Best 8 Kanto Onsen Hotels from the Experts at “Japan Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns”

I want to go to a quiet onsen inn, I just want to take my time and enjoy onsen... If you think so, why not go to the inn of the "Secret Hot Springs of Japan" that is known to those in the know? It is a quiet and historic onsen inn in a secluded place. It may not be gorgeous, but its unique atmosphere is somewhat nostalgic and gently soothes the tired mind and body.

The ``Japan Secret Hot Springs Protection Association'' is a membership organization for onsen inns that was founded in 1975. It was established at a time when the travel industry was undergoing major changes due to high economic growth, with the main purpose of ``maintaining the quality of Japanese onsen and striving to preserve the natural environment.'' The first 33 members were ryokan deep in the mountains that had been left behind by the times.

As of 2023, more than 140 inns are members. Even though the organization has grown larger, its philosophy has remained the same, and the ``Japan Secret Hot Springs Preservation Association'' protects precious onsen and the environment, and conveys to travelers the ``goodness of Japanese onsen'' and the ``emotion of travel.'' .

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You should be able to relax from the bottom of your heart and have a peaceful time at the inn of such a “Japan Hidden Hot Springs Association”! In this article, we will introduce 8 recommended inns in the Kanto region for your “first trip to a secluded hot spring”. We paid attention to the relatively easy access and the atmosphere where women can spend their time with peace of mind. I want to go to a secret hot spring! If you are interested, please check it out.

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Hoshi Chojukan is a lodging inn nestled in the mountains of onsen Pass on the border between Gunma and Niigata. This is a historic inn that has been around since the Meiji era, and some of the buildings are registered as national tangible cultural properties. The old-fashioned buildings that blend into the scenery will give you a nostalgic feeling. You can relax slowly while feeling the elegance created by the passage of time.

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The sunken hearth, which is right outside the entrance, is a place for guests to interact with each other. The sound of crackling firewood is soothing, and just being in this space will soothe your soul. When you drink tea made from an iron kettle, you may even start a conversation with another traveler. Because of the common experience of "choosing this inn and coming to stay", the conversation may naturally flow.

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The inn has three baths. One is Hoshi no Yu, which is derived from an anecdote that Kobo Daishi discovered it. The Rokumeikan-style bathhouse with stylish arched windows has been in use for over a century. A space where you can enjoy a time slip while enjoying onsen. onsen bubbling up from your feet gradually warm your body.

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The second, Tamaki no Yu, is a bathhouse made entirely of Japanese cypress with a sense of openness. There is an indoor bath and an open-air bath. The open-air bath is surrounded by trees, so you can enjoy forest bathing. Relax at night while gazing at the starry sky. The clear air outside feels good and refreshes you from the bottom of your heart.

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The third, Choju-no-Yu, is a secluded bathhouse that stands quietly along the river. The hot springs constantly gushing out from the bottom of the bathtub have received perfect scores from the "Japan Natural onsen Examination Organization" in various evaluation items (source, spring quality, hot water supply, hot water supply and discharge method, water addition, new hot water injection rate). Super hot water. Let's be healed by onsen that will make you like onsen.

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The guest rooms in the main building are designated as nationally registered tangible cultural properties. The guest rooms, where many writers and artists have stayed, are full of charm and still retain the atmosphere of the Meiji era. The nostalgic atmosphere that makes you want to read masterpieces of literature will enrich your heart.

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`` Misatokan'' is a quiet ryokan located on the banks of the Tange River, a clear stream flowing through Gunma. The lobby and guest rooms, where you can feel the warmth of wood, are clean and comfortable, making it a comfortable inn where even solo women can feel at ease.

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Hot water is a calcium sulfate onsen. There are four baths for men and women, and you can enjoy onsen in different atmospheres. Seoto no Yu is a wooden bathhouse with beautiful stained glass arch windows. You can enjoy an extraordinary atmosphere in an atmosphere reminiscent of the Taisho and Meiji eras.

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“Takimi no Yu”, with its large open windows, is, as the name suggests, a scenic bath where you can see the waterfall right in front of you. The clean water seems to wash away even the tiredness of the mind.

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A clear blue waterfall basin that can be seen from the bathtub. The background music is the sound of a stream, the rustling of leaves, and the chirping of birds. At night, it is lit up until 22:00, and its beauty makes you want to stare at it forever.

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Atmosphere that guest room is modern, and can relax in peace. If you listen carefully, you can hear the murmuring of the river. Even just drinking tea by the window seems to gradually fill your heart.

