I Looked Into Araki Kosen Ryokan

I've been gradually adding day-trip hot springs and lodging facilities to this blog, not just campsites. Most of the places I've covered so far have tended to be ones you basically need a car to reach, but this time I found a hot spring inn that looks reachable by train too, so I decided to look into it.

This time I looked into "Araki Kosen Ryokan." I was drawn to the word "kosen" (mineral spring) in the name, and curious about its long history dating back to the Edo period, so I checked out the official website.

The Short Version

The inn's standout feature seems to be its water, called "tamago-mizu" (egg water), named for a texture resembling egg whites.
As for signal, the official tool gave a "C" rating, so if connectivity matters to you, it might be worth checking in advance.

I've put together the details below.

What Kind of Place Is Araki Kosen Ryokan?

It's apparently a hot spring inn located in the Yamada area of Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture. According to the official website, it was founded in 1827, making it an inn with over 180 years of history. The inn's name is said to come from an alternate name for Konshoji Temple, the 4th temple on the Chichibu pilgrimage route, and the temple itself is apparently just a 5-7 minute walk away.

Check-in is apparently from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and check-out is at 10:00 AM (or 11:00 AM depending on the plan). The rate for one night with two meals ranges from roughly 12,000 to 31,500 yen per adult, apparently varying by room type and season. Reservations can be made through the official website's online booking, as well as by phone or through various travel booking sites.

The Truth Behind the "Egg Water"

The inn's water is apparently a simple sulfur cold mineral spring, with a source temperature of around 15°C that gets heated before use. It's been called "tamago-mizu" (egg water) because its smooth texture resembles egg whites, and it seems to have been cherished locally for a long time. It looks like it may have been introduced under a name written slightly differently in the past, but it seems to refer to the same water.

Komorin

I wonder what a texture like egg whites actually feels like. Just imagining it makes me a little curious.

Checking Out the Rooms with Open-Air Baths and the Private Bath

Out of 12 rooms total, apparently 4 rooms on the first floor come with their own open-air baths. Each one - the Ichii Room, the Momiji Room, the Hinoki Room, and the Seseragi Room - seems to have its own distinct atmosphere. The second floor apparently has 8 standard Japanese-style rooms, split between rooms with a private bath and toilet, and rooms that retain the shared toilet and washroom style from when the inn was founded.

The in-house facilities seem to include the following:

Large communal bath: indoor bath, open-air bath, and sauna
Private bath: made of granite, with a tub about 150cm in diameter, apparently also available for day-trip use
Wi-Fi: apparently free throughout the building and in guest rooms
Parking: apparently free, 30 spaces, no reservation needed
Smoking: the entire building is non-smoking, with a smoking area apparently near the outdoor entrance

Since it's a building with a wooden, traditional style, there's apparently no elevator. If stairs are a concern, it might be reassuring to check the room location when making a reservation.

Komorin

A private bath made of granite sounds like it would have a calming atmosphere. I'm more of an indoor type myself, so a trip where I just hole up in my room and relax sounds like it would suit me well.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official "My Area Network Simulation" tool, the overall rating came out as "C." Compared to the AAA and A ratings I've seen for other facilities, this result was a bit more modest.

The wooden, older-style building might have something to do with it, but I'll just report the result as I found it. If you want to prioritize connectivity during your stay, or need to check signal conditions ahead of time for remote work, it's worth factoring this result into your planning.

Komorin

As a Rakuten Mobile user, that result was a bit concerning. Still, since free Wi-Fi is apparently available throughout the building, relying on that might be one option.

See Rakuten Mobile Details

Nearby Sightseeing Spots and Roadside Stations

About a 5-7 minute walk from the inn is Konshoji Temple, the 4th temple on the Chichibu pilgrimage route, which the inn's name is said to reference. By car, it's apparently about 3 minutes to Josenji Temple, the 3rd temple on the pilgrimage route, and about 10 minutes to Chichibu Shrine and the Chichibu Festival Museum. Hitsujiyama Park, known for its shibazakura flowers, and the day-trip hot spring "Matsuri no Yu" in front of Seibu-Chichibu Station also both seem to be about a 10-minute drive away.

If you're willing to go a bit further, the area with the Nagatoro rock formations and river rafting is apparently about 20-25 minutes away by car, and roadside stations such as Michi-no-Eki Chichibu and Michi-no-Eki Minano are also nearby. It seems like a location that makes it easy to build a Chichibu sightseeing plan around the inn as a base.

Wrapping Up

To sum up, Araki Kosen Ryokan struck me as a hot spring inn with a history dating back to the Edo period, memorable above all for its "tamago-mizu" water with a texture resembling egg whites. With rooms featuring open-air baths and a private bath, there's a lot here that would interest anyone focused on the bathing experience, and combined with a location that's easy to pair with sightseeing around Chichibu, it's an inn I'd want to keep noted as a candidate. The Rakuten Mobile signal came out as a "C" rating, so if that matters to you, it might be reassuring to also check the official tool yourself.

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