Shibahara onsen - Kayanoya — Hotel in Chichibu

It opened in 1954 under the name "Shirayurisou". After renovation in 1994, it was renamed "Kayanoie". It is also a member of the "Society for Preserving Japan's Secluded Hot Springs", which is supported by hot spring enthusiasts.

Open the door and you'll be greeted by the elegant scent of wood. The thick pillars supporting the entrance, the thick tread stairs, the wainscoting on the walls, and other pieces of wood used throughout the inn are in fact "zen" (a type of Japanese lantern). It is said to last for a thousand years and is well known as an auspicious tree. The name of this hot spring inn, which uses such lanterns abundantly, is "Kayanoie". It is one of the Seven Hot Springs of Chichibu and is a secret hot spring quietly located in Shibahara Onsen in Oku-Chichibu, which is said to have a history of about 400 years.

The hot springs inside the inn also use kaya wood lavishly for the bathtubs and pipes. As a slow-growing tree, it has a tight grain and is so hard that it is used for things like go boards, and its surface is smooth.

Even when they changed it to "Chikazo no Ma"

In some cases, wood from around the country was not available, so bathtubs were made from Japanese cypress, but this did not compare to the durability or quality of Japanese cypress.

The open-air bath allows you to feel the natural beauty of Yuri throughout the seasons, and its tranquility is enchanting. Meanwhile, the indoor bath, enveloped in the scent of tana, also offers a sense of comfort not found in the hot springs of Noh. The two baths in the indoor bath 5 and the open-air bath are each set at a comfortable temperature, and the thoughtfulness of changing the temperature by 1 degree each is a nice touch.

There are a total of 10 guest rooms. This is a charming inn where you can enjoy the beauty of Chichi no Yama...

日本秘湯を守る会のお宿巡りをしている小生、こちらのお宿へは疲れがたまったとき(厳密にはたまりそうな時期に予約して)訪問しています。||　秘湯のお宿としては東京からのアクセスもよく、電車でも来やすいため、「何もしないをしにくるお宿」として、貴重な隠れ家になっています。||　お宿の名前にあるように榧の木の香りのするお風呂がもたらす癒しに、いつも疲れが溶け出していくのを感じます。また、木造の床などいつもピカピカで、裸足で歩きたくなります。||　スタッフさんも長く勤められている方が多く、対応も安心して任せられますし、いい意味で放っておいていただけるため、気軽に過ごせます。部屋数も多くないため、お風呂で密になるようなこともなく、食事も部屋食ですので、その点でも安心して過ごせます。||　料理は派手さはないものの、山の幸をを中心としたヘルシーなもので、若い方だと少し物足りないかもしれませんが、品数も多く満足感はあります。特筆すべきは〆を手打ちそばに変更できること。わずかに追加料金となりますが、毎回お願いしています。さらにお夜食用に一口サイズのおにぎりをいただけるのも嬉しいポイントです。||　今回はチェックアウト時に車の窓が凍っていましたが、女将さんみずからぬるま湯をを掛けて溶かしていただきました。こうしたひとつひとつがいかにも秘湯のお宿らしくてお気に入りです。||　しいていえば、秘湯のお宿としては、浴室にもうすこしバリエーションがほしいかなと・・・トータルではコスパ含め大満足です。あと一点、子供連れはNG...

Hot spring inn. Hot springs, Japanese food, futons on the tatami mats, and waking up to the chirping of birds in the morning. A good ryokan that I don't want to introduce to...