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Mizubasho no Yu Umedaya ryokan, located in the mountains where you can fully enjoy nature, is a small inn with 12 rooms. Another good thing is that you can check in from 2pm. Get to your accommodation early and enjoy onsen to your heart's content.

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As you pass through the entrance, a warm lobby welcomes you. There is also a large hall and a common room in the building, and the calm atmosphere will warm your heart. The room is also a space that feels nostalgic, made in a folk art style.

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The hot water here is a simple alkaline onsen that is colorless and transparent. There are 3 indoor baths and 2 outdoor baths in the hotel. “Himebasho no Yu” is a large public bath with distinctive wooden pillars and beams. You can fully enjoy the source.

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This is another large public bath called Mizubasho-no-yu. The alkaline onsen are said to have a beautifying effect on the skin, making them a great bath for women as well. Enjoy onsen to your heart's content♪

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There is also an open-air bath where you can soak while feeling the comfortable nature. There is a women's open-air bath "Marihime-no-Yu" and a men's open-air bath "Saburo-no-Yu". In addition, the indoor bath "Hanaemi no Yu" is open 24 hours a day and can be reserved for private use whenever it is not available. Please enjoy onsen without hesitation.

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Relax and enjoy the view of the courtyard from the window of your room. Enjoying the secret hot springs in the hotel, which has a different atmosphere, and spending time in your room is a unique way to spend your time at ryokan.

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Yunosawa Kosen, located in Ibaraki, is a one-story inn located on a vast site of 6,000 tsubos. There are only 7 guest rooms, so you can spend a relaxing time without worrying about other guests. The mineral springs with a history of 180 years and the pleasant atmosphere of the mountain village will relieve your physical and mental fatigue.

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While valuing the old-fashioned atmosphere, the rooms incorporate modern and stylish designs here and there. It's clean and has a relaxing atmosphere for women. Outside the window, the scenery of the four seasons spreads out and soothes your soul. In winter, let's take a kotatsu and spend a relaxing time after onsen.

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The inn boasts two hot onsen, a rock bath and a cypress bath, and the men and women alternate every hour. onsen is a bicarbonate soda spring, which is said to be “a hot spring that does not require a doctor”. It has a smooth texture, and it seems that it is fun to touch your skin after bathing. There are only a few guest rooms, so you can enjoy the hot water at your leisure.

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The cypress bath is different from the rock bath, and the scent of the wood will soothe you. It feels great to be able to take two different baths while staying at one ryokan. Outside the window, you can enjoy a relaxing detox time with the scenery of the satoyama.

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Dinner is a kaiseki meal centered on Okukuji's mountain produce. You can fully enjoy the flavors of Ibaraki, such as tempura made with locally grown wild plants and vegetables, the famous konnyaku, and Hitachi soba. We also have healthy Yuba Gozen. The nutritious dishes made with local ingredients are a feast that can only be enjoyed by visiting a secret hot spring inn.

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"Shibahara onsen Kaya no Ie" ryokan in Oku-Chichibu with a history of 400 years. Many of the building materials used are Kaya trees, and their elegant scent and warmth will soothe you. This is a small inn with only 10 rooms, so you can spend a relaxing time here.

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Kaya wood is also used in the open-air bath. The hot water is a simple sulfur cold spring containing weakly alkaline hydrogen sulfide. Shibahara onsen is a famous hot spring with a long history. The scent of onsen springs, like boiled eggs, will enhance the mood of your trip.

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There are Japanese-style rooms and Japanese-Western style rooms, both of which are spacious. The scenery of Okuchichibu spreads outside the window, and you can feel the nature up close. The peaceful environment will make you forget the hustle and bustle of the city.

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One of the nice things about Japanese-Western rooms is that you can in-room dining. Private Japanese-style rooms are also available, so you can enjoy your meal in a private space. The mountain village cuisine of Oku-Chichibu is filled with delicacies from the mountains and rivers, and is full of flavor. Why not pair your food with alcohol and have a toast?

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"Haccho no Yu" is located in Nikko National Park, a private car restricted area, in a special location that cannot be accessed directly by private car. Head to the Meotobuchi free parking lot to get to the inn, then transfer to the free shuttle bus and arrive in about 30 minutes. It is an inn that is truly a secret hot spring and an unexplored region, deep in the mountains from onsen.

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Until 1988, when there was no electricity, it was called "Lamp Inn", so lamps are still lit here and there. The light that shines in the silence surrounded by nature is very fantastic. You can feel nostalgic in a special space that you cannot experience in everyday life.

