Kawayu Onsen Tabi no Yado Shiba

Right in the middle of Kawayu Onsen, booked by one group a day

This whole-house rental with 3 rooms in one building stands in the center of Kawayu Onsen, in Kawayu, Hongu-cho, Tanabe, Wakayama, not far from the World Heritage site Kumano Hongu Taisha. Only one group stays per day, so families and groups have the entire house to themselves without worrying about other guests. The building has been renovated and feels new inside, with Japanese-style tatami rooms such as Yatagarasu no Ma that have sunken-floor (horigotatsu) seating, and a terrace looking out at the mountains and the river.

Natural onsen straight from the source, 24 hours a day

The bath is a natural onsen flowing straight from the source, and you can soak whenever you like, around the clock. The spring source is Kawayu Onsen, and the water is a sodium bicarbonate and chloride spring, said to be beneficial for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain and recovery from fatigue. It is an open-air, family-bath style bath, and because the whole building is yours, your family can bathe in private. You can choose from 10 kinds of shampoo and treatment, and a ReFa shower head and a Dyson hair dryer are provided.

The river out front and an all-weather barbecue terrace

The clear Otonashi River flows right in front of the inn, and in summer it is a fine spot for playing in the water. On the all-weather barbecue terrace Amaterasu you can grill even on a rainy day, and barbecue gear such as grill racks and gas burners is available to borrow free of charge. In winter, from December to February, Kawayu Onsen's famous Sennin-buro - an enormous natural open-air bath - appears on the riverbed, and the surrounding area is worth a walk as well.

Kitchen and facilities

The kitchen is fully equipped with cooking utensils, so you can cook for yourselves. There is also a refrigerator, a microwave (available in some cases, by advance reservation) and an electric hot-water kettle. The counter where you can sing karaoke (1,000 yen per night) also has a guitar and a bass you are free to play, and there is a tea lounge, a late-night snack corner and a free self-service laundry. Wi-Fi and a printer are available too, so the inn works for a workation.

Access and basics

About 40 minutes by car from JR Shingu Station and about 70 minutes by car from Nanki-Shirahama Airport. Check-in is from 3 p.m. to midnight, and checkout is at 10 a.m. There is free parking for 2 cars in front of the inn, and if you have more, free parking nearby is arranged for you. A bathing tax of 150 yen per person applies separately.