MARUCHO RYOKAN -Facilities & Hot Spring Reports (2)-
| Step inside the inn, and you'll find features such as “Ranma” (transom woodwork) and an irori (traditional sunken hearth), which seems to be a remnant from the old days of the inn, and it can be said to be an authentic Japanese-style ryokan. | |
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“Ranma”, a remnant of the old building, is placed at the entrance. |
| Entrance・Lobby | |
| The hallway on the second floor, where the guest rooms are located, is covered with tatami mats, which are extremely comfortable to walk barefoot on. | |
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It is nice to see that the inn seems to be well kept and clean. |
| Tatami-matted hallway | |
| The inn's facilities are quite simple, with 3 private baths and a restaurant on the first floor, and guest rooms and a library on the second floor. | |
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| Library | |
| In the past, “Marucho Ryokan” operated with 3 baths, separate large public baths for men and women, and a private bath. However, as individual guests have become the main clientele, the gender-separated large public baths are now often used as private baths. The hot spring at “Marucho Ryokan” is a “Carbon dioxide containing - Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium / Hydrogen carbonate spring” (old name of the spring: “Carbonic containing - Bicarbonate earth spring”), and all baths use 100% free-flowing hot spring water directly from the source. However, hot water (not hot spring water) is sometimes added during the night in winter when the temperature is low. Nagayu Onsen is known as “Japan's No.1 Carbonated Hot Spring”, but because carbon dioxide escapes at high temperatures, you won't see any visible bubbles in the water. However, the wonderful quality of the spring is obvious when you look at the spring's outlet. The highly concentrated carbonated spring water has a unique reddish-brown color due to the high mineral and iron content of the solid substances in the hot spring water. As the spring's name suggests, Nagayu (long soak), you'll truly feel the effects if you take your time in the bath. The carbon dioxide component expands the body's blood vessels and promotes blood circulation, something you can actually feel on your skin. Professor Takeyuki Matsuo of Kyushu Imperial University (now Kyushu University), who studied the effects of long-bathing carbonated spring water for many years, sang in a tanka poem. “Drink it and it heals, soak in it and it helps, Nagayu's hot springs are a remedy for the heart, stomach, and blood”. Not only bathing, but also drinking the spring water is said to be effective. In Germany, hot springs are called “drinking vegetables”. In fact, it is good for supplying minerals. However, the iron content is also strong, so do not drink too much. 100 to 200 cc at a time, or 200 to 1,000 cc per day, is said to be an appropriate amount. Interestingly, a humorous traffic sign was spotted that read, “If you drink, don't drive; If you want to drink, drink hot spring!”. |
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MARUCHO RYOKAN Travel Journal
Articles
“Marucho Ryokan” is a long-established inn founded in 1907 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008. Mr. Yoshifumi Ito (born in 1957), the current owner and head chef, is the fourth generation. He had always loved working at inns and tried to help out in the family business right after graduating from university, but......
Private & Open-air Bath Reports
“Marucho Ryokan” has a total of 6 rooms, 2 large private baths and 1 small private bath, for a total of 3 private baths. There are no time restrictions, so you can bathe as much as you like, whenever you like, 24 hours a day......
Facilities & Hot Spring Reports
Renowned as “Japan's No.1 Carbonated Hot Spring”, Nagayu Onsen is a small hot spring resort located on the eastern side of the Kuju Mountain Range, which features peaks reaching up to 1,700 meters in elevation. It is also......
Guest Room Reports
“Marucho Ryokan” offers a total of 6 guest rooms, with 2 rooms available in each of the 3 different styles. The simple, uncluttered design of the Japanese-style rooms resembles that of an elegant tea room. This may be the inn's consideration for the guests......
Cuisine Reports
Meals at “Marucho Ryokan” are served in 2 types of dining rooms. Guests who prefer table seating will be guided to the “Keisui-An” dining room. It is a serene tea room featuring blue cedar and zelkova wood, creating a calm and refined atmosphere......
Extra Reports
If you visit “Marucho Ryokan”, be sure to also try the local outdoor baths. There are 4 outdoor baths within walking distance, allowing you to experience subtle variations in the carbonated spring water. Guests staying in rooms facing the Serikawa River will see “Gani-Yu”......
