We stayed for 2 nights at Hotel Iyaonsen, and were impressed by the level of service, the food offerings, the condition of the room and especially the Onsen (natural hot springs) quality down in the valley (more on that in a moment.) We were already expecting it to be remotely situated with incredible valley/mountain views, and on that (and all other) fronts, our hopes and expectations were more than met. As other reviewers have already noted, the drive to Hotel Iyaonsen - while not exactly a harrowing experience - is one that requires alertness... the road is barely wide enough for one vehicle, and if you spot a car approaching from the opposite direction, one of the drivers will have to back up to an area where there's sufficient width in the road for both cars to slide past one another. It's also very twisty - so much so, that it's really not practical to be barreling down the mountain pass in any case. Thankfully, there are mirrors placed at the corners of each sharp turn so that drivers are able to see oncoming traffic ahead of time. In my mind, this added to the charm of being somewhere so remote, even if it's a bit of a hassle to get there. We stayed in a room called ”Tamayura” (Room #505, to be exact), which is the top room at the property. It's a corner room located on the top floor, and has an open-air outdoor Onsen bath to boot. Measuring 47m², it pales in comparison to highest category rooms at other ryokans we've stayed at, but the layout made it feel more spacious than its measurements would suggest. Tamayura had a living room, a smaller area where you can enjoy the Valley view, and a separate sleeping area.... none of them were segregated by walls, which added to the airy feel but might bother some guests accustomed to having distinctly separate living/sleeping areas. While it's Japanese in design and decor, it was more modern than traditional. The room had an earthly tone and allowed an abundance of natural light to enter, making it seem fresh and new. The Onsen and shower were located on the deck, and exposed to the elements. Now, I am used to having an open-air Onsen bath (in fact, in most cases I prefer it), but also having to shower outside (before getting into the Onsen) could be painful if it was in the dead of winter. The other drawback has to do with the in-room Onsen itself - it's not of the free-flowing variety; you have to fill it up from scratch each time you bathe. While it probably takes no more than 20 minutes for the bath to fill up, you might spend a bit more time regulating the temperature (by turning either the cold or hot water tap) until it's just right for you. Thankfully, this is made up by the awesome Onsen down in the valley. There is a cable car that shuttles (paying) guests to and from the bottom of the Valley, where there are separate men/women communal Onsen baths. There are also baths that you can rent privately (at extra cost.) All of them were amazing - the hot springs were soft, supple, slippery
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