Houshi Onsen Chojukan

The best Japanese hot spring hotel

This is a hot spring inn that I have always wanted to visit. I made a reservation on a day when the hotel was only open to women. I enjoyed the hot spring without worrying about time. Since I can't drive, I took a bus from Jomo-Kogen Station to Hoshi Onsen. There were many ladies going to the same place, so I arrived safely without getting lost or feeling anxious. It's best to prepare some coins in advance for the bus fare. This time I stayed in the annex, in a room with a kotatsu. It was a clean and comfortable room, and I felt like I would never be able to get out if I got in the kotatsu. The waitress was also very happy with the service, as she was cheerful and had a comfortable distance. The hot spring is lukewarm, so you can stay in for a long time. However, since it is winter, the open-air bath and the bath with a low temperature are cold to begin with. My body warmed up well and I slept soundly at night. I felt refreshed. I would like to visit again in a different season.

Previously, I stayed in the main building, but this time the cheaper main building was not available, so I stayed in the annex. If you value hot springs and value for money, is the main building enough? In the annex, you eat in your room, but it is often easier to eat at a restaurant where you can order quickly... The important hot springs, Choju no Yu and Hoshi no Yu, spring at your feet and are perfect! The two back parts of Hoshi no Yu, which do not have a flowing water from above, are a little warm in winter, but you can stay in the water for a long time, so you can choose the place you like. I did not enter Tamaki no Yu, which was disappointing when I visited last time. (The strong chlorine smell from the circulation reduces the excitement of the other baths by half.) There are some passionate comments about mixed bathing, but many men feel uncomfortable when women enter. (Although it is called a mixed bath, it is actually a men's bath.) At Hoshi-no-Yu, which has four baths, you have to look at the other customers, the temperature, and where the water is coming from, so I think it's strict not to face the direction of the women's changing room, but here the women-only hours are only from 8pm to 10pm, which my wife has complained about since the last time we stayed. The charm of the rooms and the quality of the water are what make it such a high price, but considering the price of over 20,000 yen, it is true that the food is a little disappointing. (I think it may be a little disappointing for young people who don't drink alcohol and just want to eat.) Personally, I place importance on the hot springs, so although there are some negative aspects, I still give it a perfect score.

It was very good. Some people have written, ``Mixed bathing is no longer a culture that should be protected!'', but I think if you don't like it, you just don't have to go. If all hot springs were mixed bathing, I could understand this opinion. This person also wrote, ``Most people don't know the rules for mixed bathing,'' but this person's rules are personal. It's not good to impose your own values ​​on others. I really thought that this kind of person would cause harassment. It's a very nice hot spring, so be careful not to run into people like this. I would like to continue to enjoy mixed bathing.

There was a special feature on hot springs with a special feel, and this hot spring was featured, so I took a bus from Jomo Kogen. I thought that everyone was coming by car and we were the only ones on the bus when we came and left. This inn is located deep in the mountains and has the feel of a hidden hot spring, and the mixed bathing Houshi-no-yu has a nice atmosphere. The room had nice tiles and lighting in the sink. The food was not typical of a meal deep in the mountains, but the Joshu Beef Plan was delicious. Taking care of the meals was also very helpful and made me feel good.

I love this historic look. It's an old building, but that's what it tastes like, and the toilets have been renovated and are clean. The food was delicious, and everyone in charge was polite and comfortable.

I agree with other people's reviews that the overall atmosphere of the inn, hospitality, food, etc. are wonderful in various ways. However, I would like something to be done about "mixed bathing". Isn't Gunma Prefecture's accommodation ordinance prohibiting mixed bathing for people over the age of 6? "Crocodile Man" was also posted in the reviews. I don't know if it's the same person, but I'm sure there were others of the same type. If it makes me feel uncomfortable, I won't do it. Also, perhaps because he doesn't want to be seen as a crocodile man, there are men who purposely sit in the middle of the bathhouse, facing the women's changing room, to prevent women from entering. In the first place, most good men are not used to mixed bathing, so most of them don't know the ``rules of mixed bathing.'' ``Basically, in a mixed bath, everyone should have their backs to the bathroom entrance and exit so that no one can see them entering and exiting the bath.'' is the minimum etiquette. If you submerge your body in the bathtub, all you can see is from the neck up and you won't feel embarrassed. It seems that most people who take a mixed bath at Hoshi Onsen are not aware of this rule. The hostess should hand out pamphlets explaining these manners. In the first place, even though awareness of sexual crimes and sexual harassment has changed throughout the world, what is the point in continuing to practice mixed bathing? Do you think that this is a culture that should be preserved? Isn't it a shameful culture in the 21st century to leave behind a place that is still a breeding ground for sexual harassment? Of course it's difficult for women to enter, but men don't like it either, right? That's what the reviews here say too. After all, all the men in mixed baths are accused of being ``crocodile men'' (lol). If you really want to leave mixed bathing time, I would like it to be about 2 hours, and for other times, I would like to have men-only time and women-only time equally long. I'm sure there are many women who would like to go during the day when it's bright outside the window. Could you please make it possible for both men and women to enjoy the famous hot springs comfortably and with peace of mind?