Akari no Yado Okabe is a small inn in Ikaho Onsen, Gunma, with only four rooms, which the inn says is the fewest in Ikaho. It is run by a small team led by the owner and the okami (proprietress), and describes itself as a simple, quiet place rather than a grand hotel. Before you book, three things matter: there is no large shared bath, only two private baths; preschool children cannot be booked; and the last check-in is 18:00.
Akari no Yado Okabe at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 373-8 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa, Gunma |
| Rooms | 4, each with its own toilet and washbasin |
| Check-in / out | 15:00 (last check-in 18:00) / 10:00 |
| Baths | Two private baths, no booking, 15:00–9:00 |
| Meals | Dinner and breakfast in the dining room “Akari” |
| Children | Elementary school: 70% of adult rate; preschool: cannot book |
| Parking | Free, 5 cars, no booking |
| Smoking | Non-smoking inside; smoking area outdoors |
| Contact | +81-279-72-3353 (8:00–20:00 Japan time), info@okabe-ikaho.com |
From the official website, read October 20, 2026. The +81 number is the official number in international format.
The four rooms at Akari no Yado Okabe
In a later renovation, the inn rebuilt its rooms around four different concepts so that, in its words, guests could enjoy a stay even on a fourth visit. Each room takes 2 to 4 guests, except the largest, which takes up to 5.
| Room | Size | Guests | Bath in room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiroi | 8-mat Japanese room + 8-mat bedroom | 2–4 | Not listed |
| Yuzutsu | About 30 m² | 2–4 | Shower room |
| Tamayura | About 20 m² + massage space | 2–4 | Not listed |
| Hanaakari | 12 mats + 2-mat veranda | 2–5 | Bath |
From the official rooms page. Every room has a toilet, washbasin and a massage chair or seat.
What is provided in the room?
The inn lists samue (loose cotton lounge wear), a bath towel, a face towel, tabi socks and a toothbrush. In the morning, staff enter every room to check the refrigerator; at night they do not enter unless they are laying out futons. Bringing in your own food and drinks is not allowed.
Is there a shared lounge?
Yes. The lounge on the 1st floor has self-service coffee from 15:00 to 21:00 and 6:00 to 9:30, and a pellet stove in winter.
The private baths at Akari no Yado Okabe
How do the two private baths work?
There is no large public bath. Instead there are two private baths: Konoka-buro, made of hinoki cypress, and Ishizukuri-no-yu, made of stone. The inn says they are used by at most four groups a day. No booking is needed: if one is free, lock the door at the changing room and go in. They are open from 15:00 to 9:00 the next morning. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap, a hair dryer, cotton swabs and razors are provided.
What kind of hot-spring water is it?
The water is piped in from Ikaho’s “Shirogane no yu” (silver water), described as a simple hot spring with metasilicic acid, clear and without taste or smell. The official pages do not mention an outdoor bath.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not say. Private baths may suit some guests, but ask the inn before you book. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Meals at Akari no Yado Okabe
What is dinner like?
Dinner is “Joshu obanzai,” home-style dishes of Gunma, served in the dining room “Akari,” which has chairs on casters and bench seats instead of floor seating. The course runs from a starter and hassun platter through sashimi, a simmered dish, a fried dish and rice to fruit, and changes with the season. You choose one of three main dishes: herb-grilled chicken at no extra charge, pork steamed in a bamboo steamer for 1,650 yen more, or a Joshu beef steak for 2,750 yen more, tax included. Dinner is at 18:00 or 18:30; you choose at check-in.
And breakfast?
Breakfast, at 8:00 or 8:30, centers on natto with condiments, the inn’s signature dish, with simmered tofu, salad, rolled omelet, country-style soup, pickles and freshly cooked rice. The drink list has Gunma sake, shochu and wine. For an anniversary, the FAQ lists a cake for 3,300 yen and wine for 3,850 yen, tax included.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
The official pages do not say. If you have an allergy or follow a vegetarian diet, email the inn before you book.
Getting to Akari no Yado Okabe in Ikaho Onsen
From the Ikaho Onsen bus terminal, the inn is about 11 minutes on foot, and there is no shuttle. The direct Ikaho Liner bus from Takasaki Station (east exit) takes about 75 minutes, with two round trips a day. From Tokyo, the JR highway bus “Joshu Yumeguri” runs from Busta Shinjuku to the Ikaho Ishidan-gai stop in about 2 hours 50 minutes; the inn is about 8 minutes on foot from there.
By car, it is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Nerima via the Shibukawa-Ikaho interchange. The inn has free outdoor parking for 5 cars, no booking needed. Stop at the front entrance and call out; staff will park your car for you and keep the key. The road up is steep.
Children, cancellation and payment at Akari no Yado Okabe
What do children cost?
Elementary school children pay 70 percent of the adult rate and get adult-style meals and bedding. The rooms page states that preschool children cannot be booked.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official FAQ lists 20 percent of the room charge from 10 to 4 days before, 50 percent 3 to 2 days before, 80 percent the day before, and 100 percent on the day or for a no-show. It does not list a fee for 11 days or more before. See our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay, and what else is added?
The official pages do not list payment methods, so ask the inn. A bathing tax of 150 yen per adult is added; the Shibukawa city page says children under 12 are exempt. See our onsen bathing tax guide. Booking on the official site gives 1,100 yen off per person compared with other sites, the inn says, plus free drip coffee in the room on plans with dinner.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Akari no Yado Okabe
- The website and booking page are in Japanese only. Questions can go to info@okabe-ikaho.com.
- The FAQ warns that booking emails may not reach Japanese mobile-carrier addresses, so use another address.
- Arrive by 18:00. A plan may set its own check-in time, and that takes priority.
- Plans include dinner and breakfast, a lighter dinner, a solo-traveler plan, and dinner only.
- Smoking inside the building brings a cleaning charge; use the outdoor smoking area.
- The inn’s news page lists the Kajika Bridge autumn light-up from October 27 to November 15, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does Akari no Yado Okabe have a large public bath?
Can children stay at Akari no Yado Okabe?
Can I bathe with a tattoo at Akari no Yado Okabe?
What is the cancellation policy at Akari no Yado Okabe?
How do I get to Akari no Yado Okabe?
Bottom line (2026): Akari no Yado Okabe is a four-room, owner-run inn in Ikaho Onsen with two private baths instead of a shared one and a Gunma home-style dinner with a choice of main dish. Arrive by 18:00, note that preschool children cannot stay, and email the inn with anything the Japanese pages do not answer.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Akari no Yado Okabe’s official pages: home (Japanese), about, rooms, meals, baths, FAQ, direct-booking benefits, access and the official booking page, plus Shibukawa City on the bathing tax. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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