I Looked Into Wanwan Paradise Premier Shiobara

Besides camping trips, I've also been gradually researching "hokans" (hotel-vacation) destinations that catch my interest, and compiling them here on this blog.

This time, I looked into a place in the Shiobara Onsen area of Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. I originally started my research under the name "Kamenoi Hotel Shiobara," but when I checked the official website, it turns out the place has undergone a major rebrand into a hotel specialized for staying with dogs. This change caught my attention, so I decided to write it up.

What Kind of Place Is Wanwan Paradise Premier Shiobara?

From what I found, this place used to be called something like "Kamenoi Hotel Shiobara Dog Inn" (the name is written slightly differently across sources), but it seems to have since been renamed to "Wanwan Paradise Premier Shiobara." Rather than just being a dog-OK hotel, it gives the impression of having been rebranded into a full-fledged pet-friendly hotel where you can stay with your dog regardless of breed or number of dogs.

It's located in the Shiobara Onsen area of Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, with check-in at 15:00 and check-out at 10:00. There appear to be 6 room types, including Japanese-style rooms, Western-style rooms, and special Japanese-Western rooms with open-air baths, for a total of 39 rooms, and amenities for dogs are apparently provided as well. Parking is free with space for 70 cars, and there are also 2 EV charging spots available.

As for access, by car it's said to take about 20 minutes from the Nishinasuno-Shiobara interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. The official website lists roughly 140km from the Urawa interchange if coming from the Tokyo direction, and roughly 210km from the Izumi interchange if coming from the Sendai direction. By train and bus, it seems to take about 70 minutes by bus and on foot from JR Nasushiobara Station, though I wasn't able to confirm whether a shuttle bus is available. As someone who doesn't really drive, at this distance I'd probably need to go with someone who could drive, or look into a route using the local bus.

Komorin

I found it pretty bold that they don't limit the breed or number of dogs. For people traveling with their dogs, this might really open up their options quite a bit.

About the Natural Hot Spring and Day-Trip Bathing

The hot spring at this hotel apparently uses a source called "Fukuwatari Onsen," said to have around 1,200 years of history since it first opened. The water quality is sodium-calcium chloride, described as gentle, neutral-quality water on the skin, which is said to offer beauty benefits and help retain warmth after bathing. The listed effects cover a wide range, including neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, poor circulation, and chronic skin conditions. The open-air bath is fed continuously with natural spring water, and you can apparently enjoy the seasonal scenery while soaking.

It seems day-trip bathing is also accepted, available from 12:00 to 20:00 (last entry 19:30), with rates of 700 yen for ages 12 and up, and 300 yen for ages 6 to under 12. The changing rooms are said to have hairdryers and shampoo, and the women's bath area apparently even has a baby bed. However, it's clearly stated that dogs aren't allowed into the large communal bath or changing rooms, so that's something worth knowing ahead of time.

As for dog-related facilities, there are apparently 3 outdoor dog runs (one of which is in a courtyard), plus an indoor play space. The restaurant is said to have lead hooks and seating mats for dogs, so it seems you can dine there together with your dog. There's also a guest lounge, a photo booth, and a gift shop, giving the impression that the building is designed with spending time together with your dog in mind. As someone who prefers staying indoors, I found it reassuring that there's so much to enjoy inside the building.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

Checking the official "My Area Communication Simulation" tool for this facility's location (Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture), the overall rating came out to a "C".

I also checked the signal conditions ahead of a stay, and the rating was indeed C. Since this is a place with a lot to do both inside and outside the building, like the hot spring and dog runs, it seems worth checking the connectivity situation in advance too, to help with planning. If you're thinking of sharing photos on social media or making video calls, it might be reassuring to picture how you'd manage that beforehand.

Komorin

A C rating is a result I just have to accept as it is. Since this is a place where you'd spend a lot of time indoors, I really wanted to look into things like Wi-Fi availability separately as well.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up again, Wanwan Paradise Premier Shiobara struck me as a hotel specialized for guests traveling with dogs, where you can stay together regardless of breed or number of dogs, and even enjoy the naturally flowing hot spring on a day-trip basis.

While the facilities for spending time with your dog, like the dog runs and indoor play space, are well developed, it's worth confirming in advance that dogs aren't allowed in the large communal bath. The Rakuten Mobile signal came out to a C rating as well, so if that's a concern for you, it might be worth checking the official tool beforehand, along with everything else.

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Related Links

• Official Site