Amelia's Travels

Hoshi 法師
http://www.ho-shi.co.jp/
The world's oldest hotel.
Opened in 718 A.D., in Awazu Onsen in Ishikawa prefecture (somewhere south of Kanazawa).
There's even a Noh theatre here
*Picture taken from website


Kani-yu 加に湯
http://www.naf.co.jp/kaniyu/welcome.stm
a 秘湯, located in Okukinu onsen near Nikko in Ibaraki prefecture.
From the directions given, it seems a little hard to get to even though it's near Nikko.
From Meotobuchi station, it's a 4.5km hike if you choose not to reserve a pick-up from the station.
*Picture taken from website


Furofushi Onsen 不老ふ死温泉
http://www.furofushi.com/index.html
Has a very nice sea-side rotenburo. Considered a 秘湯 as well.
Located in Aomori prefecture, along the route of the Scenic Gonosen 五能線 line that runs along the north-west coast of Tohoku.
Facilities and the ryokan itself seems very modern looking.
*Picture taken from website


Ryokan Yamamizuki 旅館山みず木
http://www.yamamizuki.com/index.html
Located in Kurokawa onsen town in Kumamoto prefecture
Chose this just because the rotenburo looks damn nice! Just look at it! Here's me wishing I'm soaking in there right now... ^_^
This place has a nice mix of historical old world and modern charm.
*Picture taken from website


Shikikan Saito 四季館 彩冬
http://saito-appi.jp/index.html
Located somewhere north of Hachinohe in Iwate prefecture.
Can't remember how I found this place, but their onsens looks really good.
Most of the rooms have nice views into the surrounding greenery, but i think the Katakuri 226 room (with the ensuite rotenburo) is the nicest!
*Picture taken from website



Choujyukan 長寿館
http://www.houshi-onsen.jp/index.htm
Located in Hoshi onsen (different from the Hoshi ryokan in Ishikawa) in Gunma Prefecture.
The onsens here are considered 秘湯, and they look really gorgeous in all seasons.
Established in 1200, this place really has lots of character to it.
*Picture taken from website

Onsenkaku 温泉閣
http://www.takaragawa.com/
Located in Takaragawa onsen in Gunma Prefecture.
Voted as one of the best river onsens in Japan.
And I'm planning a trip here in December 2010 (Read my trip plan here) as it's quite a close proximity to Tokyo.
*Picture taken from website