Originally Posted by KI-NRT

Within a 3 hour train ride... hmm... It depends on what aspect of Takefue and Gosho Gekkoju you're enamored with. I have yet to find a ryokan that has the unbelievable (and vast) in-room Onsen like what you'll find in Takefue. And the incredible rental Onsen and amazing grounds you'll find there (the bamboo forest is as soothing to the senses as Arashiyama in Kyoto, but without the crowds.) If those elements are what you're looking for, then you may have no choice but to head out to Kurokawa Onsen.

On the other hand, if you are after a high quality stay with a view of pretty landscape and in-room Onsen (that's not as ridiculously awesome as Takefue or Gosho Gekkoju), you have some choices. Asaba is pretty darned close, assuming you book either Hagi or Tenko. And the food is as good (if not better) than Takefue.

Takefue really is a one-of-a-kind property. It's beautiful, vast, spacious (especially if you get one of the special rooms. It has traditional Japanese architecture and furnishings but with modern amenities, first-rate service, the ability to choose from a variety of Yukata to wear (you can choose different ones anytime you want), several Onsen foot baths, Koi ponds and ice cream, yogurt, water and soda buckets scattered throughout the property, a musical performance in the evening on one of the many gorgeous courtyards on site (some Japanese musical instrument or violin, for instance)... it's about as bespoke of an experience as you're going to get, and one of the few places where it's definitely worth spending more than one night. And you won't be itching to leave the premises (even though we did venture out to explore Kurokawa Onsen town, but we probably wouldn't do it again when we visit Takefue in the future.)