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Rotenburo Heaven – Private Open-air Baths In Fukushima

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Rotenburo Heaven – Private Open-air Baths In Fukushima

In this article, I’m going to introduce you to a number of traditional Japanese inns (ryokan) in onsen towns throughout Fukushima where you can experience the magic of private rotenburo outdoor baths.

WHAT ARE ROTENBURO?

'Rotenburo' translates as ‘open-air bath’.

The word refers to onsen baths that are located fully or partially outside. Depending on the location, bathers might be sheltered from the elements to some extent by roofs and bamboo walls, trees, glass windows etc. Rotenburo are very popular in Japanese onsen towns, especially during the winter months, when guests can enjoy bathing in a hot bath whilst surrounded by snowy mountains.

WHY USE PRIVATE BATHS?

At ryokan hotels in Japan, it is common to bathe together with other guests of the same sex, and in some cases, together with guests regardless of sex. There are, however, many people who prefer to bathe alone, or in the company of friends, family and loved ones. This is one of the main reasons why people use private baths, or ‘kashikiri buro‘.

Another reason is that Japan has a long history of tattoos being associated with gangsters known as yakuza. Of course, the majority of tattoo designs don’t resemble those traditional ones sported by yakuza, but even so, it has remained taboo to enter a public (or shared) bath if you have a tattoo. Although many ryokan turn a blind eye to this rule, it’s still the official policy of many ryokan and hotel in Japan to turn away guests with tattoos from using baths shared with other guests.

In order to avoid any drama, and any potential stares, many tourists from overseas choose to use private baths when they stay at ryokan hotels. Private baths can usually be booked at the front desk of the ryokan hotel, and guests are usually asked to choose a specific time to bathe.

WHICH RYOKAN IN FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE HAVE PRIVATE OPEN-AIR BATHS?

There are around 130 hot springs in Fukushima Prefecture and hundreds of ryokan hotels. In order to make a list of suggestions, I’ve had to cut this number down quite a lot.

I’ve decided to highlight the ryokan hotels in Fukushima Prefecture where guests can book private rotenburo, giving priority to those with English websites or associated websites which make it easy to book even if you don’t speak Japanese. There are so many amazing ryokan in Fukushima Prefecture, and this list is by no means extensive.

Ryokan Hotel Private Rotenburo (Overnight Guests) Private Rotenburo (Day Guests) English Website Price
1) Harataki

 

(Higashiyama Onsen, Aizu)

✔

 ✔ ✔ 2000 yen (50 min)
2) Takinoyu

 

(Higashiyama Onsen, Aizu)

 ✔ ✖ ✔ No extra cost for overnight guests
3) Seifutei

 

(Bandaisan Roku Onsen, Inawashiro)

 ✔ ✖ ✔

(Computer translation)

 No extra cost for overnight guests
4) Okawaso

 

(Ashinomaki Onsen, Aizu)

 ✔ ✖ ✔ 3240 yen (45 min)
5) Yoshikawaya

 

(Iizaka Onsen, Fukushima City)

 ✔ ✔ ✔ 2160 yen (45 min) + 1000 yen per person for day visit
6) Kikuya Ryokan

 

(Iizaka Onsen, Fukushima City)

 ✔ ✖ ✔ (Computer translation) 30 min for free
7) New Ougiya

 

(Tsuchiyu Onsen, Fukushima City)

 ✔ ✖ ✔ No extra cost for overnight guests
8) Sansuiso

 

(Tsuchiyu Onsen, Fukushima City)

 ✔ ✖ ✔ 1080 yen (60 min)
9) Yumori Onsen Hostel

 

(Tsuchiyu Onsen, Fukushima City)

 ✔

✖

✔ 

(Responds in English to Facebook  messages)

 2000~4000 yen per bath for overnight guests.
10) Furutakiya

 

(Yumoto Onsen, Iwaki)

 ✔ ✔ ✔

(Computer translation)

 1000 yen (45 min) + 800 yen per person

 

AIZU AREA

Aizu is known for its very snowy winters and long history.

