Hoshi Onsen Chōjukan — Hotel in Honshu

It is a wonderful Japanese ryokan with one of the old original hot springs in Japan. In fact this place is geographically not so far from Tokyo but it is not easy to get to. As you know Japan is heavily industrialized and one of the most densely populated countries in the world. But as 70% of the land is covered in deep forest, you will have to be prepared to have a bit of adventure. We took a Shinkansen line (12:40) from Tokyo Central to Jomo Kogen Station and then took a local Kanetsu bus (14:52) No. 3 to Sarugakyo, from where we took another small local bus (15:35) to Hoshi Onsen. There is only one ryokan in this deep mountain area in Gunma Pref. As soon as we arrived we noticed that there was a warning that some bears had been sighted recently. We were greeted by friendly ryokan people and first invited to tea at an old fashion Japanese fireplace, called irori. After that we were taken to our room through corridors and stairs. The entire building is well kept although most of the sections were built at the beginning of 20th century. The breakfast and dinner were so fantastic and generous that we skipped our lunches. (it is recommended that you reserve your room with full pension because there are no other places in this part of the mountain). The bath halls are very nostalgic and beautiful. The main bath hall is old and its wooden building was built directly on the hot spring itself. There are two other bath halls built later, which are also nice and relaxing. I would not say it is the most comfortable hotel, however, modernization is slowly reaching this mountain place as well and you should visit this place now than later if you want to experience a real Japanese...

It is a wonderful Japanese ryokan with one of the old original hot springs in Japan. In fact this place is geographically not so far from Tokyo but it is not easy to get to. As you know Japan is heavily industrialized and one of the most densely populated countries in the world. But as 70% of the land is covered in deep forest, you will have to be prepared to have a bit of adventure. We took a Shinkansen line (12:40) from Tokyo Central to Jomo Kogen Station and then took a local Kanetsu bus (14:52) No. 3 to Sarugakyo, from where we took another small local bus (15:35) to Hoshi Onsen. There is only one ryokan in this deep mountain area in Gunma Pref. As soon as we arrived we noticed that there was a warning that some bears had been sighted recently. We were greeted by friendly ryokan people and first invited to tea at an old fashion Japanese fireplace, called irori. After that we were taken to our room through corridors and stairs. The entire building is well kept although most of the sections were built at the beginning of 20th century. The breakfast and dinner were so fantastic and generous that we skipped our lunches. (it is recommended that you reserve your room with full pension because there are no other places in this part of the mountain). The bath halls are very nostalgic and beautiful. The main bath hall is old and its wooden building was built directly on the hot spring itself. There are two other bath halls built later, which are also nice and relaxing. I would not say it is the most comfortable hotel, however, modernization is slowly reaching this mountain place as well and you should visit this place now than later if you want to experience a real Japanese...

Out in the middle of the Gunma nowhere, at the end of a road that with snow can be treacherous, this rustic wooden spa is not for older folks who can't sleep and sit on the floor or who have dietary restrictions. ||||The rooms are unpretentious but overlook the simple gardens and forested hills and other wooden buildings dating from what looks like the Taisho era,. There are several baths but all are in varying states of wood and if you are squeamish about cleanliness you may find the discoloring both attractive yet disturbing. The baths and wooden buildings are evidently continually maintained, so the architecture looks original.||||You get endless servings of tiny twiddlybits of unidentifiable Japanese dishes on cute little dish ware, for both dinner and breakfast. Breakfast was plentiful in variety but not for western guests who need coffee, toast and eggs to start the day. ||||Service is traditional Japanese inn style, conventionally gracious but confining, and if you intend to take a nap, it gets problematic as futons have to be laid down, dressed and after napping returned to storage. Flexibility is not a characteristic at such places. ||||Mixed gender bathing hours are in effect at all the baths and done with effortless discretion so it's not uncomfortable if your are reasonably versatile with your washcloth. ||||There is nothing new here, which is the appeal if you are pleased by ample rusticity. ||Try to go off season when there are no crowds; we were there after New Years and it was quiet and serene. Cost for double occupancy with dinner and breakfast was around...