Tsukagoshiya Shichibei is an inn in Ikaho Onsen, Gunma, founded in the 1860s and presented by the inn as a place the painter Takehisa Yumeji loved. It is one of only eight ryokan in Ikaho that hold rights to the source spring, so its large bath runs with the town’s brown Kogane no Yu straight from the source. Before you book, three things matter: the open-air bath is not hot-spring water; allergies must be declared when you book; and 200 yen per adult is added for the bathing tax and a spring protection fund.
Tsukagoshiya Shichibei at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 175-1 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa, Gunma |
| Phone | +81-279-72-3311 |
| Founded | 1860s (Bunkyu era) |
| Large bath | Hototogisu no Yu, free-flowing Kogane no Yu from the source |
| Open-air baths | Cypress, men and women; not hot-spring water |
| Bath hours | 15:00 to 10:00 next morning (cleaning from 10:00) |
| Dinner | Courses with teppanyaki in the Kou dining room; private-room plans |
| Extra per adult | Bathing tax 150 yen + fund 50 yen |
| Parking | 150 spaces |
From the official site and booking engine, read October 20, 2026.
The inn’s English page spells the name “Tsukagoshiya Shichibee” and links to an English version of the booking engine. The company page lists the inn as a Government Registered International Tourist Ryokan.
Dinner and breakfast at Tsukagoshiya Shichibei
What is on the dinner menu?
The main course is the Shichibei-zen: a starter, sashimi, a warm dish, a seasonal plate, teppanyaki, a vinegared dish, rice cooked in an iron pot, soup and dessert. For the teppanyaki you choose Akagi beef, Joshu Rokkoku pork or Akagi chicken. The Tachibana-zen course uses an Akagi beef sirloin. Local dishes on the menu include okkirikomi noodle stew and konnyaku daifuku.
Where do you eat, and what about breakfast?
Dinner is in Kou, a dining room with chairs and tables that serves Gunma sake, and some plans serve both dinner and breakfast in a private room. The standard plans include two meals, but the official pages do not describe breakfast. A small shop sells canned beer, highballs, snacks and cup noodles.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
Declare allergies when you book; requests made from three days before your stay, or on the day, may not be met. The kitchen is shared and utensils are not separated, so allergens cannot be removed 100 percent, and the fish and kelp stocks used in Japanese cooking cannot be changed. Guests with severe allergies may be declined. One or two disliked items per person can often be swapped, but not a whole category such as all fish or all meat. The official pages say nothing about vegetarian or halal meals.
The baths at Tsukagoshiya Shichibei
What makes the large bath special?
The inn is one of only eight ryokan holding rights to the Ikaho source spring, so the garden bath Hototogisu no Yu is filled with free-flowing Kogane no Yu, the brown “golden water” of Ikaho. Since August 1, 2024, the inn collects 50 yen per adult for a fund that protects this source.
Is the open-air bath hot-spring water?
No. The men’s open-air bath, Hoshizuki no Yu, and the women’s, Kagetsu no Yu, are cypress baths, and the Japanese bath page notes that the open-air baths are not hot-spring water. Enjoy them for the outdoor air, and go to the large bath for the brown spring water.
When are the baths open?
Both the large bath and the open-air baths are open from 15:00 to 10:00 the next morning; cleaning starts at 10:00. The women’s large bath has a baby bed, an infant bath chair and baby soap. The home page lists rooms with their own open-air bath, but we could not read the details, and the official pages do not mention a private bath to book.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Ask the inn before you book; our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Prices, children and rules at Tsukagoshiya Shichibei
How much does a stay cost, and what is added?
Room rates sit in the booking engine, which loads them only after you choose a date, so we could not read them. The inn says booking on its official site gives the lowest rate. On top of the rate, it collects a bathing tax of 150 yen and the 50 yen fund, both per adult. Shibukawa City sets the bathing tax at 150 yen per person per day, 100 yen when the basic room rate is 6,000 yen or less, and children under 12 are exempt; see our onsen bathing tax guide.
What about children?
Some plan descriptions offer free co-sleeping for small children and 20 percent off for children. The kitchen makes a children’s menu and rice porridge, and you can bring baby food for staff to warm. Minors staying at the inn need a parental consent form.
What is the cancellation policy, and how do I pay?
Neither is on the official pages, and the booking engine did not show them to us. Check the rules on your plan before you confirm; our hotel cancellation guide covers the questions worth asking.
What extras can I order?
In-room massage starts at 4,400 yen for 40 minutes (6,600 yen for 60 minutes), tax included. Kimono dressing costs 4,400 yen, or 6,600 yen for a furisode. Hair dryers, humidifiers, air purifiers, DVD players and wheelchairs can be borrowed. From January 2027, smoking rooms allow heated tobacco only; paper cigarettes go to the smoking area.
Getting to Tsukagoshiya Shichibei in Ikaho Onsen
From JR Shibukawa Station, take a taxi or a route bus bound for the Ikaho Onsen bus stop. The official pages give different walking and riding times, so allow some margin, and ask the inn whether it can pick you up from the bus stop. By car, leave the Kan-etsu Expressway at Shibukawa-Ikaho IC, about 20 minutes away; there are 150 parking spaces. Adding more hot springs to the trip? See our guide to Kusatsu Onsen from Tokyo.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Tsukagoshiya Shichibei
| Question | What to do |
|---|---|
| Check-in and checkout times | Not on the official pages; ask the inn |
| Cancellation and payment | Check your plan in the booking engine |
| Allergies | Declare them when you book |
| Brown hot-spring water | In the large bath, not the open-air bath |
| Cash at checkout | Keep 200 yen per adult for the tax and fund |
| Pickup | Ask the inn before you travel |
The inn takes questions by phone at +81-279-72-3311, by email at yoyaku@tsukagoshiya.jp, and through the inquiry form on its Japanese site.
Frequently asked questions
Is the open-air bath at Tsukagoshiya Shichibei a hot spring?
What is added to the bill at Tsukagoshiya Shichibei?
Can Tsukagoshiya Shichibei handle food allergies?
What time is check-in at Tsukagoshiya Shichibei?
Can I smoke at Tsukagoshiya Shichibei?
Bottom line (2026): Tsukagoshiya Shichibei is an Ikaho Onsen inn founded in the 1860s, with free-flowing Kogane no Yu in its large bath and teppanyaki dinners of Gunma meat. The open-air bath is not hot-spring water, allergies must be declared at booking, and prices and check-in times should be confirmed on the official English booking page.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Tsukagoshiya Shichibei’s official pages: home (Japanese), English page, baths, cuisine, guide, access, hospitality, massage, reservations and company, the official English booking page, and Shibukawa City’s bathing tax page. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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