Soudayama Onsen Yawaragi: A Serene Hot Spring Getaway in the Mountains of Kochi

During our recent trip to Shikoku, we stayed at Sennen no Biyu Soudayama Onsen Yawaragi, a serene inn nestled in the mountains of Kochi.

This unique inn features rooms and bathing facilities scattered along the slope, with each room boasting its own private bath.

It’s a very popular inn with high ratings in reviews.

The detached rooms are particularly in demand, but since they were fully booked, we stayed in one of the main building rooms this time.

Since we were traveling with a small child, we chose this inn primarily because it offers in-room or private dining options.
The quality of the room, hot springs, and food was excellent, making for a satisfying stay.

While the mountain road leading to the inn is somewhat narrow and tricky to navigate, it’s definitely worth staying here if you’re visiting Shikoku!

“Soudayama Onsen Yawaragi”: A Quiet Hot Spring Inn in the Mountains of Kochi

This is the reception area of Sennen no Biyu Soudayama Onsen Yawaragi.

It might look a bit small for an inn, but that’s because it’s only the reception area—perfectly adequate.

We only needed to visit the reception during checkout, as check-in was done in our room.

This is the main building where we stayed. From the outside, it looks like two traditional homes connected together.

Rest assured, the interiors are clean and modern, with all the comforts of a well-maintained ryokan.

The public baths are located in the building across the way.

[Rooms] Elegant and Modern Japanese Rooms with Private Onsen Baths

We stayed in a room called Toukou in the main building.

Everything about the room felt very new and clean, likely due to recent renovations.

The room features tatami flooring, a traditional low table, and a surprisingly large TV for a ryokan.

Behind the bamboo blinds lies a twin bedroom, making it a Japanese-Western hybrid room.

While the detached rooms are priced higher, this room was spacious and offered excellent value.

The room was equipped with all the essentials: bottled water, a tea set, a safe, and more.

The bathroom was spotless and resembled one you’d find in a newly built house. Its simple yet traditional Japanese design added a touch of elegance.

While the bath in the room wasn’t an open-air bath, it featured a hinoki (cypress) tub filled with onsen water.

For a family traveling with a small child, having access to a private onsen in the room was incredibly convenient and enjoyable.

The Cuisine at Soudayama Onsen Yawaragi

At Soudayama Onsen Yawaragi, meals are primarily served as in-room dining or in private dining rooms.

For us, traveling with an energetic 2-year-old, having a private space for meals was a huge plus (practically a necessity).

For this visit, dinner was served in our room, while breakfast was provided in a private dining room.

[Dinner] Savoring the Bounty of Kochi’s Land and Sea

As dinnertime approached, the inn staff prepared our meal in the room.

We had the standard menu, Seasonal Kaiseki, which showcases local specialties.

We began with an appetizer plate. I had never seen sushi served as part of an appetizer course before!

Next was a choice of three salads. We opted for the Shimanto Pork Salad.

The pork was tender and flavorful, with no unpleasant odor, making it enjoyable even for our son, who usually doesn’t eat much pork.

The salad option is available from June to September. During other months, you can enjoy a choice of hot pots instead.
While the salad was delicious, I couldn’t help but think a hot pot would’ve been even more satisfying!

One of the main dishes was an assortment of fresh local fish.

The highlight was the garlic-accompanied seared bonito—truly the taste of Kochi. This was exactly what we came here for!

Another highlight was Shimanto chicken simmered with a thick, savory sauce—rich and flavorful.

Salt-grilled ayu (sweetfish).

This type of dish, which we rarely have at home, is one of the joys of staying at a ryokan.

Hamo (pike conger) wrapped in plum sauce.

Not just the hamo, but the tempura vegetables were also delicious.

Bean rice served with dashi-rich soup and chawanmushi (steamed egg custard).

The meal concluded with a refreshing yuzu jelly dessert.

[Breakfast] Grilling Your Own Fish and Bacon

Breakfast was served in a private dining room.

This was the first time I’d seen a grill set up at a breakfast table.

The meal featured a well-balanced selection of Japanese and Western dishes.

Freshly cooked rice served in an ohitsu (wooden rice container).

The most unique feature was this plate of fish, shrimp, and bacon, which you could grill to your preferred level of doneness and enjoy while still hot.

We thoroughly enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the comfort of a private room.

[Onsen] Popular Baths for Day Visitors and Overnight Guests

The public baths at Soudayama Onsen Yawaragi are open to both overnight and day visitors, making them quite popular.

Although the size of the bath isn’t large, the Japanese-style ambiance creates a relaxing atmosphere.

The open-air bath is accessible via a covered walkway.

While the view isn’t expansive, soaking in the bath with fresh air and greenery surrounding you is undeniably pleasant.

One of the open-air baths, the “low-temperature bath,” stood out for its pure onsen scent and texture, free of chlorine odor. It was the best bath, in my opinion.

As it turns out, this particular bath is the only one with non-recirculating, free-flowing hot spring water. That explains its superior quality!

Every guest room includes a private onsen bath (semi-open-air in the detached rooms), so you can

enjoy the hot springs in the comfort of your own room.

Recommended Stay in Western Kochi: Soudayama Onsen Yawaragi

Nestled in the mountains of Kochi, Sennen no Biyu Soudayama Onsen Yawaragi is a popular ryokan, particularly known for its detached rooms.

While we stayed in the main building this time, our experience was excellent. Staying in one of the detached rooms would likely make the visit even more special.

If you’re planning a trip to western Kochi, this ryokan is definitely worth considering.