I Looked Into Shiotsubo Onsen Hotel

On this blog, I've been researching and recording campsites, day-trip hot springs, and lodging facilities one by one, almost like a series. Since I don't drive myself, the places I can actually visit in person are limited, but that's exactly why I want to be as thorough as possible when it comes to the "research" side of things.

This time I'm covering Shiotsubo Onsen Hotel, located in Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture. I came across a story saying it carries on a hot spring said to have been discovered about 800 years ago, and I simply got curious thinking, "Is a hot spring that old still around today?" That's what got me started.

What Kind of Place Is Shiotsubo Onsen Hotel?

Apparently, Shiotsubo Onsen Hotel is a hot spring inn/hotel located in Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture. It's said to have 43 guest rooms with a capacity of around 150 people, and it seems to be equipped with facilities like a front desk, lobby, dining hall, and meeting rooms. I also spotted a mention of an elevator, so there might be some accessibility accommodations as well.

As for details on room rates and how to book, I couldn't check the main text due to some display issue on the official website, so I wasn't able to get a clear picture. That said, it does seem possible to book a stay through reservation sites like Rakuten Travel. Regarding day-trip bathing, I found several third-party listings suggesting it's accepted, but I couldn't confirm the pricing or hours. If you're curious, it seems safest to check directly through a reservation site or by phone.

Komorin

Not knowing the exact pricing makes me a little uneasy, but given the decent scale of 43 rooms, I get the feeling it probably has that reassuring atmosphere you'd expect from a long-established hot spring inn.

The Appeal of the Open-Air Hot Spring Bath "Chomeisen"

Apparently, the hot spring water at this inn is a bicarbonate spring—in other words, a colorless, clear, mildly alkaline carbonate spring. The signature feature is the open-air hot spring bath called "Chomeisen," and according to the inn's own introduction, there's a story that a former politician named Ozaki Gakudo loved this spring so much that he gave it the name "Chomeisen" (meaning "spring of long life"). The claim that it was discovered about 800 years ago is told in the same context, but I couldn't confirm a primary source for it, so it seems best to take it as a story passed down through generations rather than a verified fact.

That said, a colorless, clear, mildly alkaline carbonate spring is often described as gentle on the skin, so just the idea of soaking leisurely in water with such a long history struck me as plenty appealing as a travel destination in itself.

Checking the Access Routes

By car, it's said to be about 15km/30 minutes from the Usui-Karuizawa Interchange on the Joshinetsu Expressway, and about 20km/40 minutes from the Saku Interchange. There was also information suggesting it's around 15 minutes by car from Karuizawa Station, but I couldn't find any mention of a shuttle bus on either the official website or the tourism association's site, so that remains unclear. It's possible that taking a taxi from the station is assumed to be the way to go.

I do have a driver's license myself, but I'm what you'd call a "paper driver" who doesn't actually drive, so honestly, a place like this feels pretty far removed from my own life. Still, for anyone who can drive there, it looks like a fairly accessible location.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

Since I use Rakuten Mobile myself, this is an essential thing for me to check, so I looked up this facility's location using the official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool. However, this time no rating showed up at all—instead I got a message along the lines of "currently undergoing temporary maintenance," so the result ended up being treated as unknown.

It seems this kind of display can happen depending on the address in question, so honestly, I just couldn't get a clear judgment on the connectivity situation from the official tool this time. I wanted to share that as it is.

Komorin

This was the first time I'd seen a case where no rating showed up at all, so it caught me a little off guard. Moments like this really make me feel that it's reassuring to check things with my own eyes before staying somewhere or visiting.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up, my impression of Shiotsubo Onsen Hotel is that it's a hot spring inn whose main appeal is the open-air hot spring bath "Chomeisen," which carries on a hot spring said to have been discovered about 800 years ago. With a moderate scale of 43 guest rooms and facilities like a front desk, dining hall, and meeting rooms, it gave off a calm, long-established atmosphere.

On the other hand, there was quite a bit of information I couldn't confirm due to circumstances on the official website's end, including room rates and whether a shuttle bus is available. As for Rakuten Mobile signal conditions, the official tool didn't display a rating either, so whether it's good or not remains unknown from this investigation. If you're curious, you can check it yourself using the official Rakuten Mobile tool, so if you're planning a visit, it's worth checking in advance.

This article includes a referral link for Rakuten Mobile's employee referral campaign. For details, please see our Disclaimer & Advertising Notice.

Related Links

• Official Site