Yufuin Travel Memories Yamada-ya

At the foot of Mount Yufu lies the Yufuin Basin, where legends persist of a lake that once existed here.
Along the approach road leading to the Unagi Hime Shrine, nestled amidst the gentle breeze of the countryside, stands the inn “Tabisou Yufuin Yamadaya”. Since 2020, we have implemented phased renovations, revitalizing common areas, guest rooms, and bathhouses, culminating in a full-scale renewal completed in August 2024.

The design's starting point was a desire for guests to experience this land, where Mount Yufu and the countryside spread out, as a new “introduction” to exploring Yufuin.

The entrance features specially fired ceramic tile flooring, allowing guests to feel the texture of the earth beneath their feet. Walls feature plaster finishes blended with straw fibers, creating a warm, rustic texture. Furthermore, the interplay of light and shadow from kumiko latticework lamps and the woven cedar ceiling gently welcomes visitors. Beyond a newly created large opening, the waterwheel garden unfolds, where leaves swaying in the breeze and the shifting colors of the seasons paint a quiet moment. The reception counter features a polished finish with a sense of levitation. Inside, reflecting the etymology of “Yufu” (derived from “yufu,” meaning cotton or paper mulberry), paper mulberry fibers are kneaded into the surface, subtly mirroring the memories of this place. Diverse materials harmonize quietly, softly refining the atmosphere of the entire space.

The dining area has been transformed from the former large tatami-floored hall into a flat, accessible space where guests can comfortably dine in their shoes. The floor features earthenware ceramic tiles with even richer texture than those at the entrance, while the walls showcase Yufu's mountain ranges rendered in indigo-dyed Japanese paper. Enjoy a culinary moment enveloped in soft morning light, feeling the essence of the land.

The gender-rotating large baths, “Hanako no Yu” and “Taro no Yu,” offer distinct bathing experiences. The two-story “Taro no Yu” renovated the formerly unified large bath, adding a natural stone rock bath, a tub bath, and a small garden. The semi-open-air bath on the upper floor offers distant views of Yufu-dake's ridgeline. At “Hanako-no-Yu,” the existing open-air bath's rocks were preserved and reimagined as a garden. Through its glass roof and windows, the indoor bath offers views of the rock garden and night sky, creating a refined bathing space where light and greenery shift quietly.

Guest rooms feature a Japanese-modern design tailored for contemporary stays, incorporating refrigerators and hanging storage in spaces formerly used as closets. Materials resonating with Yufu's local character—such as washi paper, bamboo crafts, and mosaic tiles featuring patterns reminiscent of bamboo weaving—are incorporated throughout, adding quiet elegance to moments of relaxation. The open-air bath in the special guest room on the first floor is enclosed by a cedar bark fence, elevating the original garden into an even more refined space. Within this setting that blends seamlessly with nature, guests can enjoy peaceful bathing time undisturbed.