Maruyama Kosen Ryokan

This was my first visit, and I brought two friends from Germany. They loved it. We all enjoyed the wild boar dinner and breakfast, and the onsen was refreshing too. I've stayed at several Ryokan around the country, and I'd definitely consider coming back here when I'm in Chichibu.

The people were really kind, and the Ryokan was clean and uncomplicated. The food was especially good, and the chef came up with creative ways to make everything gluten free.

Rice balls are sold at reception for 150 yen, and they're tasty and reasonably priced. I tried the grilled ones and enjoyed them as a snack. You can stay overnight too, so it's a nice option if you have time to relax. As a casual day-trip hot spring, this is a bit of a hidden gem since it doesn't seem to get many visitors. Admission is 800 yen, which feels fairly reasonable. The open-air bath is a little cool, but that makes it comfortable for a long soak. The water is simple alkaline, and the floating deposits make it feel like a proper hot spring.

The meals were tasty and just the right size, and the service was very polite. We exchanged several emails beforehand to confirm details. They accept Visa and Mastercard. It's a charming, old-fashioned Showa-era inn. You change into slippers at the entrance and wear them throughout the building. There are stairs and sloping paths, so it won't suit people with mobility issues. The bath temperature was just right, not too hot, and the open-air bath was pleasant too. You have to walk along an outdoor path between your room and the bath, so bring warm clothes. The sliding door locks in the rooms are tricky to open. The toilet door handles also need to be lifted to open, and it would have been helpful to know that at check-in.