A Hidden Gem in Yufuin: Family-Friendly Stay and Gourmet Cuisine at Healing Inn Takasho, Yunohira Onsen

The other day, we stayed at Yunohira Onsen Healing Inn Takasho, located up a mountain road from Yufuin in Oita Prefecture.

This inn is highly rated on virtually every travel site, especially noted for its incredible cuisine.

The inn features 14 rooms total — 8 rooms in 6 detached buildings, and 6 rooms in the main house. A quiet setting ideal for a relaxing stay.

We stayed in the family-friendly detached suite “Tenshōin”, which includes a private indoor hot spring. The room was spacious and step-free, with tatami flooring, making it comfortable for both adults and babies.

Most importantly, the food was absolutely outstanding. The famous local delicacy, “Seki Saba” mackerel, was as exquisite as expected, and the simmered fish was shockingly delicious. Whether it’s the broth, seasoning, or ingredients (probably all three)… the quality was unmatched.

There are also pet-friendly rooms and even more luxurious detached suites available.

If you’re looking for a peaceful hot spring retreat with phenomenal food, I highly recommend this place!

(Photos by my other website ushigyu.net)

Access and Basic Info for Healing Inn Takasho

Healing Inn Takasho is located in the Yunohira Onsen area of Oku-Yufuin.

It’s nestled in the mountains, about a 30-minute drive from the more well-known Yufuin Station area.

In addition to driving or renting a car, shuttle service is available from Yunohira Station (advance reservation required at least 5 days before check-in).

It’s less than a 2-hour drive from central Fukuoka.

Along the way, you’ll pass through Hita City and Kokonoe Town — great opportunities to explore the old town of Mameda or visit the Kokonoe Yume Otsurihashi suspension bridge.

【Basic Information for Takasho】

Our Stay at Healing Inn Takasho

We arrived at Takasho after driving up a winding mountain road. The final descent can be quite steep depending on your direction, so be cautious.

It’s best to pass the entrance once, turn around in the wider area up ahead, and then approach. (I tried turning in one go and ended up scraping the bottom of the car…)

Spacious, Relaxing Rooms with Tatami Hot Springs

After check-in, we headed straight to our room for the night — “Tenshōin”.

The detached room names are inspired by historical figures from the Meiji Restoration, like “Ryōma”, “Shōin”, and “Kaishū”. The main house rooms are named after historical eras like “Edo” and “Yayoi”.

Here’s the family-friendly detached suite “Tenshōin” — perfect for those with or without children.

The entrance is a bit narrow,

but opens into a spacious room. Low furniture and nearly flat flooring make it ideal for babies and toddlers.

Here’s a view from the other side. Since we visited in February, there was a kotatsu, but the room was warm enough without using it.

Air purifiers and kettles are placed out of reach of children — a nice touch for families.

The bathroom includes a baby-changing station at just the right height.

All the usual amenities are provided, and drinks in the fridge are complimentary.

Even the coat hook is shaped like a dog’s tail — a cute detail.

Each detached suite comes with a private indoor hot spring. The tatami flooring is perfect for letting babies lie down or crawl around.

The restroom is spacious and beautifully designed.

We also found a mysterious space behind the sink. Maybe it turns into a terrace when the weather gets warmer?

The hot springs here are all natural, odorless, and tasteless — sourced directly from an alkaline simple spring.

In addition to the private indoor baths, there are men’s and women’s communal baths, as well as a family reservable bath called “Ishin-no-Yu”.

The photo below is the men’s bath (taken when no other guests were around).

While there are no massive pools (due to the limited number of rooms), there’s a variety of options — hinoki cypress baths, rock baths, cold water baths, and a sauna.

Here’s the open-air bath.

Dinner That’s Nothing Short of Exquisite

What we were most looking forward to during our stay at Takasho was dinner.

Takasho is part of a group that operates high-end kaiseki restaurants in Fukuoka and Tokyo’s Ginza — so expectations for the food were naturally high.

