Overview

Leave the busier part of Shima Onsen behind and stay at Tokiwasureno Yado Yoshimoto, an eight-room ryokan in the quiet Yuzuriha district. The building looks across Fusenkyo Gorge, where the Shima River flows beneath forested slopes.

Shima Onsen has welcomed bathers for more than 1,000 years. Its name connects with the old belief that the water could ease “40,000 ailments,” and the hot spring became one of Japan’s first National Hot Spring Health Resorts in 1954.

Yoshimoto focuses on seasonal cooking, natural hot spring water, and personal space. You can sit beside the traditional irori hearth, enjoy dinner in a private dining room, soak beside the river, or choose one of four rooms with its own natural hot spring bath.

Accommodation

Choose from four rooms with private natural hot spring bathing, a Japanese-Western twin room, and traditional Japanese rooms with or without a unit bath. Every room has a different design, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building.

Take is a large special room for two people. The current detailed room information lists approximately 77 square metres, including a 12-tatami bedroom with large twin beds, a raised living area, and a private six-tatami dining room. Both dinner and breakfast are served in your dedicated dining space. The spacious indoor hot spring bathroom includes a jet bath, reclining seating, and a table area. Take does not face the Shima River, and children cannot stay in this room.

Kiri measures approximately 55 square metres and accommodates up to five people. A ten-tatami room connects with a 4.5-tatami adjoining room, wooden terrace, and small garden. Its cypress open-air bath receives free-flowing natural spring water and looks across Fusenkyo Gorge and the Shima River.

Keyaki is an approximately 50-square-metre Japanese-Western suite for up to four people. Two large beds, a six-tatami room, sofa lounge, shower room, and viewing terrace give you plenty of space to relax together. A large stone open-air bath receives free-flowing hot spring water beside the river view.

Momi offers approximately 25 square metres with a ten-tatami room, enclosed veranda, and private Shigaraki-ware open-air bath. Natural spring water flows continuously into the bath, and you can look towards the river and surrounding trees while soaking.

Kuri is a 40-square-metre Japanese-Western room designed for two adults. Two Simmons beds sit on a tatami floor beside a sofa, table, and large television. This room does not have a private bath and does not face the Shima River.

The Unit-Bath Japanese Room measures approximately 21 square metres and includes ten tatami mats, an enclosed veranda, and a private unit bath. The unit bath uses regular water, so you can visit the shared or private bathing areas for natural hot spring water.

Standard Japanese Rooms measure approximately 20 square metres and include ten tatami mats, an enclosed veranda, and a private toilet. These rooms do not have a bath. Selected rooms sit on the first floor, which makes them more convenient when you prefer to avoid stairs.

Your room includes a Washlet toilet, refrigerator, kettle, tea set, air purifier with humidifying function, hair dryer, safe, television, towels, toiletries, samue clothing, and slippers. Yukata can also be requested.

There is no elevator, so you need to use stairs to reach second-floor rooms.

Dining

Dinner centres on Shima Miyama Kaiseki, a seasonal Japanese course prepared with ingredients from Gunma and carefully selected produce from other parts of Japan. The kitchen focuses on bringing out the natural taste of each ingredient through thoughtful cooking, presentation, and tableware.

Your meal may feature Joshu beef, Mugi pork, Akagi chicken, river fish, mushrooms, wild mountain plants, and fresh vegetables. A recommended course is the three-part river fish sashimi selection, which may include Ginko, a high-quality rainbow trout raised in Gunma.

The exact menu changes with the season. Each dish arrives separately, allowing you to enjoy grilled, simmered, chilled, and steamed courses at their best temperature.

A carefully selected drinks list includes Japanese sake, shochu, wine, beer, and plum wine. You can explore labels chosen to complement the cooking and the current season.

You can eat dinner and breakfast in a private dining room on the first floor. Room dining is also available under selected plans. The dining-room partitions can open to create space for a group of up to 16 people.

Dinner begins at 18:00, 18:30, or 19:00. Breakfast begins at 8:00 or 8:30 and follows a Japanese set style. Seasonal local ingredients and freshly prepared dishes shape the morning meal, which may include Yoshimoto’s warming natural mushroom soup.

