Hello, fellow travel lovers!
Cherry season always makes me want to visit Yamagata.
While searching online for a place to stay, I came across a photo of an incredibly tempting craft beer tasting set.
“I have to try that beer!”
And that was how I ended up booking Yubo Ichiraku TENDO SPA & BREWERY in Tendo Onsen—almost entirely because of the beer presentation.
When choosing accommodation, my top priorities are always a spacious public bath and a good hot spring.
This time, however, there was one more irresistible attraction: that spectacular-looking beer flight!
It turned into a wonderfully satisfying stay filled with hot springs, craft beer, and delicious Yamagata specialties.
- Entering Through the Cool White Noren Curtains
- Sampling Five Craft Beers at Tsukikoma STAND
- Dinner Filled with the Flavors of Yamagata
- A Cute “Pawn” Fu in the Home of Shogi
- The Most Memorable Dish Was Tsuyahime Rice
- A Morning Walk Around Tendo Onsen
- Shogi Pieces Everywhere Underfoot
- A Breakfast Buffet with Plenty of Choice
- The BALMUDA Speaker in Our Room
- Highlights of Yubo Ichiraku
- Next Time: Less Beer and a More Traditional Japanese Breakfast
Entering Through the Cool White Noren Curtains
At the entrance, we were welcomed by beautiful white noren curtains that gave the space a cool and refreshing feel.
As soon as we stepped through them, a striking black gate and a lotus-themed art installation appeared before us.
What an entrance!
I had arrived expecting a traditional hot spring inn, but suddenly it felt as though I had wandered into an art gallery.
More unusual sculptures and artworks continued beyond the gate, making the walk to reception part of the experience.
Even before checking in, I kept stopping to take photos.
At last, we found the sign pointing us toward the front desk!
First, we headed to the large public bath so that we could enjoy the craft beer in the best possible condition.
After washing away the heat and tiredness from the journey in the hot spring, we felt refreshed and ready!
Sampling Five Craft Beers at Tsukikoma STAND
We had our craft beers poured at Tsukikoma STAND, located inside the hotel.
And here they are—the five beers I had been waiting for!
Just look at this presentation!
The small, rounded glasses lined up together were absolutely adorable.
Every glass had been properly chilled, so each beer was served at its delicious best.
We carried them to the courtyard terrace, where we raised our glasses while enjoying the cool evening air.
The lovely setting definitely made the beer taste even better.
The crunchy rusks served as a snack were also a perfect match for the beer.
I liked them so much that I wanted to buy some as souvenirs, but sadly, they were not available for sale.
After finishing our five-beer tasting set, we were feeling very cheerful.
So naturally, we ordered another one.
That brought the total to ten glasses!
They were small glasses, but even so, ten beers before dinner was definitely too much.
Dinner Filled with the Flavors of Yamagata
By the time dinner began, we were already in an excellent mood.
A wide variety of small dishes made with ingredients from Yamagata were served one after another.
There was also an impressive selection of Yamagata sake available on a self-service basis.
“Oh no, I’ve already had too much to drink…”
That thought crossed my mind, but with so many local sake varieties in front of me, I still wanted to sample a little.
All-inclusive hotels can be dangerous!
A Cute “Pawn” Fu in the Home of Shogi
Tendo is famous for producing shogi pieces, the Japanese equivalent of chess pieces.
Even our dinner included a piece of fu, a light wheat-gluten ingredient, shaped like the 歩 character used for a pawn in shogi.
It was such a cute little detail and made the meal feel very Tendo.
We also enjoyed Yamagata beef, although my photo was taken after I had already started eating it.
As for dessert, I completely forgot to take a picture.
A classic case of too much wine—or in this case, beer and sake!
The Most Memorable Dish Was Tsuyahime Rice
Dinner included Yamagata beef and many other dishes.
And yet, the food that stayed in my memory the most was surprisingly simple: plain white rice.
The rice served at the hotel was Tsuyahime, a premium variety grown in Yamagata.
Each grain was firm, glossy, and beautifully distinct.
It had a gentle sweetness and was so delicious that I could have happily eaten it on its own.
I had never bought Tsuyahime for home before, but I enjoyed it so much that I purchased some as a souvenir.
The local Yamagata specialty, imoni—a hearty taro and meat soup—was also excellent.
A Morning Walk Around Tendo Onsen
The next morning, we took a short walk around the hotel before breakfast.
Near the hotel, we found a lovely building decorated with beautiful stained glass.
It appeared to be a wedding venue.
The stained glass looked especially pretty in the peaceful morning light.
Shogi Pieces Everywhere Underfoot
As you would expect in Tendo, a city famous for shogi pieces, they appeared all around town.
There were even shogi pieces beneath our feet.
Was this a shogi match taking place on the pavement?
Searching for shogi-themed details while walking is one of the unique pleasures of exploring Tendo.
Just remember not to spend so much time looking down that you walk into a telephone pole!
A Breakfast Buffet with Plenty of Choice
After our walk, we returned to the hotel for breakfast.
Breakfast was served buffet-style, with an impressive selection of both Japanese and Western dishes.
I started with yogurt and salad.
It was a small attempt to be kind to my body after drinking too much the previous evening.
But the two things I absolutely could not miss were the imoni and Tsuyahime rice.
I was so satisfied that, if I stayed here again, I would be perfectly happy eating only rice and imoni for breakfast.
When a buffet offers so many choices, it is tempting to try everything. In the end, though, the simplest combinations are often the most delicious.
The BALMUDA Speaker in Our Room
There was also an unfamiliar item in our room.
After drinking too much, I fell asleep before giving it much thought.
The next morning, I found myself wondering:
“What is this?”
So I took a photo and searched for it online.
It turned out to be a BALMUDA speaker that creates synchronized light and sound effects.
Since it was already there in the room, I wish I had tried it!
Next time, I would like to drink a little less before dinner and enjoy a more relaxing evening at the hotel.
Highlights of Yubo Ichiraku
Yubo Ichiraku is not only a place to enjoy hot springs, but also a wonderful hotel for experiencing Yamagata’s food and drink.
Here are some of the highlights:
- Sample five different craft beers
- Relax with a drink on the courtyard terrace
- Enjoy a carefree all-inclusive stay
- Taste Yamagata specialties such as Yamagata beef, imoni, and Tsuyahime rice
- Explore the hotel’s impressive art and sculptures
- Take a walk around the streets of Tendo Onsen
This hotel is especially recommended for craft beer lovers.
The beer goes down very easily, though, so be careful not to drink too much before dinner.
Next Time: Less Beer and a More Traditional Japanese Breakfast
Delicious craft beer, local Yamagata sake, Yamagata beef, imoni, and Tsuyahime rice—
Yubo Ichiraku was a wonderful place to enjoy the flavors of Yamagata together with a relaxing hot spring stay.
My goal for the next visit is to limit myself to just one beer tasting set before dinner.
そして朝食は、つや姫と芋煮を中心に、ゆっくり和食を楽しみたいと思います。
Whether I can truly stop after just one set, however, remains a mystery…
湯坊いちらく TENDO SPA & BREWERY 公式サイト
https://itiraku.com/
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip!
＊＊TabiJun＊＊
