[Shiman onsen x Rooms with open-air baths] Let's enjoy the "flowing hot spring" in the room ♡ 11 ryokan suitable for couples

Shima onsen, located in Nakanojo Town in the northwest of Gunma, is a onsen area with a long history, named after the "sacred spring that cures all diseases of Shima." There are plenty of things to enjoy here, such as canoeing on the vivid blue lake Okushima, also known as Shima Blue, or strolling through the nostalgic onsen town of Ochiai-dori. It can be reached in about two and a half hours from Tokyo via the Kan'etsu Expressway, making it the perfect place for a weekend drive date.

If you're traveling as a couple, why not stay in a room with an open-air bath or a semi-open-air bath? You can bathe together with your partner, and it feels special and exciting, right? However, it's not rare for the (semi-)open-air baths in guest rooms to use water other than onsen... If you've come all the way to a famous onsen resort, you'll want to enjoy the benefits of the famous hot spring water to the fullest even in the bath in your room.

So this time, we will introduce you to the inns with rooms with open-air baths in Shima onsen. Of course, we have collected only rooms with open-air baths where you can enjoy the natural hot spring water. Shima onsen is said to cure many diseases, and its waters are soft and rich in minerals. If you stay in a room with an open-air bath, you can enjoy the famous hot springs any time. Be sure to find your favorite inn.

Shima Onsen Sekizen Honkan in Japan, there are three buildings with different styles: Sanso, which is registered as a national cultural property and Gunma modern heritage site for its beautiful kumiko shoji screens, and Kashotei, which is surrounded by pine and bamboo forests. The main building, which was one of the models for Spirited Away, is lit up at night ♡ The two Ghibli fans may not be able to stop taking photos!

The Sanso and Kashotei have "five-star rooms" with open-air baths or semi-open-air baths. Kashotei's five-star room, "Mori Wafu Nami," has large windows facing the forest, giving it a sense of openness. Detoxify your body and mind in the open-air bath, where you can enjoy the sound of the river and the chirps of the birds while enjoying a forest bath. Lie down on the fluffy Simmons bed and enjoy your time together listening to your favorite songs on a Bluetooth-enabled wireless speaker that also doubles as a light.

Since ryokan opened as a hot spring inn, you can still enjoy the feeling of hot spring healing in the five large public baths. meal is also a healthy "Sekizen bento" based on the concept of "food cure", and it seems that you can be beautiful from the inside of your body. Couples who are worried that they may not be satisfied can rest assured that they can upgrade to a "multi-course meal" or order additional bespoke dishes. If you add a sirloin steak from Gunma's specialty "Joshu beef", even meat lovers will be smiling at the gravy that fills their mouths!

Located about 40 minutes by car from JR Nakanojo Station, Onsen Camp ShimaBlue is a glamping facility where you can enjoy a luxurious camping experience with all the necessary equipment. This is the only glamping facility in Japan where each guest room has an onsen bath! With seven separate guest rooms lined up along Fusenkyo Gorge, this is a facility where you can enjoy both the camping experience surrounded by nature and private time with your partner.

The interiors of the seven guest rooms are all different, with different themes. "Honey Natural" has a relaxing Scandinavian-style interior. In the cute gourd-shaped open-air bath, you can enjoy the natural hot spring waters of Shima onsen. There are no TVs or clocks in the guest rooms, so you can doze off in the hammock or read a book in the rocking chair in the bedroom. During this luxurious relaxation time, you'll be sure to fall in love with his relaxed expression, which you don't usually see.

For dinner, enjoy a private barbecue for two on the terrace of your room. In addition to the basic ingredients, which are made with plenty of local ingredients, you can also order meats such as Joshu beef ribs and Gunma wheat pork. Pair it with original craft beer or local wine, and you'll be on the edge of your seat with this next-level barbecue! Don't forget to finish off with the deliciously sweet marshmallows. For breakfast, enjoy a stylish morning plate in the cafe building, which also serves as the front lobby.

Shima onsen Shima Yamaguchikan, located about an hour's drive from Tsukiyono IC, is a onsen inn where you can enjoy the hot spring water that springs from directly beneath the building in seven large baths and an open-air observation bath. The open-air rock bath overlooking the Shima River is fantastical at night, when the river and the greenery on the opposite bank are lit up. It is especially breathtakingly beautiful during the autumn foliage season. If you stay in the summer, try participating in the famous "Lantern Walk." Walking through onsen town in a yukata with your boyfriend and holding a picture lantern, guided by the proprietress, you'll be immersed in a romantic mood.

