Ikaho Shusuien (“Natsukashiki Yado Ikaho Shusuien,” the nostalgic inn) sits on a lookout point in Ikaho Onsen, Gunma, and promises a stay that feels familiar even far from home. Lucky tanuki (raccoon dog) figures stand around the building, the lobby is set up like a festival street, and the inn runs its own rakugo comedy hall. Before you book, three things matter: the official site is in Japanese only, with times, prices and rules on its booking page; dinner is Joshu beef sukiyaki or shabu-shabu; and the two large baths swap between men and women overnight.
Ikaho Shusuien (Syusuien) at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 557-27 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa, Gunma 377-0102 |
| Phone | 0279-72-3210 (9:00–18:00); from abroad +81-279-72-3210 |
| Setting | A lookout point above Ikaho Onsen |
| Baths | Two large baths, swapped between men and women overnight |
| Bath hours | 15:00–24:00 and 5:00–10:00 |
| Dinner | Joshu beef sukiyaki or shabu-shabu at Yoshino |
| Barrier-free room | One type: Minori-no-uta |
| English website | None |
From the official site, read October 20, 2026. The official site gives no English name; its web address spells it “syusuien,” and “Ikaho Shusuien” is our romanization.
Which room should you book at Ikaho Shusuien?
Three rooms share their names with mountains of the region, Tanigawa, Asama and Haruna, and the inn presents its Japanese rooms as looking out on the Joshu mountains. Here is each type with the capacity its own page gives.
| Room | Type | Guests |
|---|---|---|
| Mori-no-uta | 8-mat Japanese room plus a bedroom with two semi-double beds | 4 |
| Minori-no-uta | Two semi-double beds, barrier-free, with veranda | 2 |
| Tanigawa | 14.5-mat Japanese view room (10 + 4.5 mats) | 4 |
| Asama | 12-mat Japanese room with semi-double twin beds and a sofa bed | 2 |
| Haruna | 12-mat Japanese room with semi-double twin beds | 2 |
| View room | 10 mats, or two connected rooms | 4 / 7 |
| Japanese room with twin beds | Two rooms (10 + 4.5 mats) | 3 |
| Standard Japanese room | 8 mats, or 12 mats (one 12-mat type is smoking) | 2 / 6 |
From the official rooms pages, read October 20, 2026.
What is in the room?
The rooms pages list a TV, refrigerator, electric kettle, safe and hair dryer. They do not say whether rooms have their own bath or toilet, so ask the inn if that matters to you. For the view rooms, the inn notes that you cannot choose the specific room.
Is there a room for wheelchair users?
Yes, one type. Minori-no-uta is listed as barrier-free, with two semi-double beds for 2 guests. Ask the inn about access to the baths and dining rooms before you book.
The baths at Ikaho Shusuien
When are the baths open?
There are two large baths, Kamitsuke-no-yu, with a large tiled mural, and Ehigasa-no-yu, with stained glass. They are open 15:00 to 24:00 and 5:00 to 10:00, and the men’s and women’s sides swap between night and morning, so you can try both. The inn’s floor map marks an open-air bath on the 3rd floor; the bath page does not describe it.
What is the water like?
The spring is called Shirogane-no-yu (“silver water”), a simple spring with metasilicic acid, clear, with no taste or smell. The inn lists recovery after illness, fatigue recovery and general health as its benefits. The official pages do not list a private bath.
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.
Meals at Ikaho Shusuien
What is dinner like?
Dinner is at Yoshino, the inn’s Joshu sukiyaki and shabu-shabu restaurant: Joshu beef sukiyaki, Joshu beef shabu-shabu, or shabu-shabu of Joshu barley-fed pork. The facilities page lists private dining rooms and the Sakura-no-ma dining room. Side dishes include Ginhikari trout, konnyaku dengaku, motsu stew, Akagi chicken karaage and maitake tempura, with Gunma sake. Yoshino also serves diners who are not staying. Groups of 8 or more who book a stay can have a kaiseki meal instead.
What about breakfast and allergies?
The official site does not describe breakfast. The meal pages say nothing about allergies or vegetarian meals; only the café page asks guests with allergies to tell the staff. Contact the inn before you book.
Where can I eat or drink later in the evening?
The izakaya Yoshinoya Shoten is open 17:00 to 22:30, with its pub menu from 17:00 to 19:30, and the Ukigumo lounge is open 20:00 to 24:00.
Prices, children, cancellation and payment at Ikaho Shusuien
How much does a stay cost?
The official website does not list prices; they are on the inn’s booking page, which we could not open. Check prices for your dates there. One perk for booking direct: the inn gives each adult who books on its official site a wooden tanuki token, which can be exchanged for a drink or ice cream inside.
What do children cost, and how do I pay?
Child rates and payment methods are not on the official website. Check them on your plan or call the inn.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official website does not state it. Read the rule on your plan before you book; our hotel cancellation guide explains how fees work in Japan.
Is there a bathing tax?
Shibukawa City lists a bathing tax of 150 yen per guest per day (100 yen when the basic room rate is 6,000 yen or less), and guests under 12 are exempt. The inn’s pages do not say whether its prices include it. See our onsen bathing tax guide.
Getting to Ikaho Shusuien
The official site gives the address, 557-27 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa, but no train or bus directions and no word on a pickup. Guests who drive can use the inn’s own car park; the number of spaces and any fee are not stated. Ask the inn for the easiest route when you book.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Ikaho Shusuien
- The website is Japanese only, and there is no public email address; use the contact form or call 0279-72-3210 between 9:00 and 18:00.
- Times, prices and rules are on the booking page, not the main site.
- Plan your bath around the 10:00–15:00 gap and the overnight swap.
- The inn hosts rakugo nights in its own hall, Shofuku Tanuki-tei; check the event page for dates.
- On days ending in 5 each month, the inn holds a “lucky tanuki day.”
New to Japanese inns? Our ryokan guide covers the basics.
Frequently asked questions
What time is check-in at Ikaho Shusuien?
How big are the rooms at Ikaho Shusuien?
What is for dinner at Ikaho Shusuien?
Can I bathe at Ikaho Shusuien with a tattoo?
Does Ikaho Shusuien have an English website?
Bottom line (2026): Ikaho Shusuien is a nostalgic Ikaho inn of tanuki, rakugo and a festival-style lobby, with Joshu beef sukiyaki for dinner and two large baths that swap overnight. The site is Japanese only, so confirm times, prices and the cancellation rule on its booking page or by phone.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Ikaho Shusuien’s official pages: home (Japanese), rooms, meals, baths, facilities, café and contact, and from 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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