Ryotei Tanokura or Gettouan? Lake Kinrin Access versus a Private Cottage Bath
Compare Tanokura’s Lake Kinrin location and in-room baths with Gettouan’s private cottage baths, hillside setting and suspended station shuttle.
Checked: September 27, 2026 Tanokura and Gettouan both make a private soak easy, but they do not sell the same room. Tanokura keeps guests close to Lake Kinrin and puts a hot-spring bath in all 11 rooms; five have a private open-air bath as well. Gettouan is a hillside collection of 18 detached cottages, each with its own open-air bath.
| Ryotei Tanokura | Gettouan | |
|---|---|---|
| In-room bath | Hot-spring bath in all 11 rooms | Private open-air bath in all 18 detached cottages |
| Room upgrade | Five Tanokura rooms add a private open-air bath | Cottage categories differ in layout and setting; the open-air bath is standard throughout |
| Public baths | Two spring-fed public baths with outdoor sections; the sides switch in the morning | Gender-separated public baths with indoor and outdoor sections |
| Setting | About a one-minute walk from Lake Kinrin | Wooded hillside; around eight minutes by taxi from Yufuin Station |
| Station shuttle | Check the inn’s current pickup terms | Currently suspended; plan on a taxi or other ride |
The bath is included either way; the question is where
At Tanokura, an ordinary room still has an in-room hot-spring bath. The five open-air rooms add an outdoor setting, rather than introducing the private bath for the first time. That is useful if you want to soak away from the public bath but do not particularly need to be outdoors.
Gettouan’s room choice is more about cottage style, space and location within the property. Every cottage has a private open-air bath, so you do not need to pay an upgrade just to secure that feature. The inn also has public baths if you enjoy using a shared facility as well as the one attached to your room.
Choose the location that matches your plan
Tanokura is close enough to Lake Kinrin that an early walk is a small part of the morning, not a separate outing. Its official description also leans into seasonal kaiseki, making it a natural pick if dinner is a central part of the overnight stay.
Gettouan asks you to settle in. The taxi ride from Yufuin Station is short, but the property is not convenient for walking back and forth to the shops. Its access page currently says the shuttle is suspended. If you are arriving by train, factor a taxi into the plan both ways and confirm the status again before travel.
Tanokura is the more practical base for a one-night visit built around the lake and town. Gettouan is easier to justify when the cottage itself is the destination and an outdoor bath in the room is a must. For another private-bath pairing, compare Tanokura and Hananomai; for a second hillside option, see Kaze no Mori vs Gettouan.
