I Looked Into Ryokami Onsen Kokuminshukusha Ryokamiso

On this blog, I've been gradually expanding the range of things I research, not just campsites but also day-trip hot springs and lodges that serve as bases for mountain climbing.

This time, I looked into a place called Ryokami Onsen Kokuminshukusha Ryokamiso, which is apparently located at the foot of Mount Ryokami in Saitama Prefecture. Something about the phrase "kokuminshukusha" (a type of public lodge) gave me a sense of nostalgia and reassurance, so I decided to organize what I found.

What kind of lodge is Ryokamiso?

Apparently, this is a national-style lodge located in an area called Ryokami-Komori, at the foot of Mount Ryokami in Ogano Town, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture. It also seems to serve as a climbing base for Mount Ryokami, one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, and combined with the neighboring climbing facility Shin-ikan, it seems like a lot of visitors come here for hiking or bouldering.
Check-in is at 3:00 PM and check-out at 10:00 AM, so the overall flow seems similar to a typical lodge. Reservations can apparently be made through the official website's online booking system or by phone. Since it also seems to be bookable through travel sites like Rakuten Travel, you can probably choose whichever booking method is most convenient for you.

For a one-night stay with two meals, based on two people per room, the rates range from around 12,250 yen on weekdays and 14,450 yen on the night before holidays for adults, 8,800 yen for children, and 5,500 yen for young children, though it seems to vary by season, plan, and room type. Day-trip bathing only is also available, apparently accepted from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, priced at 900 yen for adults, 650 yen for elementary schoolers, and 400 yen for young children. It seems like a convenient option to drop by after a hike.

The daily-rotating open-air bath and Bushu Wagyu sukiyaki

The water apparently comes from a natural hot spring called Ryokami Onsen Susukino-yu, with an alkaline simple spring quality and a pH of 9.1. Just going by the numbers, the water might have a fairly gentle feel on the skin.
There are indoor baths (large communal baths) for both men and women, and separate open-air baths as well, but apparently the rock bath and stone bath switch places daily. Since there doesn't seem to be a dedicated private bath, families might want to plan around the time slots to make things work smoothly.

Dinner seems to be served as individual set meals, featuring dishes like Bushu Wagyu sukiyaki and bagna cauda made with local vegetables, along with a half-buffet corner called the "Hometown Buffet" that lines up local and original dishes. Breakfast appears to be either buffet-style or a set menu. This combination of individual set meals and a buffet seems like it would suit both people who want to eat heartily and those who want to sample a bit of everything local.

Checking out the rooms and Wi-Fi situation

There are apparently 32 rooms in total. The main building offers Japanese-Western style rooms (with toilet, or with bath and toilet), while the annex has Japanese-style rooms of about 7.5 or 10 tatami mats (with toilet) as well as Western-style rooms (with bath and toilet). Since the entire facility is non-smoking, that should be reassuring for anyone sensitive to cigarette smell.
As someone who prefers staying indoors, I was glad to see that Wi-Fi is available throughout the building and in all guest rooms. Since I tend to spend a lot of time relaxing indoors, this is exactly the kind of amenity I always want to check on.

Komorin

Getting to enjoy both sukiyaki and a buffet sounds great. The fact that the whole place is non-smoking with Wi-Fi throughout is definitely good news for indoor types like me.

The nearby sightseeing spots caught my eye too

Right in front of the lodge is Mount Azumaya, which seems to have seasonal highlights like an Amur adonis garden, a Setsubunso garden, an iris garden, the Onouchi ice pillars, and a firefly-viewing spot along the Komori River. About 15 minutes away by car is the Ryokami Sanroku Hananosato Dahlia Garden, and about 25 minutes away is Marugami Falls (roughly a 20-minute walk from the parking area to the falls), so with a car you could probably spend a whole day exploring the surrounding area.
As for access, the route described involves taking the Ogano Town bus from either Mitsumineguchi Station on the Chichibu Railway or Seibu-Chichibu Station on the Seibu Railway, getting off at the Yakushido bus stop, and walking about 5 minutes from there. By car, it apparently takes about 45 minutes to an hour from the Hanazono Interchange on the Kan-etsu Expressway via the Minano-Yorii Bypass. Since I don't really drive despite having a license, it's reassuring to know there's a bus route available.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked the area covering Ogano Town, where this facility is located, using the official "My Area Network Simulation" tool, the overall rating came back as "C."

Given that this is a mountainous location serving as a climbing base, it seems likely that signal conditions could vary depending on the exact spot. If you're planning to use mobile data during your stay, it might be worth keeping this rating in mind and preparing some alternatives just in case.

Komorin

A "C" rating is a bit concerning. Since it's a lodge tucked away in the mountains, I guess that's somewhat unavoidable, but it's helpful to know ahead of time.

Wrapping Up

To sum it all up, Ryokami Onsen Kokuminshukusha Ryokamiso came across as a lodge best remembered for its open-air bath with a rock bath and stone bath that alternate daily, plus meals featuring Bushu Wagyu sukiyaki. It looks like a convenient location both as a base for climbing Mount Ryokami and for enjoying the seasonal flowers and ice pillars of Mount Azumaya. The non-smoking policy throughout the building and the building-wide Wi-Fi were also reassuring points for someone like me who prefers staying indoors.
The Rakuten Mobile signal came back with a "C" rating, so if you're concerned about connectivity, it might be a good idea to check the official tool beforehand so you can prepare accordingly.

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Related Links

• Official Site