The guest room with an open-air bath is a special room on the top floor, the 7th floor. It is a Japanese-Western style room with a Japanese-style room overlooking the natural beauty of Shima from a large window, and a twin bedroom that is comfortable to sleep in. The water in the open-air bath is, of course, a natural hot onsen. It flows at the right temperature, so you can bathe in water that is as close to the source as possible without having to add or boil water. Check-out from the special room is at a leisurely 11:00 AM. You and your partner can enjoy a late-night sleep in or a morning bath in the open-air bath.

For dinner, a variety of kaiseki course meals are available, featuring Gunma's brand-name beef "Jyoshu Beef" as the main course, fresh fish, Gunma vegetables, and crab sukiyaki. The most popular course is a kaiseki course that includes Jyoshu beef and "Jyoshu Mochi Pork. Only guests staying in the special rooms can use the semi-private meal "Tani no Chaya" where you can also enjoy traditional "Kamado" cuisine. The atmospheric and relaxing atmosphere of meal will naturally bring a big smile to your face if you and your partner enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth meat together!

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Located about a 40-minute bus ride from JR Nakanojo Station, Shima onsen Izumiya is a hidden inn with only five rooms for junior high school students and above. The inn is located along the Shima River, and in the cafe-like lounge you can relax with a view of the deep mountains and the sound of the babbling river as background music. To emphasize privacy, there is no large public bath, only a private bath, and meal are served in in-room dining. It's perfect for couples who want to fully immerse themselves in a world just for the two of them.

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Of the five spacious rooms, three have a private half-open-air bath. The half-open-air bath in the two-person room "Suiten" is a cute size that is perfect for two people. The open-air bath, snuggled up together while feeling a little embarrassed, is sure to become a wonderful memory. This Japanese-Western room has a bedroom in a relaxing Japanese-style room, and a table set is placed on the terrace leading from the half-open-air bath. Cool off on the terrace with your partner while looking out at the great outdoors of Shima.

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The dishes are made with an abundance of mountain produce. In particular, the wild vegetables, mushrooms, and chestnuts that the owner himself collected in the mountains are delicacies that can only be tasted here. The konnyaku, a Gunma specialty, is actually homemade. The chewy, jiggly texture of the konnyaku sashimi is sure to impress you and your partner! Enjoy the food in the comfort of your room while sipping on a glass of Shima onsen original rose wine. In the morning, the "onsen porridge" cooked with onsen water will gently warm your body.

Shima Onsen Onsen Zanmai no Yado Shima Tamura is about a 25-minute drive from JR Nakanojo Station. Opened as a onsen springs onsen during the Muromachi period, it is a historic inn that has been loved by many literary figures. You can enjoy the natural onsen that bubble up from the seven private hot springs on the premises in the eight large baths and open-air baths. The thatched-roof entrance was built in 1834. Stepping into the entrance, which has welcomed guests such as Kotaro Takamura and Akiko Yosano, will make you feel excited ♡ Your literature-loving boyfriend is sure to be thrilled.

Of the three buildings, the luxurious "Premium Mokuyokan," the purely Japanese-style "Suiyokan," and the historical and traditional "Kinyokan," we recommend the special room with a cypress bath in "Premium Mokuyokan." Cypress is used not only in the bathtub but also in the walls, and you will be enveloped in a pleasant fragrance. In the early morning, you may be able to see the Shima mountain range and clear streams outside the window enveloped in a fantastic morning mist! Get up early with excitement to see an unforgettable view with your partner.

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A morning treat is the famous "Gensen Morning Porridge Set." You can enjoy porridge carefully cooked in the waters of Shima Onsen, known as one of Japan's three most famous onsen for gastrointestinal diseases, and whose spring waters are drinkable. The gently salty porridge will soothe your stomach and intestines after enjoying a hearty kaiseki meal and alcohol the day before. It's also fun to customize the porridge to your liking with the monthly side dishes that accompany it! Why not share the porridge you and your partner have made together?

