Mayu Futahari

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what struck me first about Mayu Futahari? The drive in – honestly, I wasn’t expecting much after winding through those narrow mountain roads in Nishiizu, but then you catch your first glimpse of the property and it’s like stumbling onto something special that most people just drive right past. The hotel sits tucked into this hillside spot that feels completely removed from everything, which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to escape Tokyo’s madness.

The thing about this place is that it gets the small stuff right in ways that actually matter. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward – no hovering staff or forced enthusiasm, just genuine helpfulness from people who clearly know the area inside and out. They pointed me toward this little walking path behind the property that I never would’ve found otherwise, and honestly, that ten-minute walk at sunrise became the highlight of my entire stay. The rooms themselves are that perfect blend of traditional Japanese design with just enough modern touches that you’re not constantly fumbling for light switches or wondering how the shower works. I mean, the tatami still smells fresh, and there’s something about the way the morning light filters through those shoji screens that makes you want to stay in bed way longer than you planned.

What really sets Mayu Futahari apart though is its location in Nishina – and I’m not talking about generic “convenient location” nonsense. This part of Nishiizu is where locals actually go to unwind, not where tour buses dump crowds of visitors. There’s this tiny family-run soba shop about a five-minute walk down the main road that doesn’t even have a proper sign, but the hotel staff will tell you about it if you ask. The hot springs nearby aren’t the famous ones you see in guidebooks, which means you’re not fighting for space or dealing with that commercialized atmosphere. During my stay in late fall, the whole area had this quiet, almost sleepy quality that felt completely authentic – like stumbling into Japan the way it was meant to be experienced rather than the way it’s packaged for tourists. Parking was never an issue, and surprisingly, even though you’re in the mountains, cell service was solid throughout the property. The only real downside? Well, if you’re looking for nightlife or shopping, you’re definitely in the wrong place, but that’s sort of the point.