Yunishigawa Onsen Honke Bankyu
Reference price as of October 12, 2026 (stay 2026-11-07). US$ is an approximate conversion from yen. Check the booking site for actual rates.
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forumWhat families say
Rakuten Travel rating 4.00 out of 5 (572 reviews). Guests praise the mountain-stream open-air bath fed straight from the source, the hearthside kaiseki reached by crossing the vine bridge, the historic atmosphere and the attentive service.
Kids Facilities
Mountain-stream open-air bath fed straight from the source (weakly alkaline simple onsen)
Mountain-stream open-air bath fed straight from the source (weakly alkaline simple onsen)
A weakly alkaline simple onsen, gentle even on a baby's skin, with every bath fed straight from the source. There are separate mountain-stream open-air baths and indoor baths for men and women, right beside the clear stream, and the waters have long been loved as a "Kodakara no Yu" (a bath said to bless couples with children).
- •The communal bath and open-air baths are separated by gender
- •Please check with the ryokan whether children who are not yet out of diapers may bathe (in a room with an open-air bath or a private-hire open-air bath, your family can bathe on its own)
Riverside private-hire open-air baths and rooms with open-air baths
Riverside private-hire open-air baths and rooms with open-air baths
The riverside private-hire open-air baths Hanamangetsu and Yumeyabune (each fitting 4-5 people, fed straight from the source) let your family share a moment at one with the Yunishigawa. There is also a good choice of rooms with a mountain-stream open-air bath, a semi-open-air bath or an indoor bath, so you can bathe privately without worrying about other guests.
- •The private-hire open-air baths are 45 minutes per session for a fee of 2,200 yen, reserved after check-in (open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.)
- •On some plans, the private-hire open-air bath is included free of charge
Hearthside kaiseki across the Kazurabashi vine bridge
Hearthside kaiseki across the Kazurabashi vine bridge
To reach the dinner venue, you cross the Kazurabashi vine bridge, handed down from the Heike, and gather around the hearth fire in the dining room of the hidden Heike house. The meal is a creative kaiseki of charcoal-grilled dishes and the bounty of the mountains and rivers. Children's meals are prepared with different dishes from the adults'.
- •Children's meals differ in content from the adults' meals
- •Please discuss allergies at least 3 days in advance (severe allergies and changes to a large number of ingredients cannot be accommodated)
Categories
Overview
Founded in 1666, Yunishigawa Onsen Honke Bankyu is a long-established onsen ryokan that has looked after the spring where Yunishigawa Onsen began. The weakly alkaline simple onsen has been flowing for more than eight hundred years and is served straight from the source, and the ryokan's pride is its mountain-stream open-air bath, where you feel at one with the clear water. Guests cross the Kazurabashi vine bridge, handed down from the Heike, to reach the dining area, where a charcoal-grilled kaiseki dinner is served around the sunken hearth of the hidden Heike house. All rooms are built with fine timber and sit along the clear stream, giving guests a relaxed stay.
This long-established onsen ryokan, founded in 1666, stands in the beautiful gorge of Yunishigawa Onsen in Nikko, Tochigi. Descendants of the Heike who fled from Dannoura settled here, and the family has protected the spring where Yunishigawa Onsen began ever since. Certified as a five-star ryokan for 26 consecutive years, this historic property stands alone in the valley, and the appeal of a stay here is the feeling of being wrapped up in the deep mountains and clear stream.
Onsen
The spring water is a weakly alkaline simple onsen, gentle even on a baby's skin, and every bath is fed straight from the source. There is the men's open-air bath Fujikura no Yu, the women's open-air bath Bihada no Yu (rich in metasilicic acid), the men's indoor bath Kindachi no Yu and the women's indoor bath Kodakara no Yu, all in cypress-scented bathrooms where the clear Yunishigawa stream runs right beside you. It has long been known as a "Kodakara no Yu" (a bath said to bless couples with children), and a Kosazuke Jizo statue, dedicated to the blessing of children, stands on the grounds. The waters are said to help with neuralgia, joint pain, sensitivity to cold, recovery from fatigue and beautiful skin.
