I Looked Into Yuyado Kikuya

On this blog, I don't just cover campsites—I also steadily research and put together a series on places to stop by for those times when you think, 'Let's skip camping today and go full hotel-cation instead.'

This time, along those lines, I looked into Yuyado Kikuya, located in Itamuro Onsen in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture. What drew me in was how small it is, with only 3 rooms total. As an indoor type, I felt like a small inn like this would be more relaxing than a big, bustling ryokan crowded with lots of guests, so it caught my attention.

What Kind of Place Is Yuyado Kikuya

This inn is located in the Itamuro Onsen area of Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, and according to the official website, it has 'just 3 rooms, each with its own distinct character.' Just looking at that number tells you how small-scale this inn is. I nearly confused it with an inn with a similar name at one point, but I proceeded with my research treating this as a separate facility located in Itamuro Onsen.

Meals seem to be served in a space on the first floor, where all 3 groups enjoy them together in the same area. Rather than separate dining rooms partitioned for each party, it sounds more like guests loosely share the same space together.

As for reservations, in addition to an external booking system, it looks like they also accept bookings by email. It also seems possible to reserve by phone. I wasn't able to confirm the room rates or check-in/check-out times from the official website pages I looked at this time, so if that's important to you, it might be a good idea to confirm directly before booking.

Komorin

Just the sound of 'only 3 rooms' feels kind of luxurious, doesn't it? As an indoor type, a quiet-looking inn like this really appeals to me more than crowded places.

What the Bath Is Like Without a Large Communal Bath

The official website states that 'instead of a large communal bath, we've prepared a bath spacious enough for you to stretch your legs out comfortably,' suggesting that rather than one big shared bath, the bath here is sized to suit the number of rooms. As for the spring quality, expressions like 'medicinal hot spring of Shimotsuke' and 'the hot spring that lets you toss away your cane' seem to be used to describe Itamuro Onsen as a whole, but I couldn't confirm the specific spring analysis figures for this particular inn.

Regarding day-use bathing, I found registration information on the Japan Spa Association's website noting both 'day-trip' and 'overnight stay' usage options, as well as the presence of an open-air bath and a private bath. However, I wasn't able to confirm specific prices or reception hours in this research, so if you'd like to stop by for a day visit, it's probably best to inquire in advance.

• Number of rooms: Only 3 (stated on the official website)
• Bath: No large communal bath; apparently a bathtub sized to match the number of rooms
• Meals: Apparently served on the first floor, with all 3 groups in the same space
• Social media: It looks like they also post on Instagram and Facebook

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

As someone who uses Rakuten Mobile, the signal conditions at a place I'm staying are always something I'm curious about. When I checked this facility's location using the official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool, the overall rating came back as a 'C.'

I'm sharing this result exactly as I found it using the official tool. Perhaps due to the location of the Itamuro Onsen area itself, it seems worth getting a sense of the connectivity situation ahead of time. If you're planning to handle work communications during your stay, it might be a good idea to prepare in advance just in case.

Komorin

A C rating is a bit concerning. But then again, since it's such a quiet inn, maybe it's actually a good opportunity to deliberately spend some time away from your phone.

Nearby Sightseeing Spots Worth Visiting

As for sightseeing around the Itamuro Onsen area, the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Meiji-no-Mori Kuroiso was frequently mentioned. The bread and gelato at its farm restaurant are apparently popular. Other nature spots that came up as nearby attractions include Otome Falls, Numappara Marsh, and the Itamuro Nature Study Center. That said, I wasn't able to confirm the exact travel time from the inn in this research, so if you plan to actually visit, it's probably best to check the current distances using a map app.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up, my impression of Yuyado Kikuya is that it's an inn that makes the most of its small scale—just 3 rooms total—to offer a spacious bath without relying on a large communal one, along with a calm, relaxing stay. Meals also seem to be served in a shared space on the first floor, giving it that distinctive atmosphere unique to a cozy, small-scale inn.

On the other hand, the Rakuten Mobile signal came back as a C rating, so if connectivity matters to you, it might be reassuring to check this ahead of time. If you're curious, you can check it yourself using the official Rakuten Mobile tool, so it's probably worth taking a look before you visit.

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Related Links

• Official Site