There are many hot spring inns in Gunma on the outskirts of Tokyo, but the one we recommend is "Kawaba Onsen, the source of thatched houses, Yuyu-ri-an". Rooms over 30 tsubo in size are equipped with private open-air baths, so you can soak in the hot springs while enjoying the four seasons such as cherry blossoms, maple leaves, and snow. You can also enjoy a meal made with Shangshu beef and fresh local ingredients. Let's stay at Yuyu-ri-an and immerse yourself in Japanese culture.
"Kawaba Onsen, the source of thatched houses, Yuyu-ri-an" is an idyllic setting where you can experience traditional Japanese culture
Most hot spring inns are usually built in the middle of a hot spring town, but Kawaba Onsen, the source of thatched houses, Yuyu-ri-an, seems to be a village of its own, and the spectacular thatched houses are scattered in the countryside of Kawaba Village, and from a distance, it looks like a part of an idyllic painting. Getting close to nature is always a place to relax, and the inn has made good use of its location, from the service to the name, it implements the purpose of "allowing all guests to come here to enjoy the rural scenery at a leisurely glance and quietly feel the passage of time with the sound of hot spring water", and the name "Kawaba Onsen Thatched House Source Yuyu-ryo-an" has been trademarked, which shows the inn's persistence and exquisiteness.
The magnificent honjin and the longhouse gate
The view from the room
Thatched huts are one of the traditional wooden construction techniques in Japan that have been inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, and there are not many of them left in Japan. However, there are seven thatched houses in the spacious hinterland of Kawaba Onsen Yuyujuku Yuyuri Temple, the source of thatched houses, especially the "Nagaya Gate" and "Honjin" buildings, and each beam and pillar of the house has a unique history, and the detailed wood carvings and the dazzling antiquities display area create a unique world view.
There are countless delicate carved decorations in the museum
Samurai armor from ancient times
Here are 6 recommended reasons to stay at "Kawaba Onsen, the source of thatched houses, Yuyusanorian".
Reason for recommendation (1): A large main building room with a space of more than 100 square meters and a ceiling height of 6 meters
Kawaba Onsen Yuyu-ri-an, the source of thatched huts, covers an area of about 20,000 square meters, and has a total of 18 rooms with only 8 rooms in the main building and 10 rooms in the annex "Yuyama". Each room is 100 square meters in size, with a ceiling height of 6 meters, a living room with a fireplace, two Japanese-style rooms, a study, an inner bath, an open-air bath, and a terrace. All rooms are equipped with coffee machines, including illy's coffee machine in the main building, so you can enjoy making a good cup of coffee and sitting on the verandah or lounge chair to watch the scenery and feel the breeze.
There are 2 bedrooms and 1 living room in the main building
Each room is more than 100 square meters and has a ceiling height of 6 meters
The guest rooms are not only decorated with many precious chest of drawers, ornaments, paintings and other antiques, but also set up independent dressing rooms, double-sink washbasins, and washing machines according to the needs of modern people. The coolest thing is that in the toilet where the wet and dry are separated, there is a special installation called "Phantom Water Koto Cave", which is a technique that originated in the garden design of the Edo period, and you can hear the sound of music emitted by dripping water in the enclosed space. Staying here is a place where you can feel the fusion of old and new Japanese culture. The rooms are separated by a conversation room (smoking room), so you can enjoy a quiet holiday atmosphere, and you are not afraid to disturb other guests, even if you bring children together, you are not afraid of noisy others, so it is highly recommended to stay when you are traveling with children!
Large floor-to-ceiling windows allow you to open up to a beautiful rural landscape
There are baths both inside and outside, and you can watch TV while soaking in the hot springs outdoors
Reason for recommendation (2): The source of "Kawaba Onsen", which has an excellent effect on beautiful skin
Gunma Prefecture is a treasure trove of hot springs, with more than 450 hot springs in the prefecture. The source of "Kawaba Onsen, the source of thatched houses, Yuyu-ryori-an" is Kawaba Onsen, which has a pH of 9.2 alkaline pure hot spring quality, and it is believed to have a beautiful skin effect. Since the water is drained from the source, the temperature of the hot spring is maintained at a certain temperature, so it is recommended to alternate between 38 and 42 degrees Celsius.
