Immerse yourself in your favorite book at a historic hot spring resort beloved by cultural figures

TRAVEL | Yugawara Sōyu Books and Retreat

Yugawara Sōyu Books and Retreat: Where Forest, Hot Springs, Food, and Books Converge

Yugawara Sōyu Books and Retreat opened on August 31, 2021, within Manyo Park in Yugawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. This facility offers a chance to enjoy time with nature, hot springs, and books, allowing visitors to rest both body and mind.

Photographs by YAMAMOTO Kohei | Text by KOBAYASHI Miki

Two Facilities, "Genkan Terrace" and "Sōyu Terrace," Offer Guests Solace

Located about 1.5 hours from the city center, Yugawara Town is situated at the southwestern tip of Kanagawa Prefecture, surrounded by the sea and mountains. Yugawara Hot Springs is a historic hot spring resort that has been healing people since ancient times, with hot springs said to have emerged about 1,300 years ago and mentioned in the "Manyoshu" anthology.

Immerse yourself in your favorite book at a historic hot spring resort beloved by cultural figures | TRAVEL

Yugawara Manyo Park, located in the heart of the hot spring area, is a natural park with a beautiful small stream and diverse plant life. Here, a landscape nurtured by centuries of gentle coexistence between nature and people unfolds.

Within Manyo Park, Yugawara Sōyu Books and Retreat opened on August 31, 2021. It's a place for relaxation, whether you're enjoying coffee and a book or soaking in an open-air bath surrounded by the murmuring of the river and the scent of trees. A new haven has been born where you can feel the forest, relax in the hot springs, savor delicious food, and lose yourself in a book.

The "Genkan Terrace" at the park entrance features a takeout-only cafe on the first floor and a free co-working space on the second. The cafe offers a variety of takeout options to enjoy on the terraces along the stream. You can also borrow books from a wide selection, which can be taken outside the facility within the park. How about enjoying a walk with coffee and a sweet, then opening a book in your favorite spot?

The "Sōyu Terrace," a day-use hot spring facility, offers two open-air baths where you can enjoy Yugawara's gentle hot spring water (free-flowing source water), a dining area serving delicious seasonal meals, and a library with over 100 books always on display. In the quiet lounge, with only trees visible beyond the windows, you can enjoy your own time of relaxation.

In Yugawara, a place visited by many literary figures such as Kunikida Doppo, Natsume Soseki, and Shimazaki Toson, and featured in numerous literary works, losing yourself in reading while occasionally gazing at the scenery is a special experience. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and visit this place to fully heal your tired body and mind.

Yugawara Sōyu Books & Retreat

Address | 566 Miyagami, Yugawara-machi, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone | 0465-43-7830 (Genkan Terrace)
Phone | 0465-43-8105 (Sōyu Terrace)

Genkan Terrace

Business Hours | 10:00 - 17:30
Closed | 2nd Tuesday

Sōyu Terrace

Business Hours | Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, and the day before: 10:00-20:00; Other weekdays: 10:00-18:00
Closed | Every Wednesday, 2nd Tuesday
Fees |
With Meal: ¥5,500 (5-hour stay from entry)
Includes free drinks (some alcoholic beverages are extra from the second drink), snacks, and in-facility
wear and towels
*A ¥500 discount is available for guests staying at Yugawara accommodations who choose the meal option.
Without Meal: ¥2,600 (3-hour stay from entry)
Includes free drinks (some alcoholic beverages are extra from the second drink), snacks, and in-facility
wear and towels
*Time slots apply. Available from 17:30 on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and the day before; 14:00 on other weekdays.
*An additional bathing tax of ¥100 applies.
*Lunch orders: 11:30-13:30 | Dinner orders: 17:00-18:30
Admission | Junior high school students and older
Facilities | Hot springs (2 locations), sauna, dining area, lounge, library