Yoshino Ryokan

I stayed here, as well as Hostel OE, before the ascent through temple 11 to temple 12. This place was nice enough and very low cost; the meals were good and they sent me off with some rice balls. What is significant is that some places after temple 12, like Sudachian, will come pick up your luggage, definitely prudent to lighten your pack for going up three hills with an elevation gain of 1,369 meters. Note there isn't any food on the way to #12, so take some grub, the rice balls were helpful but I should have been packing protein.

Great double sento, room very comfortable, split system worked a treat. We had full board and the meals were brilliant. I would highly recommend staying at this Ryokan

Nice stay and friendly people. No English spoken, but they have a little translation device that helped clear up a few things. Japanese food for dinner and breakfast (+ one fried egg, slice of ham and a yogurt). Make sure you get the rice balls to take with you for lunch on the way to temple 12.

14/4/2019

From the outside this ryokan looked sort of like a normal Japanese two story house. I checked the phone number on the signage and assured it was the right place went in.

Because the next stretch between temple 11 and 12 was a notably hard slog, I had decided to spend the night at the beginning of that portion of pilgrimage. This meant my day had been fairly easy, only tenish kilometres. I had plenty of time to settle in and do some clothes washing. Fortuitous too. As I waited for the clothes to finish in the washing machine I watched as the bitumen outside turned several shades darker. The forecast rain had finally arrived. Glad I wasn’t on the mountain trail then.

Rooms: Traditional futon on tatami. Room a little worn through use, but clean.

Laundry: Normal washing machines. Instructions are all in Japanese. Easy enough to use when you work out which is the "on" button.

Extras: The ryokan will provide a lunch of rice balls for a small fee. If you notify them early enough (ie the previous night). This is very handy as there is nothing between Temple 11 and 12 as far as food or drink available. Strongly Recommended.

An excellent start place for the T11-T12 trail for those of us who can manage, but aren't wanting to do any more in the day.

3 photos submitted