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Shima onsen Yumoto Shimakan is a long-established inn located along the Shima River, about an hour's drive from Shibukawa Ikaho IC. You can enjoy seven elaborate private baths, all for free, including the mixed-gender open-air bath beloved by literary giants Ibuse Masuji and Dazai Osamu. Couples who want to relax can relax in the foot bath facing the Shima River or unwind in the cafe gallery overlooking the garden. For active couples, we recommend a table tennis match in the private onsen pool or at the rest area, or cycling on a rental bicycle!

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The rooms with open-air baths are the "Oak Room" in the "Annex Koten" and the "Guest Room with Semi-Open-Air Bath with 100% Natural Spring Water" in the main building, "Yumoto Shimakan". All of the baths have different themes. The photo shows the bath in "Annex Koten". It is located along the river, so you can bathe with the sound of the babbling river in the background. Taking a bath in the morning is a refreshing way to start your day! There is also a room with a dragon-shaped rock bath carved out of a rock weighing over 2 tons. The impressive dragon is perfect for photos, so be sure to take one. After the bath, relax in the massage chair in your room. In the winter, sunken kotatsu tables are also provided, so you and your partner can stay warm and cozy!

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At the meal overlooking the Shima River directly below, you can enjoy kaiseki cuisine made with local ingredients such as wild vegetables and river fish, as well as Gunma's pride and joy, Joshu beef. You can only taste sashimi and nigiri sushi made with Ginhikari, the finest rainbow trout born and bred in Gunma, known as the "phantom fish." It also pairs perfectly with the limited-edition original local sake brewed with water from the hotel's own hot spring. Enjoying local sake and local fish together will leave you feeling tipsy and you'll be able to have deep conversations that you wouldn't normally have the chance to have.

Shima Onsen Seiryukan Toshimaya is a homely inn with only 15 rooms, located about an hour's drive from Shibukawa Ikaho IC. You can enjoy the hot onsen from three private onsen in a total of 15 baths, including a large public bath, an open-air bath, and a family bath. The view of the Shima River from the open-air bath, guest rooms, and observation terrace is impressive. Sit on a chair on the terrace and listen to the sounds of nature with him.

Of the unique guest rooms, eight have hot onsen. There is also a "Mini Open-Air Room" with a single-person bathtub and no washing area, but if you're staying with your partner, we recommend a room with a bath for two. "Sankirai" is a popular room for couples, with a wooden masu-shaped open-air bath in a teahouse-style room. If you open the window and immerse yourself in the open-air bath up to your shoulders, gazing out at the view that looks like a painting, it's truly moving. Why not spend some time with him and quietly experience the world of "wabi-sabi"?

For dinner, you can enjoy "Satoyama Kaiseki," an original dish that incorporates fisherman's and country cooking. In addition to seasonal mountain delicacies and river fish, you can also enjoy wild game such as wild boar and deer. They are particular about safety and security, and apparently they make their own miso and pickles. The menu changes every month. It's also nice that each dish is served at the right time, with hot dishes served while hot and cold dishes served while cold. The portions are also generous, and you'll be sure to have a smile of satisfaction from your partner.

Located about an hour's drive from Shibukawa Ikaho IC, Shima onsen Shima Grand Hotel is the largest onsen resort in Shima onsen, built on a 330,000m2 garden. The hotel is a collaboration with Hello Kitty, and features a panoramic women's bath called "Märchen no Yu" dotted with Kitty motifs, as well as the Japanese modern cafe "Cafe Furoresta Hello Kitty", which is popular among women. After taking a break with an art cappuccino featuring Kitty, take a commemorative photo with Kitty in her hakama. Make sure to get your embarrassed boyfriend to join in!

Of the four buildings, "Seiyamakan," "Seiryukan," "Seishokan," and "Seishinkan," only "Seiyamakan" has rooms with open-air baths from the hot spring source. It is a Japanese-Western style room with a spacious and relaxing Japanese-style room and a bedroom. You can see the Shima mountains from the large, round open-air bath. Seiyamakan is a little away from the entrance, so it is very quiet. It is perfect for enjoying some time together with your partner. For couples who want to enjoy the view of the Shima River, there are also rooms with half open-air baths in "Seiryukan" on the river side, so choose whichever you prefer.

The inn's specialty is its luxurious buffet with about 60 kinds of dishes lined up. Many dishes use the waters of Shima onsen, which have a gentle saltiness that is good for the stomach, such as "various steamed dishes from the source spring" and "dishes with broths made from the source spring". You can eat as much as you like, including tempura fried right in front of you, desserts such as a chocolate fountain, and homemade roast beef. The "Kattedon" is also fun, where you can make your own seafood bowl by topping it with your favorite seafood, and it's sure to have a great time with your boyfriend!

