Shima Onsen Sekizenkan Genrokunoyu
4236-1, Oaza-Shima, Nakanojo Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Pref.
The bathing room has Japanese Romanticism style beauty. If you soak in hot water Flowing from the Source, you will feel rich.
The bathing room is a "Taisho Romanesque" design blossomed in Japan 100 years ago. Bright light comes from the Western-like arched window. And the light reflects off the bathtub to create a soft atmosphere.
The hot water is typical of Shima Onsen, fresh, colorless and transparent. And it is, Of course, 100% Flowing from the Source. The hot water overflowing from the bath is peacefully filling the entire bathing room floor.
Sekizenkan Main Building was built in 1691. This is the oldest hot spring inn building in Japan and is designated as an Important Cultural Property. Further, it is said that the red bridge appears in "Spirited Away" is modeled after the bridge in front of Sekizenkan.
- Chlo-ride spring
- Sulfate spring
- Neutral
- Flowing from the Source, Unheated (all)
- Natural spring
- Yuno-hana (Sinter)
- Drink-able
- Prefecture designated important cultural property
- ※
Mixed bathing - Steam bath
- Credit card OK
- Tattoo OK
(If you hide it)
- Click to the description page
Mixed bathing is not "Genrokunoyu" but another indoor bath "Iwaburo".
Location
Area / Railway
Kanto Region
Gunma Pref.
JR Agatsuma Line
Click on a station/bus stop to see detailed information.
Bus timetable etc.
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta.JR: 2 hrs 50 min Takasaki Line etc. - Agatsuma Line¥ 2,640
- Nakanojo Sta.Walk: 3 hrs 30 min 16.4 km (10.2 mi) Difference in elevation: 308 m (1010 ft)
- Sekizenkan
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta. ※JR express: 2 hrs 05 min Kusatsu Non-reserved seat※ ¥ 4,000
- Nakanojo Sta. ※Kan-etsu Kotsu bus: 40 min for Shima Onsen ¥ 930
- Shima Onsen Bus StopWalk: 1 min 0.1km (0.06 mi)
- Sekizenkan
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta. JR Shinkansen: 50 min Toki etc. Non-reserved seat※ ¥ 4,940
- (Transfer at Takasaki Sta.)JR: 1 hr (Joetsu Line -) Agatsuma Line ¥ -
- Nakanojo Sta.Taxi: 30 min 16.4 km (10.2 mi) about ¥ 6,000
- Sekizenkan
Route from Tokyo (Tokyo)
- Tokyo Sta. (Yaesu South Gate) Walk: 1 min
- JR Expressway Bus Stop (No.9 or No.5)
※Kan-etsu Kotsu
Expressway bus: 3 hrs 30 - 45 min Shima Onsen-go ¥ 3,100 - Shima Onsen Bus StopWalk: 1 min 0.1km (0.06 mi)
- Sekizenkan
Route from Tokyo (Ikebukuro)
- Ikebukuro Sta.Tobu: 35 min Tojo Line ¥ 480
- Kawagoe Sta. (West exit) ※Kan-etsu Kotsu Expressway bus: 3 hrs Shima Onsen-go ¥ 2,800
- Shima Onsen Bus StopWalk: 1 min 0.1km (0.06 mi)
- Sekizenkan
Route from Tokyo (Shinjuku)
- Shinjuku Sta. (New South Gate) Walk: 2 min
- Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
(4th floor) ※JR Expressway bus: 3 hrs 06 min Joshu Yumeguri-go ¥ 2,380 - ¥ 2,950 - Nakanojo Eki Minami Bus StopWalk: 5 min 0.4 km (0.2 mi)
- Nakanojo Sta.(The rest is the same as above)
Routes from Tokyo
- Ueno
- JR
- Nakanojo
- Walk
6 hrs 20 min ¥ 2,640
- Ueno
- JR express
- Nakanojo
- Bus
2 hrs 46 min ¥ 4,930
- Ueno
- Shinkansen
- Takasaki
- JR
- Nakanojo
- Taxi
2 hrs 28 min ¥ 11,470
- Tokyo
- Expressway bus
3 hrs 32 - 47 min ¥ 3,100
- Ikebukuro
- Tobu
- Kawagoe
- Expressway bus
3 hrs 36 min ¥ 3,280
- Shinjuku
- Expressway bus
- Nakanojo
- (The rest is the same as above)
3 hrs 13 min+ ¥ 2,380 - ¥ 2,950+
- The price of JR Express and normal Shinkansen is "Basic fare" plus "(Super) Express charge". (These are determined according to the distance.) "(Super) Express charge" has two types: Reserved seat and Non-reserved seat. Reserved seat charge adds ¥930 (during the busiest season), ¥730 (during the busy season), ¥530 (during the normal season) or ¥330 (during the off season) to Non-reserved seat charge. (For details, please refer to JR East_Ticketing and Busiest / Busy / Normal / Off season calendar.)