Onsen and Wellness

Yoshimoto uses natural water from Shima Onsen, a sodium-calcium chloride and sulfate spring. The water contains metasilicic acid, which contributes to its smooth feeling on the skin.

The spring has traditionally been associated with easing fatigue, sensitivity to cold, muscle and joint discomfort, nerve discomfort, minor cuts, dry skin, and some digestive concerns. You cannot drink the spring water inside Yoshimoto.

Kongo no Yu is the men’s bathing area, while Fudo no Yu is the women’s bathing area. Each side includes a spacious indoor bath and an open-air bath where you can feel the mountain air and listen to the river below.

You can use the shared baths 24 hours a day during your stay. The men’s and women’s sides do not switch. The shared baths use circulation to control the water temperature and are not fully free-flowing.

Kosen no Yu is a complimentary private indoor hot spring bath decorated with stained glass. You can use it from 6:00 to 23:00 without making a reservation. Check the sign outside before entering, lock the door from the inside, and limit each session to 30 minutes. You can return for another session whenever the bath is empty.

Take, Kiri, Keyaki, and Momi include private natural hot spring bathing. The baths in Kiri, Keyaki, and Momi operate with free-flowing spring water.

Bath toiletries are provided, but you should bring the face towel and bath towel from your room. Yoshimoto does not have a sauna or bedrock bath.

Guests with Tattoos

You cannot use Kongo no Yu, Fudo no Yu, or their shared indoor and open-air baths if you have tattoos.

You can use the fully private Kosen no Yu hot spring bath. You can also choose Take, Kiri, Keyaki, or Momi and enjoy natural hot spring water inside your room. Kiri, Keyaki, and Momi give you a private free-flowing bath.

Facilities

The irori lounge welcomes you with a traditional sunken hearth, handmade tea sweets, and warm wooden surroundings. Behind the hearth, the shochu tasting corner lets you compare selected labels.

Complimentary organic infusions made with ingredients such as burdock and dandelion root are available after bathing or dining. You can also choose from beer, sake, shochu, wine, and other drinks during your stay.

A happy-hour service runs from 15:30 to 17:15 and includes selected craft beer, shochu, and wine. Drinks during happy hour are not complimentary.

Colourful yukata can be rented by women, while standard samue clothing is provided in your room. The small shop carries local items and souvenirs.

Free Wi-Fi is available in every room and throughout the building. Complimentary outdoor parking is provided, and luggage can be stored before check-in or after check-out.

The building also includes private dining rooms and a small shop, but it does not have a public restaurant, banquet hall, bar, or elevator. Smoking is limited to the designated area near the entrance.

Activities

Borrow a complimentary electric bicycle and explore Shima Onsen at your own pace. The assisted bicycles make the area’s hills easier to manage.

Ride towards Hinatami Yakushido, a historic thatched-roof temple connected with the discovery of Shima Onsen. A footbath stands nearby, giving you a comfortable place to rest before continuing through the valley.

On the return journey, stop at Koizumi Falls, look across the river from Ochiai Bridge, and walk through the older shops along Ochiai Street. You can also visit the historic wooden buildings of Sekizenkan and continue through the Kirinokidaira shopping area.

For time beside the water, visit Shima Lake or Oku-Shima Lake. Their blue-green colour changes with the light and season. Canoeing and other guided water activities operate during suitable weather.

Walking routes around the hot spring town lead to waterfalls, public baths, footbaths, small cafés, and views of the Shima River. Spring brings fresh green leaves, summer offers cool river scenery, autumn covers the valley in colour, and winter creates snowy views from the baths and rooms.

Additional Features

Check-in begins at 15:00, and check-out is by 10:00. You should arrive by 18:00 when dinner forms part of your plan.

The journey from JR Nakanojo Station takes around 30 minutes by local bus. From the Shima Onsen bus stop, you can walk to Yoshimoto in around ten minutes. Pickup from the bus stop is available by prior arrangement.

When you arrive by car, the drive from the Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange takes around one hour. Free outdoor parking is available without a reservation.

Roads can become snowy or icy from around November to March. You should use winter tyres or suitable anti-slip equipment during this period.

Your stay includes property-wide Wi-Fi, luggage storage, natural hot spring bathing, seasonal kaiseki dining, complimentary electric bicycle rental, and access to the irori lounge. Pets cannot stay inside the ryokan.