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``Shakunage no Yu'' is a mixed onsen, but you can enjoy the dynamic scenery of a waterfall flowing right next to the bath. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind open-air bath that can only be enjoyed here on a hill with a great view.
*Currently under renovation as of October 2023.

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This is "Takimi no Yu" where a waterfall flows down in front of you. The sound of falling water becomes background music, and it is onsen you can relax. There is also “Yukimi no Yu”, but both are mixed bathing onsen. Even if you are a little hesitant about mixed bathing, don't worry. There is also an open-air waterfall bath and an indoor bath exclusively for women, so there is no problem. There is also an indoor bath for men.

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After bathing, why not relax in the lounge? In winter, the brazier and stove warm the room comfortably, allowing you to gather around without having to worry about the water getting cold. Please spend a relaxing time in a nostalgic atmosphere ♪

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There are a variety of guest room types, including a calm Japanese-style room in the main building, a playful Japanese-style room in a log house, and a new room with an open-air bath that opened in 2023. If you want a unique stay, we recommend a Japanese-style room in a log house. Even though it is a full-fledged log house, the floor is tatami, and the structure is designed with the comfort of the guests' feet in mind. There are different room types to choose from depending on who you're staying with and your travel style, so choose the one that suits you best.

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“Omaru onsen ryokan” is a long-established inn that has been in business for over 200 years. The lobby is decorated with kimonos and diaries from when General Nogi visited the hot springs every year during the Meiji era, and the historical items are a must-see. The inn is located deep in the mountains at an altitude of 1,300m, where you can fully enjoy the quaint nature and onsen.

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Onotenburo's "Kawa-no-Yu" is a private hot spring that overflows from the back mountain. As the name suggests, there are 5 open-air baths that look like rivers. However, there are 3 indoor baths, so don't worry. Some outdoor baths are mixed bathing, but there is a rule that both men and women must wear towels and bathing nets when entering, so you can enter without worrying too much.

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The hot spring quality is also appealing to women, as it contains metasilicic acid, which is said to be a hot spring for beautiful skin. You can fully enjoy the hot water flowing straight from the source.

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You can drink the hot spring water at the drinking fountain in the hotel. Its ingredients are said to be effective against gastrointestinal ailments. It's a great feeling to be able to drink the hot spring while warming your body in the bath.

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`` Yama no Yado Shimofujiya'' is a onsen ryokan located quietly on top of a mountain in the Shiobara onsen, and has a reputation for being ranked first in Tochigi in the Heisei onsen ryokan ranking. You can thoroughly heal your daily fatigue in a calm atmosphere.

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The rooms are elegant and modern. It's clean and popular with women. For those who feel that "I want to go to a secluded hot spring inn, but the hurdle is a little high...", the atmosphere where you can stay with peace of mind is recommended for your secluded hot spring debut.

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The inn's proud sulfur spring is a large cypress bath with 100% free-flowing water. The soft, milky white water gently envelops your body. You can spend a truly relaxing time while gazing at the lively fresh greenery in early summer and the vivid autumn foliage in autumn.

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Because it is an inn surrounded by nature, you can enjoy not only local vegetables and meat, but also ingredients unique to the mountains, such as wild vegetables and river fish. You will want to come every season as you can enjoy carefully selected seasonal flavors that are rich in color.

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At Mujina no Yu, the milky white water is so thick that you can't even see the bottom, and you can enjoy onsen flowing directly from the sacred rocks in the back. Many of the customers are locals, so you can enjoy the local hot onsen tour while enjoying the conversation.

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"Tera-no-Yu" is a fresh onsen spring near Mt. Since it is a mixed bath, women try it while watching the situation. If you enter the time when no one is there, you can relax and enjoy the secluded hot spring all to yourself.

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"Mujina-no-Yu" and "Tera-no-Yu" are sulfuric onsen onsen containing aluminum, which is a rich hot spring, while "Naka-no-Yu" is a simple acidic sulfur onsen with a slightly softer onsen. If you don't like hot water, why not try this place first?

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We introduced inns in the Kanto region that are registered with the Association for the Protection of Secluded Hot Springs in Japan. There are secluded hot springs all over Japan, so if you are interested, please check it out along with the article. There are some inconveniences in getting there, but once you get there, you'll be relieved of your fatigue and stress, and you'll be healed both physically and mentally. Time to simply soak in onsen and enjoy the tranquility is waiting for you.