I Looked Into Chichibu Nishiyatsu Onsen Miyamoto no Yu

This blog has mainly focused on looking into campgrounds and day-use hot springs, but lately I've been taking a bit of a detour to also check out hot spring inns and places that work well for a relaxing hotel-getaway style stay.

This time, the place that caught my attention is Chichibu Nishiyatsu Onsen Miyamoto no Yu. I heard it has an open-air bath modeled after the sumo ring at the Kokugikan, and even as an indoor type of person, I found myself wanting to look into what it's actually like.

What Exactly Is the 'Sumo Ring Open-Air Bath'?

Chichibu Nishiyatsu Onsen Miyamoto no Yu is apparently a hot spring inn located in Ogano Town, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture. What really caught my eye was the 'sumo ring open-air bath,' modeled after the actual sumo ring at the Kokugikan—this seems to be the signature feature of the inn. The other open-air bath is called the 'rock-face open-air bath,' which apparently makes use of natural rock in a Japanese-style design typical of Chichibu. It seems the men's and women's baths swap on alternating days, so if you stay overnight, there's a chance you could enjoy the atmosphere of both, which I found interesting.

The water is a simple sulfur cold mineral spring, apparently transported from a source called 'Hannya no Yu.' It's said to have benefits for neuralgia, muscle pain, poor circulation, and chronic skin conditions, which gives the impression that it's a water type suited for people who want to warm up thoroughly. Day-use bathing is apparently available too, with the large communal bath costing around 900 yen for adults, and there also seem to be plans for private baths at around 3,000 yen for 50 minutes (hours and closing days seem to vary, so it looks like it would be reassuring to check in advance before visiting).

Komorin

An open-air bath shaped like a sumo ring seems like it would make quite an impression just from photos alone. I can only imagine what it would actually feel like to soak in it.

Checking Out the Rooms, Meals, and Private Baths

There are 17 guest rooms in total, mainly Japanese-style rooms of 6, 8, or 10 tatami mats. Room types seem to range from ones with a bath and toilet to ones with just a shower booth, so it looks like guests can choose according to their budget and preference. Wi-Fi is apparently free in all guest rooms and some areas of the building, which felt like a welcome point for someone like me who's more of an indoor type.

For private baths, there's apparently a type that includes both an 'open-air ceramic bath' and an 'observation bath,' which seems suited for people who want to relax without worrying about others around them. Since reservations are required and there's a fee, it looks like it would be wise to book early if you want to use it.

For meals, dinner is apparently served as an 'irori kaiseki' or 'satoyama kaiseki' course at the hearth dining area, using vegetables from the inn's own farm and local ingredients. Breakfast also seems to be a Japanese-style meal at the same dining area, giving the impression of an inn where you can taste local flavors. Below, I've summarized the facility-related points I looked into this time.

• Check-in/check-out: Check-in from 3:00 PM, check-out by 10:00 AM, apparently (the last check-in time may vary depending on the plan)
• Approximate rates: around 11,500 to 19,250 yen per adult for one night with two meals, apparently, with the price varying depending on room type and season
• How to book: In addition to online reservations through the official website, it seems you can also book by phone. It also looked possible to book through major reservation sites such as Rakuten Travel
• Access: There's apparently a free shuttle bus from Seibu-Chichibu Station and Chichibu Station, which seems to require advance reservation. For those using public buses, there was also guidance mentioning getting off at the Matsuida bus stop on the Seibu Bus line, about a 5-minute walk from there

In the surrounding area, there seem to be typical Chichibu sightseeing spots scattered about, such as the Miyamoto Group's own hands-on farming park, Chichibu Muse Park, and a fossil-famous site called Yobake. Even if you come without a car, combining the shuttle bus with some exploring around the area seems like it would be plenty enjoyable.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked the area around Ogano Town, where this facility is located, using the official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool, the overall rating came out as a "C."

I'll just share this as the result I got from the official tool. Perhaps because of its location in the mountains, I got the impression that you might not be able to count on the same kind of connectivity you'd get in a city. If you're planning to do online work or watch videos during your stay, it might be reassuring to also consider using the in-house Wi-Fi.

Komorin

A "C" rating is a bit concerning, but since in-house Wi-Fi is apparently available, relying on that might mean there's no major inconvenience after all.

Signal conditions can apparently vary depending on the location within the building and the specific room, so if this is a concern for you, I think it would be reassuring to check with the official Rakuten Mobile tool beforehand.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up again, my impression of Chichibu Nishiyatsu Onsen Miyamoto no Yu is that it's a hot spring inn famous for its open-air bath modeled after the Kokugikan sumo ring, with a free shuttle bus from the station, making it seem easy to visit even without a car.

The private baths and meals made with local ingredients also seem well-rounded, so this looks like a good fit for anyone who wants to spend some relaxed, proper hot-spring-inn time. Since the Rakuten Mobile signal came back as a "C" rating, if a good connection matters to you, it looks like a good idea to check the official tool beforehand and also consider making use of the in-house Wi-Fi.

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Related Links

• Official Site