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Yunishigawa Onsen Honke Bankyu
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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.
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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)
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 |
Reference price as of August 22, 2026 (stay date 2026-09-12). Please check the booking site for actual rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost for a baby or toddler to stay?
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Rates for infants and toddlers are 50% of the adult rate with meals and bedding, 4,400 yen with bedding only, 10,000 yen with meals only, and 2,200 yen with neither meals nor bedding.
Can our family use a bath privately?
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Yes. The riverside private-hire open-air baths Hanamangetsu and Yumeyabune each fit 4-5 people and are fed straight from the source; sessions are 45 minutes for a fee of 2,200 yen, reserved after check-in, and the baths are open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Some plans include the private-hire open-air bath free of charge. Rooms with a mountain-stream open-air bath, a semi-open-air bath or an indoor bath are also available, and many can be used 24 hours a day.
Can children who are still in diapers use the communal baths?
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This is not stated, so please confirm with the ryokan. The communal bath and open-air baths are separated by gender. If you would rather bathe as a family, you can book a room with an open-air bath or reserve a private-hire open-air bath.
Are children's meals available, and can allergies be accommodated?
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Children's meals are prepared with different dishes from the adults'. Children charged 70% of the adult rate receive dishes similar to the adults' meal, and children charged 50% receive a kids' meal. Please tell the ryokan about any food allergies when you book, as requests made within 3 days of your stay may not be possible; severe allergies and changes to a large number of ingredients cannot be accommodated, though allergies to single ingredients such as buckwheat, raw fish or beef can sometimes be handled with a change.
How do we get there with children, and is the building easy to move around?
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Take the public bus about 20 minutes from Yunishigawa Onsen Station on the Tobu Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line 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, reserved in advance. 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 beforehand. Parking is free for 40 cars, and snow tires are required in winter.
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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.
We take care to keep information accurate, but always confirm the latest details on the hotel's official site and booking sites before you book or visit.