Ryokan Kamiaizuya

Kamiaizuya stands beside the Houki River in the centre of Shiobara Onsen. Shoji screens and large windows admit the sound of water, wind and birds into the Japanese rooms, giving even a quiet afternoon indoors a close relationship with the valley.

The inn draws from its own chloride-bicarbonate spring for the large indoor bath and open-air bath. The water arrives hot and abundant, while the river and seasonal planting create the atmosphere around the tubs.

Dinner respects the character of mountain and stream ingredients, using local produce in seasonal Japanese courses rather than burying it under excessive ornament. Kamiaizuya’s appeal is traditional and elemental: a river-facing room, water from the inn’s own source and a meal shaped by Nasushiobara. It suits travellers who want a classic onsen-town stay with history and calm.