1) Harataki

2) Takinoyu

3) Seifutei

  • Every room at this ryokan in Inawashiro Town has its own en-suite open-air private bath so you don’t even have to worry about booking time-slots for going in the bath.
  • Their homepage has an automatic translation function.
  • Seifutei can also be found on Booking.com & other booking sites.

4) Ookawaso

  • Ookawaso ryokan is in Ashinomaki Onsen town (the town is known for it’s cat station master)!
  • Ookawaso has a great selection of food at its dinner buffet, which is really good for those who don’t want to be forced into eating a specific, Japanese-style meal.
  • Overnight guests can book and pay an extra price to use the open-air private baths, but only 4 groups can make a booking each night, due to time and space restrictions.
  • Reservations in English can be made directly via email, or through a booking website.
  • More information on Fukushima.Travel
  • Here is their homepage.

NAKADORI AREA

Ryokan hotel in the central region of Fukushima Prefecture.

5) Yoshikawaya

  • Large ryokan hotel in Iizaka Onsen, near central Fukushima Station.
  • Yoshikawaya Ryokan welcomes guests during the day and evening to use its open-air baths.
  • It costs 2160 yen for each group to book the private bath for 45 minutes, as well as a 1000 yen charge per person.
  • They’re featured on a number of booking sites.
  • More information on Fukushima.Travel
  • English homepage

6) Kikuya Ryokan

  • Ryokan in Iizaka Onsen.
  • Kikuya Ryokan offers guests who stay the night a free 30 minutes in the private open-air bath, as well as the chance to dip in all the other baths.
  • Their website is machine translated but is ok to understand. They are also featured on some booking sites where bookings can be conducted in English.
  • Machine-translated English homepage

7) New Ougiya

8) Sansuiso

9) Yumori Onsen Hostel

  • Recently-opened hostel in Tsuchiyu Onsen with very reasonable prices.
  • Tattoo friendly onsen.
  • They have English-speaking staff who can answer any questions you might have via their Facebook Page (See here).
  • See their homepage here.

IWAKI AREA

Iwaki has much milder winters than the western and central part of Fukushima Prefecture, so visit Iwaki if you want to avoid the snow as much as possible!

 

10) Furutakiya

  • In scenic Iwaki Yumoto Onsen town by the coast.
  • Private open-air baths can be reserved by overnight guests and day-guests.
  • This ryokan has private open-air baths that can be rented for 1000 yen per 45 minutes (plus 800 yen per person for day-guests).
  • Featured on English-language booking websites.
  • Automatic-translation available on their website

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    Ebisu Drift Festival: A Total Guide

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Equally you can buy from Power Vehicles, a trusted dealer and mechanic's based on the road towards Touge and Higashi courses, who will offer support and repairs with any issues. The circuit is famous for its lack of hard rules, but there are a couple: no drinking and driving, and drivers should obey yellow and red flags from the circuit staff. Your wristband is valid for the whole weekend and re-entry is possible. The circuit is connected to a local zoo, so the track restaurant is safari-themed and serves common Japanese fare like curries and noodle dishes. There's a gas station on site, or across the road from the front gate.More information: Getting to Fukushima Top 10 Things to Do in Fukushima Cultural activities in Fukushima

    Ebisu Drift Festival: A Total Guide
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    Top 10 Things to Do in Fukushima Prefecture

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The interior houses a museum teaching visitors about the Aizu clan, with displays in Japanese and English, while the top floor offers wide-ranging views over the surrounding city.The castle grounds are also a busy spot in spring, when dozens of cherry trees bloom at once, and again in autumn, when trees of red and gold are illuminated in the evening.Nearby, the Tsurugajo Kaikan visitors’ center provides outstanding shopping options, including local snacks, gifts and sake, as well as kimono rental services. Visitors can also paint an akabeko here, one of the Aizu region’s most beloved toys, and an unofficial mascot of the area.2. Ouchi-juku, Shimogo TownSamurai travelling between Tsurugajo Castle and the historical capital of Edo (Tokyo) often stopped here at Ouchi-juku to rest and recover. The traditional thatched-roof village, located in Shimogo Town, is popular year-round for its tranquil atmosphere. 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    Michi-no-eki: 6 Roadside Stations to Visit in Fukushima Prefecture