- There is bicycle rental service at Shima Onsen. For details, see Shima-chari.
- The expressway buses from Tokyo area to Shima Onsen (or Nakanojo Eki Minami Bus Stop) are as follows.
- The above fares are based on cash. When using an IC card, the fares may differ slightly.
- The above times and distances are approximate. Does not include transfering or waiting times.
How to get to Sekizenkan
(Directions from Shima Onsen Bus Stop)
- Walk about 60 m (197 ft) toward the back of the hot spring town
- Cross the red parapet bridge visible on the left
: bus stop
Click the map to open Google Map
Informations about Hot spring travel
- JR East (Japan Railway)Web Site
- JAPAN RAIL PASS info(JR GROUP)
- Route Search (Japan Transit Planner)
- Japan Route Finder & Calculater (NAVITIME)
- Train Timetable Search(EKITAN)
- Kan-etsu Kotsu route bus to Shima Onsen
- Gunma Bus route bus fares / timetables
- Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
- Expressway bus Search (Bus Hikaku-Navi)
- Taxi Tel numberNakanojo Town(Mapion)
- Rent-a-carReservation(TABIRAI)
- Shima Onsen Tourism Association
- Hotel / Ryokan Shima Onsen(Rakuten Travel)
- Hotel / Ryokan Gunma Pref.(Jalan)
- Hotel / Ryokan Shima Onsen (Yuko Yuko)
- Weather forecast Nakanojooverview
- Weather forecast Nakanojohourly
Travel journal of day trip bathing to hot spring
Characters
- Nishi-san
- He is an orthodox hot springs lover and particular about quality of springs. He loves the hot springs flowing from the source, the hot water with a presence, and the rustic atmosphere.
- Kita-san
- He doesn't care much about quality of hot springs. He loves the open-air bath, and prefers hot springs that have visible features such as good views.
(→ Continuation from Kawaranoyu)
Nishi-san and Kita-san are visiting Shima Onsen in Gunma Prefecture today.
After enjoying "Kawaranoyu", they came to "Sekizenkan".
Sekizenkan and Keiun Bridge
Oh, this is THAT bridge!
Hmm? Is this bridge famous?
The red bridge appears in "Spirited Away" seems to be modeled after this bridge. Indeed, it may be similar.
Is that so? I see, there are such highlights.
Genrokunoyu exterior (entrance)
They entered Sekizenkan, open the door of the entrance of "Genrokunoyu".
Oh, open the door and I'm in the bathing room.
It's true. The inside is absolutely different from the outside.
It's "Taisho Roman". I guess it was so stylish at that time.
♨ To check whether this is really the bridge of "Spirited Away", you need to ask Director Hayao Miyazaki. Anyway, it is true that he has stayed at Sekizenkan.
Bathing room
Building in the Taisho era means, it's about 100 years old. In short, this is an important cultural property-like, too. I like such a retro feeling.
Bath of an important cultural property? It's a VIP treatment, you know.
Genrokunoyu has five bathtubs. Nishi-san and Kita-san entered the one of them.
Bathtub
I wonder the hot water is fresh and a bit salty-like ...
Oh? The hot water is springing out of the bottom, you know. Is this faucet a decoration?
