Overview

Sansuikan Kawayu Midoriya invites you to experience a rare and immersive hot spring getaway in the heart of Kumano’s natural beauty. Located beside the Ootogawa River, this riverside ryokan offers a unique bathing experience where natural hot spring water bubbles up directly from the riverbed. With a long tradition of heartfelt service, the ryokan provides the perfect setting to relax, recharge, and explore the surrounding sacred landscapes of Kumano.

Accommodation

Stay in a room that reflects the natural warmth and simplicity of Kumano. You can choose from several room types that overlook the river or the surrounding forested hills. Each space is designed to offer a comfortable and quiet escape.

Room options include:

• Japanese-style rooms (8 to 10 tatami mats), available in smoking and non-smoking types. These rooms suit couples, families, or small groups.
• Japanese-style rooms with open-air baths, perfect for relaxing in privacy while gazing at the night sky.
• Western-style twin rooms and Western-style rooms for four, each 20 square meters in size with beds and river views.
• Western-style rooms with open-air baths, offering private soaking in natural surroundings.
• Special Japanese-Western suite, an 80-square-meter room combining spacious Japanese and Western areas for added comfort.

Dining

Your stay includes meals crafted with care and local flavor. Dinner is served in two formats: a casual buffet paired with a three-course mini kaiseki, or a traditional full-course kaiseki for a more indulgent experience.

In both options, you’ll enjoy ingredients from the Kumano region such as:

• Freshwater ayu (sweetfish) grilled over charcoal
• Local vegetables prepared in seasonal styles
• Carefully selected wagyu beef
• Dishes cooked to bring out the natural flavors of Kumano’s waters and mountains

In the full-course kaiseki, the chef serves seasonal highlights beautifully plated and thoughtfully prepared. Every bite connects you to Kumano’s deep culinary traditions.

Breakfast is a generous buffet offering both Japanese and Western dishes. Popular items include:

• Hot spring eggs, tofu, and rice porridge, all made using the ryokan’s natural spring water
• Grilled ayu, fluffy Japanese rolled omelets, and seasonal side dishes
• Locally baked bread and fruit juices for a balanced start to your day

Onsen and Wellness

Sansuikan Kawayu Midoriya stands apart with its riverbed hot spring, where warm water bubbles directly from the ground. You can enjoy this natural wonder year-round right outside the ryokan, surrounded by Kumano’s untouched landscape.

Open-air baths sit beside the Ootogawa River, offering open skies and soothing sounds of flowing water. Enjoy bird calls by day and star-filled skies at night.

Indoor baths feature wide, clean spaces where you can soak in comfort. The water is gentle and keeps your body warm long after your bath. If you prefer, you can return several times throughout your stay to enjoy the healing effects of the mineral-rich springs.

Winter Exclusive: Senninburo From December through February, the massive Senninburo open-air bath opens just a short walk from the ryokan. Dug directly into the riverbed, it offers a surreal winter experience where warm spring water mixes with the cold river stream. The size and shape change each year, depending on nature’s flow.

Bathing hours: 5:00 AM – 12:00 AM (cleaning from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM)

Guests with Tattoos

While the ryokan does not specify a tattoo policy, the outdoor setting and open-air bath options may allow for a relaxed atmosphere. If you are concerned, speak with the staff about best bathing times or private options.

Facilities

• Changing rooms include special yukata for use in the outdoor baths
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the ryokan
• Lounge areas where you can rest after a soak or enjoy tea
• Instagram-worthy views from many of the rooms and riverside baths

Activities

Explore Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of the region’s most revered shrines, just 10 minutes away by car. The area also offers scenic hiking trails along the Kumano Kodo, a UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage route.

In the summer, the river becomes a spot for swimming and nature play. You can cool off in the shallow waters, relax on the rocks, or spend time stargazing from the riverbank.

Additional Features

• Check-in from 3:00 PM / Check-out by 10:00 AM
• Address: 13 Kawayu, Hongu-cho, Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture
• Free shuttle available from local transit stops (advance request recommended)
• Reservations available by phone or online