Kumo no Ue no Hotel Annex (雲の上のホテル別館)
Machi no Eki Yusuhara combines a local-products market with a hotel and welcomes travelers as a recognizable face of Yusuhara. Its location in the town center and striking thatched exterior make it easy to notice. Architect Kengo Kuma drew on the area’s traditional thatched roofs, creating a distinctive building whose ventilation and insulation use natural forces to help maintain a comfortable interior. The concept of a ‘forest’ within the town continues inside, where cedar-log columns suggest walking among trees. The first floor houses the Machi no Eki Yusuhara shop selling local specialties, while the second floor provides accommodation as Kumo no Ue no Hotel Annex. Both Japanese-style and Western-style rooms are designed for slowing down and losing track of time. The central location works for sightseeing or business, and you can explore town on foot to find a restaurant for dinner.
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KcG3gKWjG3oSpTM58
Kumo no Ue no Onsen (雲の上の温泉)
This continuously flowing hot spring is in the Shimanto River basin, described in the source as Japan’s last clear river. It is traditionally promoted as ‘beauty water.’ There is also a medicinal-style bath using ingredients such as chili and ginger, which the original description associates with warmth from within and relief of cold hands and feet. In its natural setting, facilities include outdoor baths, a Jacuzzi, herbal baths, and a sauna. The historical promotional text further lists claimed benefits for muscle pain, gynecological complaints, neuralgia, burns, dermatitis, sensitivity to cold, and one unclear condition name in the original. These are claims in the source, not independently verified treatment advice. A Kengo Kuma museum is next door, adding an architectural stop to the scenery.
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HTopwrFwfUW6ntsi8