To our surprise, the relatively new Marriott Hotel near the train station in Ureshino is priced competitively and good value. It is quite lovely…spacious guest rooms and common spaces, a kitchen for guests with an eating area, a reading room with books about the region with crafts on display... We are happy to stay 2 nights and enjoy this spa town and our comfy room.
Siebold was a German scientist who visited Ureshino frequently. He loved visiting Onsens and this Onsen bears his name. It also has the distinction of being the oldest Onsen in the town.
A riverside park in Ureshino … these happy animated characters form a barrier to keep you away from the work being done - and the cheerful characters are deigned to keep you from getting frustrated.
The chart below gives a clear tutorial on what to do, and what not to do at a public onsen.
Our hotel gave us discount coupons to go to an Onsen. Having over 30 Onsens to choose from was no easy feat in making a selection. We chose the Wataya Besso as it had indoor and outdoor baths. It is reputed to have incredible mineral water with properties that make your skin very soft and silky.
We had a wonderful time at the Onsen. The water was quite hot and we had several pools at our disposal. We even had a waterfall area where you would sit below and it would massage/pummel your back.
Looking at this list of what not to do at an Onsen boggles the mind at what else visitors may have done that aren’t included.
The hotel had some interesting shops. We loved the book shop which included a pop up installation celebrating penguins with books and art and anything you could imagine.
Throughout the hotel are floral installations that are the result of a guest artist who held workshops and displayed his work. He works with natural living flowers, grasses etc.
We have a short ride back to our hotel and we stopped at Hotto Motto for some takeout for dinner. We really like Hotto Motto as the food is made fresh and you take home a ready to eat meal.
The lounge at our hotel. Unlike many hotels we have stayed at, this lounge is well used…they offer interesting books about Japan, the art is lovely and you can make yourself coffee and tea.
