Overview

Yoshinotei is a hot spring ryokan in Iida, in Southern Shinshu, with wide views over the Tenryu River, the Southern Alps, Mt. Komagatake, and Mt. Utsugi. The ryokan sits above the river, giving you open scenery from the lounge, many rooms, and the large public bath.

This is a good stay when you want a quieter Nagano ryokan with mountain views, river scenery, local kaiseki dining, and soft-feeling hot spring water. You can soak in the large indoor bath, enjoy the open-air bath under the night sky, reserve one of two private baths, and use the ryokan as a base for Tenryukyo Gorge, fruit picking, Motozenkoji Temple, Heavens Sonohara, and other Southern Shinshu sights.

Accommodation

Yoshinotei has 37 rooms, with several Japanese-style and Japanese-modern options. The room selection ranges from newly renewed Japanese-modern rooms to traditional tatami rooms with Tenryu River or mountain-side views.

The 2024 renewed rooms are the newest choices. The Japanese-modern two-room layout has Simmons beds, a shower room, toilet, and space for up to six people. The Japanese-modern rooms for up to four people use Simmons floor mattresses and a softer low-bed style, while the Japanese-modern rooms for up to three people have Simmons beds and a compact, fresh design. These rooms are all non-smoking and work well when you want a newer room with a cleaner feel.

The one-room-only Japanese-Western room with a view bath sits on the top floor and looks toward the Tenryu River and Southern Alps. It has a Ryukyu-tatami twin bedroom and a 12-tatami Japanese room, making it suitable for family or group stays. The view bath in this room is not an open-air bath and is not hot spring water.

The Tenryu River-view Japanese rooms are the most popular traditional room style, with large windows facing the river and mountains. Mountain-view Japanese rooms suit families and groups, while standard Japanese rooms offer a more modest tatami stay. Smaller Japanese rooms are available for solo or small-group travel.

Rooms include useful basics such as Wi-Fi, air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, tea set, towels, yukata, toothbrush set, bath items, and washlet toilet. Some rooms have baths, while others do not, so choose carefully if you want an in-room bathing space.

Dining

Dining at Yoshinotei focuses on Japanese kaiseki using seafood, mountain ingredients, countryside ingredients, and seasonal Shinshu flavors. Dinner changes with the season, giving the meal a strong connection to the time of year.

The upgraded “Irodori” course features marbled Japanese beef cooked on a tabletop iron plate, along with seasonal appetizers and colorful Japanese dishes. The standard “Mai” course uses local seasonal ingredients and may include a hot pot-style main dish, giving you a warm and satisfying dinner with the taste of Southern Shinshu.

Additional dishes may include Kurin pork grilled on hoba leaf, Shinshu horse sashimi, and Nagano beef steak. Drinks include local Shinshu sake, wine from Nagano, and Yoshinotei’s original shochu.

Breakfast is Japanese-style and served with small dishes arranged in a colorful basket. Warm Shinshu miso soup and rice complete the meal, giving you a steady start before sightseeing, fruit picking, or a river-area outing.

Onsen and Wellness

Yoshinotei uses Tenryukyo Onsen, a simple weak radioactive spring with a source temperature of 28.8°C. The water has a smooth, slightly thick feel and is described by the ryokan as a beauty-style bath because of its soft texture on the skin.

The large indoor bath has a wide wall of glass, so you can look toward the Tenryu River, Iida city lights, and, on clear winter days, the Southern Alps. The open-air bath gives you fresh air and night-sky views, with the river and city lights below.

The shared baths are separated for men and women and include one indoor bath and one open-air bath for each side. Bathing hours run until 23:00 at night and start again from 6:00 in the morning, though hours may change by season.

Yoshinotei also has two reserved private baths, Sakura and Momiji. Each private bath has a washing area, dressing space, and enough room for a couple, family, or solo private soak. You reserve your time after arrival, and each session lasts 45 minutes.

Guests with Tattoos

Yoshinotei has shared public baths and two reserved private baths. Use the reserved private baths, Sakura or Momiji, when you want a private soak with tattoos.

Facilities

Yoshinotei has a lounge overlooking Southern Shinshu, a front desk, souvenir shop, karaoke room, color yukata corner for women, children’s amenities, banquet and meeting rooms, paid massage arrangement, Wi-Fi, parking, and shuttle service from JR Ina-Yawata Station by advance reservation.

The lounge looks toward Mt. Komagatake, Mt. Utsugi, and the Tenryu River. You can sit here with a drink, read the newspaper, or take in the river view before or after bathing. The souvenir shop carries Southern Shinshu sweets, local items, and gifts from the Iida area, with parcel delivery service available when you want to send items home.

The front desk can help with local sightseeing information and arrangements such as Tenryu River boat activities. The ryokan also has EV charging stations by advance reservation, useful when you travel by electric car.

Activities

Yoshinotei is a strong base for Southern Shinshu sightseeing. Tenryukyo Gorge is close by and offers a walking route, dramatic rock scenery, the Tenryukyo Bridge, and Tenryu River boat experiences. The gorge area is especially appealing in spring greenery, autumn colors, and clear river-view seasons.

You can also visit Motozenkoji Temple, Iida’s famous old cherry trees, Heavens Sonohara and Fujimidai Highland, Senjojiki Cirque by the Komagatake Ropeway route, and local flower spots such as Toyooka Iris Garden, rose gardens, and seasonal orchards. Fruit picking is possible in the region, with strawberries, blueberries, cherries, grapes, and apples depending on the season.

In summer, the Mizukami Bridge fireworks can be viewed from the area around the ryokan when the event is held. In winter, Southern Shinshu offers clear air, night views, and access toward star-viewing and highland areas.

Additional Features

Yoshinotei is best for you if you want a Southern Shinshu ryokan with Tenryu River views, soft-feeling Tenryukyo Onsen water, indoor and open-air baths, two reserved private baths, seasonal kaiseki dining, 2024 renewed Japanese-modern rooms, traditional Japanese rooms, a lounge with mountain views, karaoke, a souvenir shop, and easy access to Tenryukyo Gorge.

Check-in is from 15:00, and check-out is at 10:00. You also have free Wi-Fi, free parking, shuttle service from JR Ina-Yawata Station by advance reservation, EV charging by advance reservation, children’s amenities, women’s color yukata, local sightseeing support, and access to fruit picking, temples, river scenery, flower spots, and mountain viewpoints around Iida.