Kawaba Onsen is highly rated for its beautiful skin
Outdoor hot spring pool
There are three bathhouses in the building, the "Busonoyu" at the top of the Muzun Shrine, which has been established for more than 200 years, the "Kobo no Yu" for men, and the "Rino Yu" for women. Each bathhouse has its own hot spring and open-air hot spring, and after soaking in the hot spring, you can use the Sekkisei skin care products provided by the baths to take care of your skin and maintain the effect of your skin for a longer time.
Reason for recommendation (3): Exhibit valuable Japanese historical artefacts
"Kawaba Onsen Yuyu-ri-an, the source of thatched huts" not only has a retro atmosphere in the building itself, but also has a large collection of historical props, which will give you the illusion of being in a history museum. Not only is there hundreds of exhibits in the exhibition area in front of the Honjin restaurant, such as the armor of the Japanese Warring States military commanders, ancient dressing props, tobacco bags, Buddhist utensils, etc., but the wardrobes and door frames placed in the corridors and walls are all antiques, and even the beams and pillars in the restaurant are cultural relics from the hometowns of celebrities, not to mention the countless paintings and handmade artworks! If you love to visit museums, you don't need to arrange other sightseeing trips to stay here, just to enjoy these precious items.
With more than 700 artifacts, it looks like a small historical museum
An ancient lady's dressing prop
Recommended reason (4): Unmanned electric vehicles carry you around
At the push of a button, the unmanned vehicle can be automatically connected
"Kawaba Onsen Yuyu-ri-an, the source of thatched huts, occupies a large area, and if you are not familiar with the terrain, it may take some time to find your way from the lobby to the guest room. Therefore, there are several unmanned electric vehicles set up in the museum, as long as you press the button, it will automatically drive you around the hall and guest rooms, which is very convenient and intimate for the elderly, people with reduced mobility, or parents with children who need to carry large bags and small bags. Of course, there is no inconvenience, just want to take an unmanned car while enjoying the scenery, while traveling around the hotel is no problem!
Reason for recommendation (5): Take the dedicated gondola to the observation deck to see the four seasons
Ride the gondola up to the observation deck to see the four seasons
Winter snow makeup
In addition to unmanned electric vehicles, there is also another dedicated vehicle called the Kawaba Onsen Yuyu-ri-an thatched hut. The annex "Yuyama" is built along the mountainside, and in order to save guests from the trouble of climbing stairs, the hotel has built a cable car so that guests can easily go up and down the mountain. You can also take the cable car to the observation deck, which is taller than the Skytree, and you can see the cherry blossoms blooming at your feet in spring, the fresh greenery in summer, the autumn autumn leaves, the thatched huts covered in snow in winter, and even the picturesque nature of Mt. Fuji and Gunma in the four seasons on a good day!
In spring, cherry blossoms blow snow
Fresh green in summer
Recommended reason (6): Daqi Gunma produces Shangzhou cattle and super force dolphins, and local food and wine
Generous breakfast
For dinner, you can eat Kamishu beef sukiyabe
Gunma's agriculture and animal husbandry industries provide the Kanto region with an abundance of fresh ingredients, and the "Kawaba Onsen Yuyu-ri-an, the source of thatched huts, Yuyu-ri-an" is once again making good use of local seasonal specialties. The beautiful Joshu beef sukiyaki, steamed Gunma fresh vegetables, local brand pork "Chaoli Dolphin", local cuisine wide udon noodles, draft beer made with Gunma's pure water, local Koshihikari rice, and apple juice are all part of the authentic taste of local consumption. It is also worth mentioning that the fishing pond in the museum is not only for entertainment, but also for the staff to hand over the fish caught by the residents to the staff and cook them into a delicacy on the dinner table. Fresh and local Japanese cuisine, I recommend you to try it!
