Sanso Murata

About

Sanso Murata is widely regarded as the finest ryokan in Oita Prefecture and one of the best in Japan. Set on a forested hillside above Yufuin — 30 minutes by rail from Beppu and easily combined as a day trip or overnight extension — the 15-room inn offers a level of kaiseki cuisine and onsen bathing that has earned it enduring recognition among Japan's ryokan connoisseurs. Private outdoor baths (kashikiri rotenburo) overlook Mount Yufu, rooms open onto garden terraces, and the seasonal kaiseki menus showcase the extraordinary produce of Oita's mountains and rivers. Reservations open 90 days in advance and fill quickly, particularly for weekends and autumn foliage season.

Key Experiences