Sekizenkan

791. Sekizenkan, Shima Onsen, Gunma (pt.1) ★★★ A ryokan from the fan list of onsen that supposedly inspired Miyazaki’s depiction of the onsen in Spirited Away. Visually, there are definitely arguments for that: - the front view of the ryokan, with the old building and the bridge, looks very similar to the ones in the anime; - the atmospheric corridor between the buildings creates associations with the anime; - the overall format of a large multi-building property with onsen that you keep moving between. The ryokan consists of three buildings: - the old first building, which is exactly what creates that Miyazaki-like image. The rooms here are the cheapest and, judging by the description, in the oldest condition; - the middle building, which I understand is newer than the first one, but can still be considered old; - the distant modern building. It has newer rooms and separate dining areas. Staying in this building gives access to the lounge in the second building. Overall, this is a great example of how tradition is preserved while still creating the option of staying with a higher level of comfort. Old-school in some buildings, and more premium accommodation with service in a separate one. 12.01.2026 13.01.2026

791. Sekizenkan, Shima Onsen, Gunma (pt.2) ★★★ I stayed overnight in the far building. Car access to it is separate, basically by going around the whole building, and the parking lot is there too. The room had an onsen on the balcony. Inside the room there were three heaters, the central heating, air conditioning, and a small Dyson Hot+Cool. The room was very pleasant, modern, everything was very decent. Inside the ryokan there is its own stamp-rally, which is useful both for fun and for making sure you do not miss any of the main spots in all parts of the ryokan. A Japanese staff member handled things for me, and the service was decent. I ordered meals for one person, kaiseki dinner and breakfast. When staying in the far building, meals are served in separate private rooms. At dinner, an additional full meal menu was also available. For the indoor bath in the first building, day-use is available for ¥1500. Day-use is listed from 10:00 to 17:30. About the onsens: 1. The bath in the room on the balcony. View of the trees. Very well done and cozy. The water is clear, temperature 40. You can add cold water or hot spring water. 2. Indoor private free baths, light-colored. A round bath and a semicircular bath. The water is clear, temperature 42.5 in both. The humidity is high, but it is still fine to breathe inside. 3. Indoor private free baths, dark-colored. A semicircular bath and a round bath. The water is clear, temperature 41.5 in the semicircular bath and 42.5 in the round bath. The humidity is high, but it is still fine to breathe inside. 12.01.2026 13.01.2026

791. Sekizenkan, Shima Onsen, Gunma (pt.3) ★★★ About the onsen: 4. A private indoor bath for ¥3300 by reservation. It is in a separate little building, and it feels very atmospheric to walk there in the evening. The view from the window is of a grassy clearing, trees, and snow. The window could not be opened. The water was clear, with a temperature of 40. It was comfortable to breathe inside. 5. The bath area in the new building. 5.1. The outdoor bath in stone, with two sections. The view of the forest is through a fence. Cozy and atmospheric. The water was clear, with a temperature of 42-43. 5.2. The indoor area. It was tolerable to breathe inside. 5.2.1. The main bath with clear water, with a temperature of 43. 5.2.2. The small bath with clear water, with a temperature of 42.5. 12.01.2026 13.01.2026

791. Sekizenkan, Shima Onsen, Gunma (pt.4) ★★★ About the onsen: 6. An old-school bath in the old building. It is located under the main front building. When visiting these baths, it feels like you are really using museum exhibits. The humidity was very high, water was dripping from the ceiling, and there were many wet spots on the floor, on the benches, on the shelves, and in the clothes baskets. Even so, it was easy to breathe inside. There is a small shower room. 6.1. Five rectangular baths with clear water. Judging by the water temperature, it always seems to follow the same pattern of increasing, but randomly between the baths. In the evening the temperatures were 43, 42.5, 42.5, 41.5, 40.5 in one set of baths, and during the day there was almost the same set of temperatures, but in other baths, 43, 42.5, 42, 41.5, 40.5. 6.2. Two incredibly tiny saunas behind little doors. Against the backdrop of the place itself and the emotions it gives, they feel even more surreal. An incredibly cool place. If possible, it is worth staying overnight in the new building, because the day-use part is too short to really experience the ryokan as a whole. It has everything, the "supposedly Miyazaki" feeling, a great rotenburo in the rocks, "museum" baths, a large complex, and good service. 12.01.2026 13.01.2026

Food at Sekizenkan, Shima Onsen for one person. Dinner (partly, kaiseki + à la carte) and breakfast. 12.01.2026 13.01.2026

Sekizenkan, that famous ryokan supposedly from Miyazaki's Spirited Away (or maybe not). A beautiful ryokan by a beautiful river — worth seeing at least from the outside. They have many baths, but for higaeri they only let you into Genroku no Yu, a bath in European style from the Taisho era. A very unexpected gap. Very atmospheric, clear water, from 42 to 46 degrees in different tubs. Sulfate-rich, packed with minerals — very pleasantly relaxing. Recommended.