Honkan, Sekizen-kan

The most magical experience. This is the oldest Onsen in Japan dating back to the 17th century. We stayed one night in winter. The ryokan has 3 levels, we stayed in the first section — the original one — in a marvelous large room facing the famous red bridge. The onsens were great with both outdoors and indoors open until 1am! Definitely recommend.

Sekizenkan Ryokan (Gunma) Review Sekizenkan Ryokan in Gunma is an absolutely enchanting place — a true journey into Japan’s past. Known as one of the oldest hot spring inns in Japan, this ryokan is said to have inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, and when you step inside, you immediately feel that magical atmosphere. The building itself is full of history, with beautifully preserved wooden architecture, tatami corridors, and the sound of flowing water echoing softly through the halls. The private and public onsen baths are a highlight — filled with natural hot spring water that feels silky and rejuvenating. Each bath area has its own charm, and the views of the surrounding nature make it even more relaxing. The rooms are traditional yet comfortable, giving you a sense of old Japan while still offering modern conveniences. The kaiseki meals are artfully prepared and feature local Gunma ingredients, beautifully presented and full of delicate flavors. The staff are polite, attentive, and passionate about preserving the ryokan’s heritage. Every detail — from the paper lanterns to the tea served in your room — shows the deep respect for Japanese tradition. Staying at Sekizenkan feels like stepping back in time to experience the heart of Japanese culture. It’s a peaceful, spiritual place that combines history, nature, and hospitality in perfect harmony. Truly one of my most memorable and favorite experiences in Japan.

We love Sekizenkan and have visited 4 times over the last few years. We live in Tokyo and find the bus ride from Tokyo station is very easy, direct, and relaxing. This last time we took an incredible walk up above the resort and looked out over the expansive forest of autumn leaves. The water, the bathhouse, and the environment are all wonderful. The only small suggestion I would make is to offer a light course option in the Sanso building as 4 full meals can be a lot. If you stay two nights, you and up having two very large breakfasts and two kaiseki dinners in a row. I always feel bad wasting the food, but then my tummy hurts a little afterwards. This would never stop us from coming back, but it might be nice to have an option for simple cooked fish and healthy rice for one meal. Thank you and we will be back!

I was so happy to live out my Spirited Away dream! This was probably my favorite part of our Japan trip. Even though the booking process is definitely not foreigner friendly, and the website is one of the most frustrating I've ever encountered, it was worth it for the experience. Service was impeccable. Prices were high for our stay in Kashoutei, but it was actually very reasonable for the beautiful room and amazing kaiseki dinner and breakfast. I will never forget this experience.

Exceptional services rendered by the staffs. Drove our car to the entrance and before we could finish our check-in, our luggage were already in our rooms. Everything you could think of for improvements, they have it in place or already done. Their dinner and breakfast is like, a little bit of everything and all together you tasted the like the whole of Japan.

We stayed here after finding some unofficial rumors that it may have inspired the Ghibli film “Spiritied Away”. Amazing experience. You feel the history everywhere. Bonuses: the yukatas provided were the highest quality we had in Japan and we opted for their included dinner which was multiple courses and amazing.

Firstly I want to say, please come here because it is an amazing heritage place and it deserves all the love. Now for the review. As I walked along the beautiful pathway leading to the 300-year-old heritage building, my heart stopped for a moment. The bridge, the old architecture — everything seemed to transport me back to a distant past. It was breathtaking. Sadly, this was also the best part of my visit, because from that point, things went downhill. A day earlier, I had visited the architectural masterpiece that is Kusatsu Onsen, which set my expectations quite high. Perhaps that played a role in breaking the spell. When we entered and asked for a day visit, the man at the entrance didn’t seem particularly happy to help, even though I tried my best to speak in Japanese. After explaining that day guests could only use the indoor baths, he charged us the fee and handed over two small bags. (I’ll come back to those bags later.) Inside, the bathhouse had a nostalgic, retro vibe, though everything felt rather small and cramped. There were five tiny pools, one small shower, and two hidden stone “sauna” chairs. I moved from pool to pool, enjoying the varying temperatures. While the water was fine, it didn’t compare to Kusatsu’s quality. The real charm here lay in the building’s historical atmosphere. Now, here’s the reason for the three-star rating. As I was leaving and drying off, I finally checked what was inside the small bag — a toothbrush and what I thought was a towel, but turned out to be a tiny face towel. Trying to dry my genitals in front of a room full of Japanese men quickly turned into a comedy. The “towel” felt like sandpaper, making the experience genuinely painful. Out of curiosity, I checked other reviews later and saw that someone had complained about the same issue months ago, yet nothing had changed. Honestly, I’d rather they simply advertise it as a “bring your own towel” place than commit this small but unforgettable crime. In the end, the highlight of the visit was collecting the commemorative stamps — though since we weren’t allowed in all areas, we couldn’t get them all, as we are collectors, such pity. Please bring your own towel and enjoy this magnificent place. Worth it!

Very lovely place. It feels like you’re in spirited away. It is peaceful and relaxing especially the onsen. Looking forward to come back again the future.