It looks like it was really used in the past. I mean, it has retired now.
Former spout of hot water (currently unused)
By the way, there are five bathtubs, is there any difference?
Who knows?
Well, I'll try another one.
Kita-san moves to the next bathtub.
♨ Genrokunoyu was built in 1930. Strictly speaking, it's not in the Taisho era.
How about? Something different?
Hmmmm ... I wonder the temperature is a little different.
For the time being, Kita-san, who entered all five baths, found a small door on the bathing room wall.
Oh? What's this door?
Try opening it?
Steam bath
... A chair? Tiled?
Oh, There is an explanation. It's a steam bath. It says putting in hot water and closing the door. In short, it's a sauna, of old type.
Then I'll try it.
Kita-san, who put in hot water and closed the door, came out in just 5 seconds.
Oh? have you already come out?
It's dark, small, and stuffy. I hate this.
Bathing room
Kita-san did not like an old-fashioned steamed bath, but they enjoyed a time-travel feeling for a while in the bathing room full of "Taisho Roman".
(April 2013)
♨ Since the same hot water is supplied to all five bathtubs, the temperature is basically the same. However, because the precipitates have been attached to the inside of the pipe, the way of hot water is slightly different. So there may be differences in the temperature of each bathtub.
Impression & rating
Hot water that 100% Flowing from the Source is very fresh. Enjoying it in retro atmosphere is very luxurious.
3.5 pt
Impression & rating
The bathing in "Taisho Roman" is a precious experience. But there is almost no washing place and it is hard to use.
2.0 pt
The Onsen facility
- Address
- 4236-1, Oaza-Shima, Nakanojo Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Pref.
- Phone
-
domestic: 0279-64-2101
international: +81-279-64-2101 - Website
- Shima Onsen Sekizenkan
- Day trip bathing hours
-
[Weekday] 10:00 - 17:00
(Last entry at 16:00)
[Sat.,Sun., Holiday]
10:00 - 16:00 (Last entry at 15:00) - Business days
- Open everyday
- Charge
- Adults: ¥ 1,500 / 3 - 11 years old: ¥ 1,100 / Under 3 years old: Free of charge
- Baths
-
Gender-separated indoor bath, Mixed bathing indoor bath
(Day trip bathing is available in both indoor baths "Genrokunoyu" (gender-separated) and "Iwaburo" (mixed bathing).) - Facilities
-
No lockers in the undressing room.
(Genrokunoyu has an undressing room in the bathing room.) - Remarks
- Tattoo OK. (If you completely hide it with seals etc.)
The hot spring data
(According to hot spring analysis report etc.)
(Field examination date: Feb. 27, 2013)
- Spring quality
- Sodium / Calcium - Chloride / Sulfate spring (Hypotonic Neutral High temperature spring)
- Source
- Meijinoyu
- Gushing place
- 4236-2, Aza-Shinyu, Oaza-Shima, Nakanojo Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Pref.
- Temperature
-
67.4 ℃ (153.3 ℉)
[air temperature 8 ℃ (46.4 ℉)] - Water volume
-
Not measured※ (Natural spring)
According to the website of Sekizenkan, more than 900 L / min
- pH value
- 6.6
- Total ingredients
- 1.86 g / kg
- Perception
- Colorless and transparent
Today's Detour
Sekizenkan History Tour
(Photo above: Main building,
below left: Staircase in the Main Building,
below right: "Romantic tunnel" connecting the Main Building and the mountain villa)
Sekizenkan has a history of over 300 years. Besides a hot spring, it is an architecturally interesting ryokan. It's also fun to walk around the inside of building, find a motif that looks like "Spirited Away". The History Tour will explain the history of Shima Onsen and Sekizenkan, as well as architectural features. So if you have time, it might be a good idea to take part. (Free entry fee, reservation required, about 45 minutes required)
- The descriptions on this page contain personal opinions and are not necessarily objective facts.
- The information may have changed at present. In particular, the charge and price etc. has often not updated from the time of travel, so check the latest information on the official website.