The locally produced Koshihikari rice "Yukihotaka" is a popular souvenir
Junmai sake and plum wine from Gunma Prefecture are also popular here
If you still feel like you're not satisfied after eating, you can also go to the "Body Support Honsho (からだ応援団本舗)" store to buy local white rice "Yukitakaka", original brand Japanese sake, cherry blossom-scented horse oil, odd-shaped wood stamps, and traditional brooms made by Yoshimoto Kogyo funny artists. Yuyu Rian is designated as a "Designated Duty-Free Shop for Foreign Missions in Japan", and anyone with a tax-free card issued by an embassy or diplomat can be exempted from consumption tax by submitting a "Foreign Embassy Tax-Free Purchase Form" with the necessary information (※ For details of tax exemption, please refer to the tax-exempt items, scope, and minimum purchase amount listed on the tax-free card). In addition, there is a "Sorae" in the store, where you can engrave your name on your chopsticks and key rings to create a unique "custom product" that can be bought as a souvenir or souvenir.
At the same time, a sister store in Gunma Prefecture "Thatched House Sato Yakushi Onsen Travelago": A hot spring with a view of a waterfall and priceless antique art
The longhouse at the entrance of the hostel
"Kawaba Onsen Yuyu-ri-an, the source of thatched houses, Yuyu-ri-an" is also located in Gunma Prefecture, and it is a secret inn located in the hidden mountains of Azuma Asama in Kamishu. There are 7 thatched houses lined up on the 7,000-square-meter land. Operated under the trademark of "Village of Thatched Houses", it is a hotel that makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Edo period, and you can experience its charm only here. There are more than 4,000 items of old folk furniture and antique artworks such as chests of drawers and barrel drawings on display in the village, all of which are of great value. If you like Japanese history, you will be able to enjoy the traditional Japanese culture, and you will definitely be deeply moved by the nostalgia of Japan. "Thatched House Village Yakushi Onsen Travelo" is also a "Duty-free Designated Shop for Foreign Residences in Japan", so if you like something here, you might as well buy it directly, and you can be tax-free anyway!
A thatched hut of historical value was relocated to the brigade
This is a lobby that recreates the atmosphere of old life in Japan
The thatched hut has a high ceiling, making the whole space more open
The "Corridor of the Times" has a collection of many precious chests of drawers and drawings
The thatched houses in the land of Yakushi Onsen Lodge were relocated from the former residences of celebrities such as Hamada-tei, a national treasure potter, Hamada-iji, Konno-ya in Dewa Province (present-day Yamagata Prefecture), and Kimura House in Iito-cho, Yamagata Prefecture. The guest rooms are built next to Yakushi Waterfall and Oncheon, and there are rooms with a view of the river, and the river and abundant nature are combined to relax and unconsciously relax.
There are rooms with a view of the river
The floor-to-ceiling windows in the special rooms have excellent views
The hot springs here are also very special! The neutral hot springs with a slight sulfur smell of about 40.8 degrees Celsius are the natural hot springs "Yakushi Onsen" that erupted naturally in the area more than 200 years ago. No matter how tired you are, you can be cured as long as you lie down in the bath of "Bed". We also recommend a private bath house for the whole family (additional fee required) and the open-air bath "Takimino Yu" built next to Yakushi Falls, where you can enjoy the sound of the river and the scenery of the four seasons, especially the autumn foliage season and the snowy scenery in winter.
Open-air bath "Takimi no Yu"
You can relax in the bath by lying down in the bath
"Kawaba Onsen: Yuyu-ri-an, the source of thatched huts, is not only a hot spring with a beautiful view, but also a ski resort, a popular roadside stop in the Kanto region, a Japanese sake brewery where you can visit, and an orchard where you can pick fruits. Events such as mochi-pounding are held regularly, and bicycle rentals are available, so you can enjoy all the beautiful scenery of spring, summer, autumn and winter by visiting once in the season, so you can enjoy all the beautiful scenery of spring, summer, autumn and winter by visiting once in each season.
Tokyo suburban hot spring inn recommendation: Gunma Yuyusato An's 30 tsubo room is super spacious, soak in a private open-air bath to enjoy cherry blossoms and foliage | Tesco! Japan