[This is the final part of my review on Yama No Chaya ]

Having explored the lower level, we went up the stairs to ..



To our sleeping area! There was simple furnishing, with two futons joined together to form a double bed. Despite the chilly temperature in November, it kept us warm adequately at night.

Wikipedia : Futon
The bedding set referred to as futon in Japan fundamentally consists of a shikibuton (敷き布団 bottom mattress) and a kakebuton (掛け布団 thick quilted bedcover). The word is Sino-Japanese, originally meaning ’round cushions filled with cattail flower spikes’; it is derived from Chinese fu or pu (蒲 cattail) + ton or tuan (団 round).





By the side of our bed, there is an odd looking sliding door -



- that leads to another outdoor deck! Granted, it was kind of impractical in near-winter days. I guess it would have been great during other seasons? Who would have thought of getting a tan in a Ryokan?!







After our heavenly dinner, which is detailed in the blog post here, we had a little rest before heading to the private hot spring. We had requested for it to be booked in advance (in 2-hour slots, if I’m not wrong) so that we can have all the time in the world to enjoy it in privacy.

The knock on our door signaled it was time, and we were led to one of the private hot spring within the Ryokan. Before entering the hot spring, the rest area surprised us with foot-reflexology devices and a free-flow of refreshing roasted tea.





I have to say that enjoying the Onsen during cold weather is something that needs getting used to! It is definitely an experience we won’t be forgetting anytime soon!



Before getting into the Onsen, the common etiquette is to ensure cleanliness. Thus, all guests are expected to wash and and rinse their body thoroughly before entering the hot water. Thus, bathing station like the one you see below is equipped with stools, wooden pails, toiletries and faucets.

Entering the onsen while still dirty or with traces of soap on the body is socially unacceptable!



The next morning, we had a little time to spare after breakfast, and so we ventured out of Yama No Chaya on foot.



Many of the Ryokans are situated along the river that runs through Hakone.



Kind of romantic to be walking along the river, with the ground littered with all the fallen leaves.



Spotted one of the bus-stop that is near our Ryokan :



I would say that Yama No Chaya has given us an excellent insight into the Ryokan experience. The Ryokan stay was fantastic, with very little to fault. Service was superb, and the two meals provided were among the best we’ve had in Japan. Our room was comfortable, with all the required amenities provided for. Our English-speaking host broke the language barrier and made it a much more enriching experience for us.

There is simply too little time to take in all the goodness! The only complain would be that in exchange for a slice of paradise, there is a pretty steep price for a one-night stay. Is it worth it? You would have to decide for yourself~