Private-hire open-air baths and rooms with open-air baths
The private-hire open-air baths by the river, Hanamangetsu and Yumeyabune (each fitting 4-5 people, fed straight from the source), let families and groups share a moment at one with the Yunishigawa. Each session lasts 45 minutes for a fee, reserved after check-in. There is also a good choice of rooms with their own bath: rooms with a mountain-stream open-air bath, rooms with a semi-open-air bath, and standard rooms with an indoor bath. Many can be used 24 hours a day, so families can enjoy the onsen on their own without worrying about other guests.
Dining
To reach the dinner venue, guests cross the Kazurabashi vine bridge, handed down from the Heike. In the dining room of the hidden Heike house, you gather around the hearth fire for creative kaiseki cuisine featuring charcoal-grilled dishes and the bounty of the mountains and rivers. It is the ryokan's signature meal, considered the origin of Yunishigawa Onsen's hearthside cooking. Children's meals are prepared with different dishes from the adults', and allergies can be discussed up to 3 days in advance (severe allergies and changes to a large number of ingredients cannot be accommodated).
Rooms
All 24 rooms sit along the clear Yunishigawa stream. Finished with fine timber and earthen walls, they are spaces filled with the nostalgia of a Japanese hometown, each with its own character. Many are made up of two connecting rooms, and Japanese-Western types with a Japanese-style tatami room or a Japanese-style bedroom are available as well.
Access and things to note
From Yunishigawa Onsen Station on the Tobu Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line, take the public bus about 20 minutes and get off at the Honke Bankyu Ryokan-mae stop. There is no shuttle service, and if you miss the last bus you will need a taxi, which must be reserved in advance. Snow tires are required in winter, from around late November to late March. The building is wooden and has many stairs, so if you will be using a stroller or are unsure on your feet, please consult the ryokan in advance. Parking is free for 40 cars.
Access & Information
| location_onAddress | 749 Yunishigawa, Nikko-shi, Tochigi 321-2601 |
|---|---|
| directions_carAccess | About 20 minutes by public bus from Yunishigawa Onsen Station on the Tobu Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line; get off at the Honke Bankyu Ryokan-mae stop. There is no shuttle service, so if you miss the last bus you will need a taxi, which must be reserved in advance. Snow tires are required in winter. |
| trainNearest station | Yunishigawa Onsen Station |
| local_parkingParking | Free parking for 40 cars. |
| callPhone | +81-288-98-0011 |
| paymentsCards | VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UC, DC, NICOS, UFJ Card, Mastercard, JTB |
| languageOfficial site | https://www.bankyu.co.jp/open_in_new |
Map
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Reference price as of October 12, 2026 (stay 2026-11-07). US$ is an approximate conversion from yen. Check the booking site for actual rates.
Check rates & availability
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Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is Yunishigawa Onsen Honke Bankyu best suited to?
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It has facilities that work especially well for babies and toddlers (ages 0 to 2) and children aged 3 and over. There is no age limit, and families with children of any age can stay.
Is there parking at Yunishigawa Onsen Honke Bankyu?
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Parking: Free parking for 40 cars.
How do you get to Yunishigawa Onsen Honke Bankyu?
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About 20 minutes by public bus from Yunishigawa Onsen Station on the Tobu Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line; get off at the Honke Bankyu Ryokan-mae stop. There is no shuttle service, so if you miss the last bus you will need a taxi, which must be reserved in advance. Snow tires are required in winter.
What are the charges for co-sleeping and meals for children?
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Co-sleeping is available for up to 2 children, and elementary school children pay 70% of the adult rate in both the upper and lower grades. For infants and toddlers, the rate is set at 50% of the adult rate or in the range of 4,400 to 10,000 yen depending on whether meals and bedding are included.
Can we dine in a private room with young children?
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The private hearthside dining rooms are given priority to small groups, guests in rooms with an open-air bath, guests on plans that include a private room, guests staying more than one night, and guests with young children.
Do children get the same meal as adults?
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Children's meals are prepared with different dishes from the adults' meals.
If we drive in winter, do we need to prepare for snowy roads?
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From mid-December through the end of March there is a risk of snow and ice, so snow tires or chains are required.
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Information on this page was compiled by directly consulting Official website, Rakuten Travel, Ikyu.com (a Japanese booking site), Jalan (last verified: August 2026). Prices, availability and seasonal operations change. Please check each booking site for the latest information.
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