Kokuya Ryokan

My girlfriend said, ``I want to enjoy the hot springs in Ikaho❣️,'' so I made a plan. Surrounded by mountains with a pleasant autumn breeze and beautiful autumn foliage, Ikaho has a wonderful scenery that makes you feel like you're in a painting. When we arrived at the inn, the staff were friendly and courteous, and we spent some time before checking in at the entrance, which had a traditional Japanese atmosphere with flowing water. I was able to enjoy some tea and sweets as I waited, which instantly got me in the mood for the trip. The room I was shown to was a spacious Japanese-style room with a pleasant scent of tatami mats, and the atmosphere was so nice that it looked like there was a zashikiwarashi there. In the evening, we enjoyed a traditional dish called hoto nearby and took a relaxing soak in the warm hot springs. She was very cute after coming out of the hot spring, wearing a yukata and wearing a nice shampoo scent. I was tired from climbing up and down the stone steps, so I went to bed a little early while holding my precious girlfriend's hand. That night I had a very meaningful dream. ...The smell of dust filled the interior of the warehouse, where a long time seemed to have passed, and the strange sound of old wood creaking on the floor echoed in the silence. The pale moonlight was shining in, and there was a cool, eerie silence, as if something was lurking, and dark shadows were emerging. Holding her hand, I carefully walked through the haphazardly stacked old shelves and boxes, searching for the exit, when a large mirror appeared from the other side of the darkness. The old wooden frame was covered with dust, as if it had been left unused for a long time, but strangely enough, the mirror had been polished and the beautiful decorations still remained on the frame. When I peered into the mirror, I could see the shelves and boxes around us, but not me.In fact, she looked as if the Grim Reaper had touched her, her skin pale and her eyes sunken. It was sunken, with no hair on its head, pale skin exposed and bones standing out, turning it into the skeleton of an old man with a window into the underworld. After a while, the man in the mirror had a creepy smile on his face and was glaring at me, but the feeling of holding his hand was definitely hers. The moment I approached the mirror, as if to shake something off, the mirror suddenly shattered and the woman next to me disappeared. Then a cold wind smelling of rot blew through me, leaving me alone in the dark. ...When I woke up, I still felt the strange sensations from my dream, my heart was beating violently and cold sweat was dripping down my forehead, but when I looked next to me, I saw that my girlfriend was breathing peacefully in her sleep. I was relieved to see that. After sweating and refreshing in the hot springs, we had breakfast. When I told her what the dream was about, she seemed to realize who the man in the dream was. It was a strange dream that hinted at something, but I wasn't scared and it gave me a refreshing feeling. I had a strange feeling as if a zashikiwara had taught me something, and I think this is probably because the inn is so comfortable. This was also a wonderful memory that I was able to share with her.

The building is a large hotel, but the inside is a Showa-era hot spring inn. It's not a nostalgic hobby, but it's a relief.The food is typical of a Japanese inn.There is no other place where you can eat sashimi of Ginhikari grown in nearby Hakoshima spring water, which is selected as one of Japan's top 100 waters.The Gunma Fisheries Experiment Station appears to be a mad scientist's hideout, creating new fishing items and ingredients through artificial breeding and breeding of salmon and trout.Hakosuchi, a cross between Hakoshima rainbow trout and American steelhead, is famous. When you catch them, the pull is strong and they grow huge, but in Japan's rivers they die due to high temperatures and cannot reproduce. The taste is similar to salmon.The hot springs are fed directly from the source and there is also an open-air bath.It's called a golden bath, but it's the color of consommé soup and opaque. It's a little lukewarm, but if you're not careful, it will warm to the core and take a while to cool down. Don't forget to stay hydrated.It's worth visiting both times, as men and women alternate at different times.

This ryokan is located right in the middle of the stairs of Ikaho Onsen, so the location is great!The lobby had a great atmosphere and was relaxing.I could not see Ikaho Onsen town from the view from the room, but the room was clean and comfortable.The open-air hot spring bath is fed directly from the source, but it's so hot that you can't take a long bath.The indoor bath was a suitable temperature.We also rented a private open-air bath, but the water is flowing directly from the source, so please be careful as it is very hot.So I just used my legs the whole time! lol

The inn is located in a convenient location on the stone steps of Ikaho Onsen, and the food and baths are very good, and the staff are very nice.