Both dinner and breakfast are served in the dining rooms located in the main building.

This particular dining room is called “Kawasaki.” Others have names like “Honda” and “Kokubo”.

According to the staff, the names come from the founder being a passionate Hawks baseball fan. So yes — “Taka” in “Takasho” is a reference to the team.

※Don’t worry, there are no obvious Hawks references elsewhere — fans of other teams can rest easy.

Here’s the menu for the evening.
With items like oysters, scallops, wagyu steak, and local Kanjidori chicken, it already sounded amazing.

Two types of house-made mentaiko (spicy cod roe). Rich in umami and just the right amount of kick.

Four types of appetizers: simmered shrimp, bamboo shoots with miso, roasted duck, and kombu-marinated firefly squid and nanohana greens.

The sashimi platter included a real treat — Oita’s premium brand “Seki Saba” mackerel!
I’ve had good mackerel before, but this was on another level. The fat was rich and flavorful — absolutely unforgettable.

Oysters and scallops in a thick amber sauce — each bite bursting with savory flavor and perfect seasoning.

Seafood chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) with crab claw.

Oita wagyu steak. While delicious, it almost faded into the background — that’s how consistently excellent the whole meal was.

Seasonal vegetable tempura.

Braised silver cod — perhaps the best simmered fish I’ve ever had.
Moist, packed with umami, and seasoned to absolute perfection.

It was so good I wanted to buy the dashi broth used here — but unfortunately, it was temporarily unavailable due to a product revamp. Hoping it returns soon!

Oita’s local “Kanjidori” chicken in a shabu-shabu hot pot.

After cooking the chicken in the broth, we poured the remaining dashi over local noodles known as “Yaseuma” — a regional specialty.

Already delicious on its own, the broth became even richer with the chicken’s flavor. Light yet full-bodied — the perfect balance.

This meal easily ranks in the top 3 dinners I’ve had at any ryokan — maybe even number one.

I knew the food was well-reviewed, but it still managed to exceed expectations.

The inn is also very accommodating for children — providing chairs, utensils, and more. It’s a fantastic choice for families.

Affordable and Delicious Room Service

After finishing dinner, night had fully fallen. The inn looked stunning illuminated in the darkness.

While tending to our fussy baby, we were relaxing… and despite the big meal, I started feeling a little hungry again.

So I decided to try the room service menu that had caught my eye right after check-in.
There weren’t many options, but look at those prices — so reasonable!

Though the “assorted snacks” didn’t have details listed, alcoholic drinks were priced about the same as at convenience stores, and the rice balls were surprisingly cheap for room service.
It really made me want to place an order.

I ordered two mentaiko rice balls, and they were promptly delivered to our room.
The same mentaiko served at dinner had been so good that I was hoping to try it again — and to have it as a late-night snack was just perfect.

Breakfast That Starts with Irresistible Kamadaki Rice

The next morning, we had breakfast. Here’s the menu.

While the menu might look like a standard ryokan breakfast, each item was thoughtfully selected — including freshly cooked rice in a traditional cauldron and premium “Mihotamago” eggs.

The kamadaki rice was truly amazing. With every bite, the natural sweetness deepened, making me savor each mouthful.

There were plenty of perfect sides for rice, like pickles, grilled salmon, and mentaiko — so the rice in the pot disappeared fast.

After breakfast came coffee (or tea) and Takasho’s original sweet potato jam.

A wonderfully satisfying way to start the day. If you plan to have lunch afterward, go light or eat late — because breakfast will keep you full for hours.

Final Thoughts: Healing Inn Takasho Review Summary

Located deep in the mountains, far from city noise — incredibly peaceful.
With exceptional food and spacious, comfortable rooms, it’s the perfect getaway.

Detached suites are available for guests traveling with children or pets.

Whether you’re looking for a stress-free family trip or simply want to indulge in delicious food, Healing Inn Takasho at Yunohira Onsen is an excellent choice.
I’m already dreaming about going back…!