I Looked into Shiobara Oami Yumori Tanakaya

Besides campsites, I've also been gradually looking into inns on this blog that could work for those "let's skip camping and do a hokance (hotel + vacance) day instead" kind of days. Each time, I also check for myself whether a place seems reachable without a car.

This time, the inn that caught my attention is Shiobara Oami Yumori Tanakaya, located in the Shiobara Onsen area of Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. I decided to look into it after being drawn in by the description of an "Eight Baths Tour" using three of its own hot spring sources.

What Kind of Inn Is Yumori Tanakaya?

The official name is apparently Shiobara Oami Yumori Tanakaya, and it seems to be an inn built along a gorge within the Shiobara Onsen area. What particularly caught my eye was the "Eight Baths Tour" concept, where the inn owns three of its own hot spring sources and offers eight different baths across the indoor and outdoor facilities. All the baths are said to be fed directly from the source with continuous flow, and drinking the spring water is apparently possible too. The water quality is reportedly a sodium-calcium sulfate hot spring.

Looking into the breakdown of the baths, there are separate women's and men's panoramic baths on the 6th and 7th floors, which are said to be fully glass-walled so you can take in the full view of the Shiobara mountains. There's apparently also a low-temperature ondol-style sauna attached, so it seems like it would suit sauna lovers too. The gorge-side open-air bath is open from 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM, and you can apparently enjoy it while listening to the sound of the mountain stream. There's also one private bath (a gorge bath) available for 2,200 yen per 45 minutes, with reservations reportedly given on a first-come, first-served basis at check-in.

Outside the main building, down about 300 steps, there are also open-air baths (the Sengo-yu and Bijin-yu baths), but according to what I found, two other baths - the Kawara-yu bath and Sekimon-yu bath - are apparently closed for around two years starting in February 2026 due to upstream construction work. Since things may have changed by the time you're reading this, it might be reassuring to double-check with the inn directly if you're curious.

Day-use bathing is apparently also accepted, but only on Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and it seems only the outdoor open-air bath (mixed bathing) is available for that. The indoor panoramic baths appear to be reserved for overnight guests only. The hours are 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (last entry at 1:00 PM), the fee is 1,650 yen for adults, and payment appears to be cash only.

Komorin

When I hear there are eight different baths, I can't help but think one night alone wouldn't be enough to try them all. Since I'm more of an indoor type, I'd love to at least take my time enjoying the panoramic bath and the sauna first.

Checking Out the Rooms, Meals, and Notable Facilities

There are 20 rooms in total, apparently divided into five types, A through E. Types A through D reportedly come with their own private baths fed directly from the source, while Type E is the only standard, unrenovated type without a hot spring bath. All rooms face south, and Wi-Fi is apparently free to use in the rooms as well (though wired connections and PC rentals don't seem to be available). Type A is a special room, and there was also mention of being able to request a top-floor special room with an open-air bath for a 5,500 yen room designation fee. I couldn't find details like tatami mat count or room size for each type on the official site, so it's probably worth checking at the time of booking.

The meals are said to feature robatayaki (hearth-grilled cuisine) as a specialty, and I also found information that the hearth-side dining area is limited to eight groups per day. There appear to be kaiseki course plans using Tochigi wagyu beef and fresh fish shipped directly from Toyama port, though I wasn't able to find the exact prices. There's also a room-only plan without meals, but apparently you can't add dinner or breakfast later if you choose that option, so it's worth checking carefully when picking a plan.

As for other facilities, there's apparently EV charging (one vehicle per day, reservation required, 1,100 yen per use), wheelchair rental, and a bar lounge and library as well. Parking appears to be free and doesn't require a reservation, but the stated capacity varied between pages on the official site - some said about 30 spaces and others about 20 - so it seems wise to allow a bit of margin when planning.

Komorin

The fact that they even lend out trouser presses made me feel like this is a proper dress-up kind of inn. I think I'll avoid showing up looking like I just rolled out of bed in my pajamas.

Checking Whether You Can Get There Without a Car

Even though I do have a driver's license, I'm basically a "paper driver" who rarely actually drives, so whether a place is reachable without a car is always something I pay attention to. This time, I found that there's a shuttle bus running once a day from JR Nasushiobara Station. According to information I'd looked at previously, it used to be free, but when I checked the official site again, it seems to have changed to a paid service costing 1,100 yen per group (one way). Since this kind of information tends to change, it's probably safest to check the official site for the latest details.

The shuttle bus reportedly requires a phone reservation by 4:00 PM the day before, and there's apparently only one departure heading there, leaving the west exit of Nasushiobara Station at 3:30 PM. It seems the bus leaves on schedule even if not everyone has arrived yet, so it's worth being careful not to miss it. Besides that, there's also the option of taking a local bus from the west exit of Nasushiobara Station, which takes about 55 minutes and costs 1,070 yen, with a bus stop right in front of the inn. If you're not using a car, this could be another option to consider.

If you're driving, it's apparently about 15 minutes from the Nishinasuno-Shiobara Interchange, but the official site included a note that, because a bypass was built nearby, the road in front of the inn is now treated as an old route, so following car navigation directions as-is might lead you onto a different road. Since there's likely to be snow in winter, having winter tires ready also seems like a good idea.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

I use Rakuten Mobile, so I always check the signal conditions at places I look into. Using the official "my area Connectivity Simulation" tool to check the location of this inn (Shiobara, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture), the overall rating came back as a C.

Being located in a hot spring area along a gorge might have something to do with it. Since the rating came back as C, if you're planning to stay in touch with anyone during your stay, it's probably worth planning to rely on the lobby Wi-Fi or the in-room Wi-Fi as well.

Komorin

Getting a C rating was a bit disappointing, but fortunately the in-room Wi-Fi is free, so I figure relying on that would be the realistic choice.

Wrapping Up

To sum it all up, my impression of Shiobara Oami Yumori Tanakaya is that it's an inn where you can enjoy an "Eight Baths Tour" built around its three private hot spring sources, offering everything from panoramic baths to gorge-side open-air baths. Depending on the room type, some also come with their own private bath, so it seems like a good fit for anyone who wants to enjoy the hot spring right in their room too.

As for access, there were a few points worth confirming before you go, such as the shuttle bus that used to be described as free now actually being a paid service, and the limited days available for day-use bathing. The Rakuten Mobile signal came back as a C rating, so if that's a concern for you, checking with the official Rakuten Mobile tool beforehand might give you some peace of mind.

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