Kindayu

Kindayu makes a good base for Ikaho Shrine, since it's partway up the stone steps. There are direct buses from in front of Ikebukuro Station and Kawagoe Station, and getting there is simple. The bus fare is cheaper than other highway buses too. It's also hard to beat the price: under 10,000 yen a night with two meals. Dinner and breakfast are buffet style, dinner comes with unlimited beer, highballs and other alcoholic drinks, and there's free karaoke. Private baths are available by reservation, first come first served. The inn provides Ikaho Onsen's kogane-no-yu as a flowing hot spring, though it's heated and disinfected, and there's an open-air bath. Other nearby inns also have kogane-no-yu, but I don't think any are cheaper than Kindayu. The large shared bath has a negative-ion hairdryer, the toilets have washlets, and there's a water dispenser by the bath. They also store luggage for free before check-in and after check-out. It's a modest historic inn, not the kind of glamorous or luxurious place you'd get at the Ritz-Carlton, Peninsula, or Mandarin Hotel. The front desk staff don't carry bags, and there are no welcome drinks. Some guests seem to miss that when booking and give very low scores on review sites. Still, for a simple stay, you can feel the spirit of hospitality here, and I really like the place.