Houshi Onsen Chojukan

The best Japanese hot spring hotel

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?

Stayed for one night from December 3rd to 4th, 2022. It was two rooms (a room of about 8 tatami mats and a kotatsu room of 4.5 tatami mats) at Horyu-den. The structure was different, and there was a kotatsu room right next to the board where you took off your shoes. Also, there is a small TV between the kotatsu, so you have to spend most of your time here, so it's not comfortable. In addition, I thought that there were no stink bugs at this time of year, but I caught about 2 of them with a paper tape with weak adhesive strength. When I told Nakai (Vietnamese woman) that the place to eat was halfway through, it didn't seem like she would change it, so I gave up. The food served was also something that made me think of something like this (the only good thing was the dessert Bavarois at dinner). I couldn't help but think that I didn't put much effort into cooking. I took a bath in Hoshi no Yu and Tamaki no Yu, but I couldn't really feel the water coming out from the bottom (there were several places where bubbles were coming out, so it seems that they are coming out). , is lukewarm and I personally don't like it. I haven't been on a luxury trip so far, but I don't think I'll ever go here again.

I was able to fully enjoy the traditional mixed bathing from the Meiji era in a house deep in the mountains, away from the mundane world, in an old-fashioned building. However, this time, two young couples were bathing with towels wrapped around them. The ingredients in the hot water get dirty, so I want you to stop using it. If you're embarrassed, please don't enter the mixed bath. The women who were bathing alone were properly removing their towels before bathing. "There was also an incident like this." A certain elderly male customer, perhaps unaware of the rules prohibiting photography in the bathhouse, took a picture of the inside of the bathhouse. I was threatening you out loud. A quiet and tasteful atmosphere, Marutsubu. Photography is prohibited in the bathhouse, so I feel sorry for the elderly male guests, but I felt that I didn't need to shout anything so loud. Couples who only care about the eyes around them are really annoying in mixed bathing. Other than these two young couples, the ryokan was the best. As for access, the road from Saru-ga-kyo to Hoshi Onsen is extremely narrow, so please drive carefully as you will have to be careful when passing oncoming vehicles.