Narada Onsen Shiranekan

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 Narada Onsen Joteinoyu)
Today, Nishi-san and Kita-san are in Narada, located in the mountain valley of the Southern Japan Alps. In the afternoon, they stop off at a hot spring called "Shiranekan".

Exterior

Shiranekan is almost there.

Ah, right. Oh? I smell sulfur.

Oh, I remember now, Shiranekan smelled sulfur from outside.

Exterior

Arrived at Shiranekan's parking lot.

Above this. ...Hmm? 'Seven Wonders Hot Spring'. Seven Wonders...

I heard the color would change depending on the day.

The entrance to Shiranekan is at the top of the steps. There are Japanese lanterns from the 'Japan Association of Hitou (secluded hot spring) Inns' on both sides of the entrance.

Entrance

Look, it's a group to 'Hitou Inns'. By the way, I know it's a little late to ask this, but what conditions must be met to be called a Hitou?

Ah, well... well, in short, if it looks like a Hitou, it's a Hitou.

What is that?

Umm... 'cause there's no clear definition.

While saying that, they entered the building.

♨ The owner of Shiranekan is who also had served as an advisor to the Japan Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns.

Lobby

It's kind of like a ryokan.

No, it IS a ryokan. ...Well, it's stopped being a ryokan now and is a day trip onsen establishment. Until recently it was a proper ryokan.

Ah, I see. It seems like it was a nice ryokan, so it's a shame they'd given up.

To get to the bathing room, go outside past the break room. The signboard says that the open-air bath is to the right and the indoor bath is to the left. Nishi-san and Kita-san headed to the indoor bath first.

Indoor bath

Wow, it looks vintage. Nice.

Indoor bath hot water spout

Right? And the water here is kind of slimy or viscous, so really nice. There's lots of yunohana, too.

I see. And you can see the scenery, it's not bad.

Next, they headed to the open-air bath. Once they'd changed their clothes, went back to the signboard. The open-air bath was just ahead.

♨ Shiranekan was a ryokan that opened in 1962, but closed its accommodation business in February 2020. Currently, it only operates as a day trip onsen.

Open-air bath

It's not big, but has a nice atmosphere, you know.

Open-air bath hot water spout

Hmm? Was it like this? It seems different from the last time I came here... I'm sure it was a rock bathtub before...

Really? But it's nice to take a bath with the outside air. By the way, is it just me or does the water look a bit blue-green?

I'm not sure. I heard that the color changes depending on the day, so it might actually be slightly colored.

After thoroughly enjoying the hot water at Shiranekan, they headed to the break room.

Break room

It was a great hot spring after all.

My skin has become so smooth. This is really a skin-beautifying bath. It's really a shame they'd given up on the ryokan when it had such a great hot spring.

Exactly. Even if just a day trip bath, I don't know how long it will last.

Then, you have to been again soon. You've been here in summer and autumn, so you have to been in winter and spring, too.

Winter and spring... I'm sure the scenery would certainly be beautiful then.

Imagining Narada Village in snow and cherry blossoms scenery, Nishi-san and Kita-san felt they definitely had to visit again. The trip made them wish the hot spring scenery would last forever in the seasons change.

(November 2024)

♨ The rock bathtub when Nishi-san came here last time

Open-air bath (Rock bathtub)

This time, the bathing room with this open-air bath was for the women.

Impression & rating

The viscous water is so extraordinary and impressive. What's more, hearing the water changes depending on the day, I wanted to visit again.

4.0 pt

Impression & rating

The open-air bath is not large, but it has an indescribable atmosphere. The water is certainly unique, so it's an enjoyable hot spring.

3.5 pt

→ How to rate

The Onsen facility

Address: 344, Narada, Hayakawa Town, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi Pref.
Phone: domestic: 0556-48-2711
international: +81-556-48-2711
Website: Narada Onsen Shiranekan
Bathing hours: [Weekdays] 10:30 - 16:00(Last entry at 15:30) [Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays] 10:30 - 17:00(Last entry at 16:30)
Closed day: Irregular
(See business calendar)
Charge: Adults: ¥1,000 / Elementary school students and younger: ¥500
[Re-entry] (valid on the same or next day)
Adults: ¥500 / Elementary school students and younger: ¥250
Baths: Gender-separated indoor bath, Gender-separated open-air bath
Facilities: There are no lockers in the undressing room, but there are lockers for valuables (free of charge)

The hot spring data
(According to hot spring analysis report etc.)

(Field examination date: Apr. 8, 2016)

Spring quality: Sulfur containing - Sodium - Chloride spring (Hypotonic Alkaline High temperature spring
Source: Narada Onsen Nanafushiginoyu
Gushing place: 323, Narada, Hayakawa Town, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi Pref.
Temperature: 47.8℃ (118.04℉)
[air temperature: 17℃ (62.6℉)]
Water volume: 75.0 L / min (Pumping)
pH value: 9.1
Total ingredients: 3.905 g / kg
Perception: Colorless and clear, Sulfur taste, Salty taste, Sulfur smell

Today Beer

Nori's Beer

（left：American Pale Ale、right：Amber Ale）

Nori's Beer is a brewery located in Ichikawamisato Town, two towns away from Hayakawa. It is relatively new, they've only started brewing in 2023. It's their mark the label featuring characters of wheat and hop.

Both have a refreshing taste reminiscent of citrus. You associate the bitterness with bitter orange, so even people who don't like bitter beers might like them. It would be a shame to avoid them because "it's a new brewery" or "it's a brand I've never heard of".

(¥660 each / 330ml) (→ Nori's Beer)

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.

TRAIN ONSEN Travel Journals to Hot Springs in Japan