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The seafront is roughly a hundred yards from the ice cream shop.Roadside Station Madeikan, Iitate VillageNearby tourist spots: Yamatsumi shrine, or heading east to Minamisoma for Soma NomaoiNestled in the woodland region between Fukushima City and the east coast, Iitate is a quaint village known for its greenery and abundance of smaller shrines. In summer it’s popular for visitors seeing its great sunflower patches, while this roadside station holds night-time illuminations in winter.In addition to a food court and a large shop selling local produce, there’s also a great souvenir shop selling arts and crafts. There’s even a few crane games!Aizu Yanaizu Roadside Station / HOTNearby tourist spots: Enzoji Temple, Chansey’s Lucky Park, January 7th Naked Shrine VisitYanaizu is a multi-faceted town despite its smaller size – the beautiful architecture at Enzoji Temple is the locale for the yearly ‘naked shrine visit’ on 7 January, as well as being the birthplace of the ‘akabeko’ red cow legend.The roadside station here features one of Fukushima’s four Chansey Parks, hailing the prefecture’s support Pokemon, with a public footpath nearby for anyone to use. The interior has an excellent canteen – the sauce katsudon, with deep-fried pork on rice, is amazing – and you can paint an akabeko in its ‘experience area’.Unsurprisingly, given the area's history, the shop is full of akabeko merchandise, and there’s even a few of the bigger cows hanging out nearby.Ozekaido Mishima Juku Roadside StationNearby tourist spots: Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint, Kaneyama Fureai Hiroba (train viewpoint)Located just down the road from Yanaizu, this is a great option if you’re looking to combine some of the region’s best sights. The roadside station in Mishima doubles as the parking area for the Tadami River Bridge Viewpoint, where the Tadami Line train crosses one of Japan’s most scenic bridges.The interior is also quite charming, featuring local products (including wicker crafts, a staple of the area) and a canteen serving hot food.Michi-no-eki Inawashiro Roadside StationNearby tourist spots: Fukushima’s big three ski resorts, Lake Inawashiro, Goshikinuma PondsA natural stopping point in any season, Inawashiro’s roadside station gets busy on the weekends for its prime location between some of Fukushima’s most popular natural spots. Lake Inawashiro, to the south, is one of Japan’s largest lakes, and can be traversed by sightseeing boat, while the Goshikinuma Ponds to the north are particularly gorgeous in autumn.The canteen here is some of the best food I've ever had while travelling across Japan:Inawashiro is also a good place to take a break if you’re heading to one of the big ski resorts nearby, among them Inawashiro (free on weekdays!), Grandeco or Nekoma Mountain.Roadside Station FukushimaNearby tourist spots: Mt. Azuma-Kofuji, Fukushima Fruit Line, Bandai-Azuma Skyline sightseeing roadPossibly the easiest michi-no-eki to visit from Fukushima City, this roadside station feels spacious and airy thanks to its beautiful wooden design.In addition to local rice, fruits and vegetables, there is a bakery area, plus a food court with a variety of options including ramen and curry. The nearby sweets shop serves ice cream in a bunny design, in homage to the giant ‘snow rabbit’ that forms as snow melts on Mt. Azuma-Kofuji every year.In fact, the whole michi-no-eki is themed after the rabbit, which also inspired one of Fukushima City’s mascots, Momorin. (seen here outside Fukushima Station!)Every michi-no-eki in one placeLooking for more options? We put almost every michi-no-eki into this Google Maps list:

    Michi-no-eki: 6 Roadside Stations to Visit in Fukushima Prefecture
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