| Keywords for this ryokan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| A traditional Japanese ryokan with a total of 6 rooms offering a peaceful stay | |||
| Highly concentrated carbonated spring to be monopolized in 3 private baths | |||
| Refined kaiseki cuisine that is also popular among locals | |||
| A tour of the nearby hot springs will impress even the most seasoned hot spring enthusiast | |||
| Located along Serikawa River, the inn is healed by the sound of the mountain stream |
| Check-In | 3:00 p.m. | ||
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| Check-Out | 10:00 a.m. | ||
| Card usage | Available | ||
| Room Views | River and hot spring area | ||
| In-room Meal | Not available | ||
| Dinner | Creative kaiseki cuisine | ||
| Breakfast | Japanese cuisine | ||
| Official website's online reservation benefits | 【Best Rate Guarantee】The most economical rates are available for reservations through official website. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Packages | Website Limited Plan★ Plan with a sip of beer, Bungo beef steak plan, etc., please check the Official Website★ | ||
| Shiratama and Wabisuke (Capacity of 3 persons) |
From 18,000 yen Up Charge for the day before holiday from 1,100 yen ※6 tatami mats room + Veranda + T |
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| Rikyu and Houshi (Capacity of 4 persons) |
From 19,000 yen Up Charge for the day before holiday from 1,100 yen ※8 tatami mats room + Veranda + T |
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| Chouraku and Takasago (Capacity of 5 persons) |
From 20,000 yen Up Charge for the day before holiday from 1,100 yen ※10 tatami mats room + Fumikomi (entryway) + T |
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| Establishment / Reconstruction | Established: 1907 / Reconstructed: 2004 | ||
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| Number of Rooms | All 6 rooms | ||
| Number of People Accommodated | 24 persons | ||
| Private bath | Private open-air bath x 3 Charge : Free of charge for overnight stay Usage hours : 24 hours Reservation method : Advance reservations (at time of accommodation reservation) and at check-in |
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| Large public bath and other | Large public baths for men and women (men and women are not interchangeable) | ||
| Parking Area | 15 cars | ||
| Pets | Not allowed | ||
| Barrier Free | － | ||
| Esthetics / Massages | － | ||
| Internet | Wi-Fi available | ||
| DVD | － | ||
| TV Channels | NHK: 2 stations, Private Broadcasting: 3 stations, NHKBS: 2 stations | ||
| Facilities | Tea room “Keisui-An”, Library | ||
| Refrigerator System | Declare only what you use (no space for drinks you bring in/freezer not available) Refrigerator drinks: 2 cans of beer, 2 soft drinks, 1 mineral water |
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| Vending Machine | － | ||
| Sales shop | － | ||
| Yukata | ◎ | Bath towels | ◎ |
| Towels | ◎ | Soap | ◎ |
| Body wash | ◎ | Shampoo | ◎ |
| Conditioner | ◎ | Rinse in shampoo | ◎ |
| Shower cap | ◎ | Toothbrush | ◎ |
| Hair dryer | ◎ | Brush | ◎ |
| Comb | ◎ | Razor blade | ◎ |
| Cotton bud | ◎ | Toilet with washer | ◎ |
| Wheelchair | － | ||
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| Child | Children's yukata / Baby food / Children's tableware / Hot water for powdered milk | ||
| Foreign Languages | － | ||
| Recommended Souvenirs | Onsen Sugar (660 yen) ※tax included | ||
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| Nearby Convenience Store | 1 min. on foot | ||
| Cellular Antennas | ◎docomo | ◎au | ◎softbank |
| Charges | － | ||
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| Usage time | － | ||
| ※With meal plan (reservation required) | |||
| Charges | 5,500 yen (※tax included) | ||
| Meal Details | Lunch kaiseki | ||
| Settlement Date | － | ||
| Reception hours | － | ||
| Other | Private rest room available | ||
| Spring quality | Carbon dioxide containing - Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium / Hydrogen carbonate spring (Hypotonic, Neutral, High temperature spring) | ||
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| Temperature of the source | 42℃ | ||
| Output rate | － | ||
| Hydrogen ion | pH 6.8 | ||
| Total dissolved substances (excluding gases) | － | ||
| Gushing of the source | A privately sourced hot spring (drawn up through boring)※Number of private sources: 1 | ||
| Add water / Circulation Filtration | The spring water is free-flowing, but hot water (not hot spring water) is added only on cold winter days | ||
| Water heating | － | ||
| Disinfection of bath | No | ||
| Replacement of hot water in bathtub | Once a day | ||
| Bath Additives | No using | ||
| Indications by Spring Quality (Revised on July 1, 2014) | Cuts, Peripheral circulatory disturbance, Sensitivity to cold, Depression, Dry skin | ||
| General Indications for Bathing (Revised on July 1, 2014) | Chronic pain or stiffness of muscles or joints (chronic phase of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, neuralgia, frozen shoulder, bruises, sprains, etc.), muscle stiffness in motor paralysis, sensitivity to cold, peripheral nerve disorder, decline of gastrointestinal function (slow digestion, intestinal gas formation, etc.), mild high blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance (diabetes), mild hypercholesterolemia, mild asthma or emphysema, hemorrhoidal pain, autonomic instability, various symptoms from stress (sleep disorders, depression, etc.),convalescence stage of illness, recovery from fatigue, promotion of health. | ||
| Color of water | Slight cloudy water | ||
| For drinking | Yes | ||
| Indications for drinking | Yes (Chronic gastrointestinal disease, Chronic constipation, Diabetes, Gout, Liver disease) | ||
| Smell / Taste | Unique mineral smell / Iron taste | ||
| By Train | JR Hohi Line Bungo Taketa Station, 45 minutes by bus (bound for Nagayu Onsen), 3 min. walk from the last stop | ||
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| Shuttle bus | None | ||
| By Car | Oita Expressway, 50 min. from Yufuin IC (35 km) | ||
| Nearby Sightseeing Spots | Yunohara Tenmansha Shrine, Nagayu Dam observation deck | ||
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| Recreation (tourist farms, parks, etc.) | Kiyotaki Park, literary monument tour, Sawamizu campground | ||
| Sports | Tennis, badminton (Naoiri Sports Park, Taketa city) | ||
| Staff messages | Message from proprietress We value not just thoughtfulness, but heartfelt consideration, cherishing the spirit of “Ichigo-Ichie” (once-in-a-lifetime). |
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| Date of Interview | May 24, 2009 | ||
| Date of Information update | Sep 19, 2018 | ||
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※When making a reservation, please mention that you saw "kashikiri-onsen.com" |
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Article creator of this ryokan
CEO of Onsen.com Co.,Ltd.
For more than 30 years, he has been visiting hot spring ryokans all over Japan, persuading innkeepers of the need for "private baths". He is still a traveler who spends half of the year at a hot spring. In addition to being a article creater, photographer, and drone pilot, he also designs websites and provides consulting services.