"Ichikakan" is a homely, family-run inn located about an hour's drive from "Shibukawa Ikaho IC." Other than the seven rooms, there is only a large communal bath, a semi-open-air bath, and a meal area, so it's perfect for couples who want to "spend some time together relaxing" and "enjoy the silence." Every corner of the inn is well-maintained and very clean. You'll feel like you've come home to your parents' house, and you'll be able to relax and unwind from the fatigue of everyday life.

Five of the seven rooms have natural onsen, but our top recommendation is the only one, the "Special Room with Open-air View, Tsubaki." The first floor is a Japanese-style room, and the second floor is a maisonette with an open-air view bath. The open-air view bath, made with lavish cypress wood, is so spacious that it would be a shame to have it all to yourself. At night, if the weather is good, you can soak in the open-air bath together while surrounded by a sky full of stars that seem to be falling from the sky. It's also recommended during the autumn foliage season.

The restaurant serves kaiseki cuisine featuring a wide range of local Gunma flavors based on the concept of "local production for local consumption." A must-try pairing with the meal is Nakanojo Komachi, a local sake from Nakanojo Town. If you surprise him by adding a smooth, sharp local sake, you might see the look of surprise on his face! You can also opt for in-room dining for an additional fee, so if you're a couple who wants to enjoy some time together in the morning, we recommend opting for in-room dining.

Shima Onsen Tokiwasure no Yado Yoshimoto Yoshimoto is a quiet inn located away from onsen town. When you enter the lobby, you will be greeted by a Japanese-modern hearth. Every day from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m., they hold a "Happy Hour" where you can enjoy craft beer, wine, and other drinks at half price. It would be nice to check in early, take a bath, and then enjoy a craft beer with your partner.

Of the eight rooms, four have private baths. Each bath is equipped with a different design, such as ceramic or Shigaraki ware. We recommend the "Kiri" room with an open-air cypress bath. This room boasts a spacious wooden terrace and an open-air cypress bath facing Fusenkyo Gorge. After the bath, sit side by side on the chairs on the wooden terrace and cool down your hot bodies while admiring the picturesque scenery together. It would be nice to take a morning bath with your partner while feeling the refreshing morning air.

For dinner, you can enjoy a kaiseki meal with the owner of Ginza Ichigo, a restaurant that continues to receive Michelin stars, as the culinary advisor. The restaurant offers Gunma delicacies such as Joshu beef, wheat pork, and Akagi chicken, as well as over 130 types of shochu. You can sample the alcohol in the lounge, so it's a good idea to find what you're looking for in advance. If you're a couple who like alcohol, there is also a "small meal plan" that you can choose depending on the situation. You can also enjoy a small amount of food and focus on the alcohol.

Shima onsen Kashiwaya Ryokan is about an hour's drive from Shibukawa Ikaho IC. With a retro Showa-era interior, there are plenty of photogenic spots, such as the black telephone in the room and the grandfather clock in the lobby. If you'd like to take a commemorative photo of the two of you, feel free to ask the staff. The legendary Nakayoshi Bench on the terrace is said to deepen your relationship if you sit on it, making it the perfect photo spot for the two of you.

There are eight types of rooms to choose from, all based on a Japanese modern concept. There are also two rooms with an open-air bath. All rooms face the Shima River and offer a great view. There is a late check-out at 12:00 the next morning, so you don't have to worry if you oversleep!

Dinner is based on the theme of "food that makes your body happy," and you can enjoy a healthy Japanese banquet meal made with plenty of local Gunma ingredients. "S'mores," which are toasted marshmallows, are a specialty that can only be ordered during the Christmas season. You can bring it back to your room and enjoy it with your partner. For breakfast, you can choose from Japanese, Western, or brunch. If you're the kind of couple who wants to sleep in, why not enjoy a relaxing baguette sandwich brunch at the cafe in the building?

Shima onsen is a famous hot spring known as the "sacred spring that cures 40,000 diseases." If your room has an open-air bath with natural spring water, you can enjoy it with your partner from check-in to check-out. You can enjoy the fresh, beneficial waters of Shima onsen as many times as you like. Surrounded by nature, Shima onsen also offers a great view from the bath. Why not visit with your partner to refresh yourself?