Ashino Onsen Hotel

I came for a day-visit onsen after 5 PM, when admission was only 1,000 yen. There was a nice selection of shampoos and soaps, plus a sauna and five different baths to choose from. The herbal sauna felt really refreshing. Of the two medicated baths, one is stronger than the other. The outdoor bath is very warm, and in winter you can watch the illumination show while soaking.

This has been disappointing every time I've come, and each visit seemed worse than the last. I wanted mulberry ice cream from the shop outside the Onsen entrance, where the posted last order was 8 PM. I arrived late and only got to soak for a few minutes, planning to go back in after having the ice cream. At 7:50 PM, I went to order, but the machine had already been cleaned and they wouldn't serve me. I came all the way from Germany. When I asked for the managers, they called another staff member instead, so it wasn't clear who was responsible. We asked for a refund because we hadn't really soaked and were refused the ice cream, but that was denied too. Ten months later I gave the place another chance. This time the ice cream had stopped being sold without any notice, and the counter was closed. I still went in to soak. When I came out for water, a cleaning staff member looked angry at me and stopped cleaning, even though she was on the other side of the room. I went back in quickly, and she followed us all the way to the last door before the bath. She watched us angrily for a little while, then left. Paying 1,000 Yen for treatment like this makes me sad. It's expensive, and this was my last visit. I'll tell my friends to try somewhere else.

I wasn't allowed to use the Onsen because of my tattoo. A place like this probably won't be welcoming to foreigners. Good luck visiting if you don't look like the average Japanese person.

A nice day spa. Admission drops from 1500yen to 1000yen if you arrive after 16:00.