Meisen Kagiyu Okutsuso

Set quietly along a river in the mountains, this inn is in Okutsu Onsen, Okayama. This long-established ryokan was loved by notable figures such as Mori Tadamasa, the first lord of the Tsuyama Domain, former Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi, and world-renowned printmaker Munakata Shiko, and its building, with Approx. 100 years of history, is registered as a national tangible cultural property.

Its signature hot spring features baths built directly above a source that gushes up from the bottom of the Yoshii River at a generous rate of 247 liters per minute, a style known as “ashimoto yushutsu,” where the spring emerges right beneath your feet. The spring water, known for its silky softness and reputation for beautifying the skin, can be enjoyed just as it is, without added water or heating. There are four bathing areas in total: two large public baths that switch between men and women depending on the time, and two private baths with different atmospheres. Day-use bathing is also available.

Guest rooms come in a wide variety, led by detached rooms with open-air baths, as well as standard Japanese-style and Western-style rooms. If you prefer beds but still want to enjoy a Japanese atmosphere, the bed-type room with a shower booth, renovated in 2024, is a great choice. Meals include seasonal kaiseki courses made with ingredients from Okayama Prefecture and Okutsu, along with limited-time courses featuring seasonal specialties such as matsutake mushrooms and fugu.