Yuyado Motokawarayu is a hot spring ryokan established in 1974, located in Hijiori Onsen in Okura Village, Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. While relatively new among the approximately 1,200-year-old Hijiori Onsen area, it is a member of the Japanese Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns. Located about 40 minutes by car from JR Shinjo Station, the ryokan sits beside the Dozan River flowing through the hot spring town. The name Hijiori Onsen originates from its discovery in 807 by monk Genoh, with records stating that an old monk who broke his elbow was immediately healed after bathing in these waters. Since then, it has prospered as a hot spring resort for farmers and mountain villagers to heal fatigue from agricultural work, and as a therapeutic bathing place effective for fractures and injuries. The greatest feature of Motokawarayu is the ability to enjoy two different hot spring sources. The private source "Motokawarayu Source" is a sodium bicarbonate-chloride spring with a source temperature of 34.9°C. The other cooperative source has a source temperature of 69.0°C, and the top-floor observation baths use a blend of these two sources. Both sources have the refreshing sensation characteristic of bicarbonate springs and are called "cosmetic bath" or "beauty bath" because they wash away sebum and waste products in emulsified form. All hot springs are 100% natural flowing source water without any added water or heating, allowing guests to enjoy the natural hot springs as they are. The bathing facilities include the top-floor 4th floor observation baths "Jizo-no-yu" (men's) and "Kannon-no-yu" (women's), where guests can bathe 24 hours while viewing the mountains and river scenery. On the first floor riverside is the private bath "Kawara-no-yu" with a Shigaraki ceramic bathtub, using only the heated private source. The private bath operates from 14:30 to 21:30 in 30-minute reservation slots. The hot springs are beneficial for chronic gynecological conditions, skin diseases, cuts, burns, neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, and fatigue recovery. The interior has a pleasant space with the fragrance of wood, and meals are served at the irori hearth area. There are seven large irori hearths, and the seasonal kaiseki cuisine using local seasonal ingredients is highly praised. The ryokan has 15 guest rooms in total, including Japanese-style and Japanese-Western hybrid rooms, with some rooms featuring two Japanese-style beds arranged on tatami mats. Mountain-view and river-view rooms offer different scenic views. Since its establishment in 1974, the inn has undergone several renovations and has become an increasingly comfortable space with seasonal flowers. While day-trip bathing is accepted, stays of 2-3 nights or more for hot spring therapy are recommended.