A Guide for First-Time Guests
A Timeless Retreat Where You Can Enjoy Hot Springs, Traditional Rooms, and Irori Cuisine Along a Mountain Stream
Enjoy the profound harmony of nature at Yunishigawa Onsen, with open-air hot spring baths fed directly from the source and surrounded by the deep mountain stream, traditional rooms crafted from natural wood, and our renowned irori kaiseki cuisine, where guests gather around a charcoal fire and share moments of warmth and conviviality.
Established in 1666 in Nikko Yunishigawa Onsen, Honke Bankyu is a historic ryokan with a legacy spanning approximately 360 years and 25 generations.
Our ancestors, descendants of the Heike clan, left the capital and sought refuge from the wars of their time, eventually finding a peaceful home here in Yunishigawa Onsen.
For more than 800 years, the abundant hot spring waters of Yunishigawa have continued to flow from the earth, bringing comfort and healing to the body and spirit. This is the very spring from which Yunishigawa Onsen is said to have originated.
We warmly welcome you to a place where the romance of history transcends time, where traditional wooden architecture lives on, and where you can find timeless tranquility immersed in the beauty of the surrounding mountains and nature.
A Historic Wooden Building
Our ryokan is a historic wooden building, where we have carefully preserved the warmth of natural materials and the character and beauty refined over many years.
One of our unique experiences, which is much appreciated by our guests, is crossing the traditional Kazura Bridge over the Yunishigawa River on the way to our irori dining venue for dinner.
Please note, however, that there is no elevator in the building, and there are many stairs and steps throughout the property. We sincerely ask for your kind understanding that these features are part of the unique character and charm of a historic Japanese inn.
Preserving the Spirit of Traditional Japan
Many of our guest rooms feature the traditional character of old Japanese homes, with massive wooden beams, plaster walls, and other elements that reflect the architecture of days gone by.
The warmth and distinctive atmosphere of our time-honored wooden building, beautifully polished by the passage of many years, have been warmly appreciated by many of our guests.
At the same time, due to the structure of the building, the gentle sounds of the flowing river and the wind may be more easily heard. You may also occasionally hear the natural creaking of the wood, as well as sounds from the corridors or neighboring rooms.
All our guests are considerate of one another and generally enjoy a quiet stay. Nevertheless, we kindly ask for your understanding that these sounds are part of the character of a historic wooden building.
Irori Kaiseki Cuisine Celebrating the Gifts of the Mountains and Rivers
For dinner, we offer both freshly grilled dishes prepared over a charcoal-fired irori hearth and creative kaiseki cuisine in our atmospheric dining hall, evoking the charm of old Japan.
For both breakfast and dinner, we place great importance on the local character of the region and the seasonal ingredients it provides.
We use as little seafood as possible, focusing instead on the fresh bounty of the mountains and rivers nurtured in this region.
We hope that, through the carefully selected flavors unique to this land, you will experience and appreciate the distinctive charm of Yunishigawa.