Yoshimoto (Tokiwasure no Yado Yoshimoto in full) is an eight-room inn built around its kaiseki cooking in Shima Onsen, Gunma. It sits in the quiet Yuzuriha area, set back from the hot spring town, above the Shima River. Before you book, three things matter: guests with tattoos cannot use the large baths; check-in runs 15:00 to 18:00, and later arrivals must call ahead; and several house rules, such as the allergy deadline, appear only in the Japanese FAQ, not on the English page.
Yoshimoto at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 4344-2 Shima, Nakanojo-machi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma 377-0601 |
| Rooms | 8, all non-smoking; free Wi-Fi; no elevator |
| Check-in / out | 15:00–18:00 / 10:00 |
| Large baths | Men’s and women’s, indoor and open-air, 24 hours, free |
| Private bath | One, 6:00–23:00, 30 minutes, free, no booking |
| Tattoos | Refused in the large baths (Japanese FAQ) |
| Prices (English page) | From 20,900 yen per adult, two meals, two per room |
| Cards | Visa and Mastercard, plus debit cards |
| Phone | 0279-64-2314 (8:00–21:00) |
From the official Japanese and English pages, read October 20, 2026.
The inn calls itself a small Japanese auberge, centered on its food: not showy, but with seasonal tableware and carefully chosen sake. Shima Onsen is one of Gunma’s three famous hot springs, with Kusatsu and Ikaho, and was the first spa designated a National Health Resort Hot Spring.
Which room at Yoshimoto?
Take has its own bath, and Kiri, Keyaki and Momi each have an open-air bath fed with free-flowing hot spring water. The standard room without a bath relies on the large baths.
| Room | Bath | Layout | Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take | Private bath with jet bath | 12-mat bedroom, private dining room | Not allowed |
| Kiri | Cypress open-air bath | 10 + 4.5 mats, terrace, 55 m², 1–5 guests | Yes |
| Keyaki | Stone open-air bath, shower room | Two queen beds, 6 mats, living room, 50 m² | Yes |
| Momi | Shigaraki-ware open-air bath | 10 mats, window-side sitting area, 25 m², 1–5 guests | — |
| Kuri | — | Simmons twin beds, 40 m², 1–2 guests | Not allowed |
| Standard with unit bath | Unit bath | 10 mats, 21 m², 2–5 guests | — |
| Standard | None | 10 mats, 20 m², 2–5 guests | — |
From the official room pages, read October 20, 2026. “—” means the room page does not say.
Take and Kuri do not face the Shima River. There is no elevator, so ask which floor your room is on if stairs are a problem.
The baths at Yoshimoto
When are the large baths open?
The men’s and women’s large baths each have an indoor and an open-air bath, open 24 hours and free. They are for staying guests only: no day visitors, and no bathing before check-in or after checkout. There are no towels at the baths, so bring the ones from your room. The Japanese FAQ says the large baths are recirculated, partly to control the temperature, and are not free-flowing.
How does the private bath work?
There is one private bath, open 6:00 to 23:00. It is free, needs no booking, and each use is 30 minutes. There is no mixed bathing and no sauna.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The Japanese FAQ, answering a question about the large baths, says the inn refuses guests with tattoos or irezumi. It does not mention the private bath or the baths in the rooms, and the English page does not mention tattoos. Ask the inn before you book; our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Getting to Yoshimoto in Shima Onsen
How do I get there by train?
The nearest station is Nakanojo on the JR Agatsuma Line. From there, it is about 30 minutes by taxi, or take the local bus to Shima Onsen and walk about 10 minutes. The Japanese FAQ says the inn picks up guests at the Shima Onsen bus stop if you tell it in advance. The official access pages also list highway buses from Tokyo; check current times and fares with the operator.
What if I drive?
There is parking. In winter, the official FAQ says studless tires or chains are needed, roughly from November to March. There is no convenience store or hospital nearby; the official pages name the 7-Eleven on the Nakanojo bypass as the last one on the way.
Meals at Yoshimoto
What are dinner and breakfast like?
Dinner is creative Japanese kaiseki of local ingredients, which the inn calls Shima mountain kaiseki. The owner-chef of a restaurant that held Michelin stars for many years advises the kitchen and works with the head chef. Dinner starts at 18:00, 18:30 or 19:00, and the Japanese breakfast set at 8:00 or 8:30. Both meals are served in your room or in a private dining room on the 1st floor, which may depend on the plan.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
Tell the inn about allergies when you book, or by 3 days before your stay, by email (info@yoshimoto.jp) or phone. The official pages do not mention vegetarian, halal or gluten-free meals, so ask directly. Extra dishes can be ordered until 18:00 on the day.
Is there a bar?
No restaurant, bar or all-you-can-drink plan. A happy hour runs from 15:30 to 17:15, with craft beer at 550 yen and shochu or a glass of wine at 440 yen, tax included. Bringing your own drinks costs 500 yen per person.
Children, cancellation and payment at Yoshimoto
What do children cost?
The inn says small children are very welcome, except in Take and Kuri. Elementary school children pay the adult rate minus 10,000 yen. Infants cost 8,640 yen with meals and bedding, 7,560 yen with meals only, 3,240 yen with bedding only, and 2,160 yen with neither, tax included. A children’s meal is 1,900 yen before tax. For how this compares, see our guide to children staying free.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official reservation page lists 30 percent from 7 to 4 days before, 50 percent 3 to 2 days before, 70 percent the day before, and 100 percent on the day or for a no-show. See our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay, and what else is charged?
The reservation page lists cash, debit cards, and Visa or Mastercard only. The FAQ adds bank transfer in advance, and online card payment when you book on the inn’s own site or Jalan. The inn’s FAQ lists a bathing tax of 150 yen per adult; see our onsen bathing tax guide. Late checkout costs 2,200 yen per hour in standard rooms and 3,300 yen in Kiri, Momi, Keyaki and Take, until 12:00 at the latest.
How much does a stay cost?
The inn’s English page lists stays from 20,900 yen per adult with dinner and breakfast, 19,800 yen with dinner only, and 17,600 yen with breakfast only, for two guests in one room, tax included. The Japanese site does not list prices, and we could not open the booking engine.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Yoshimoto
- The English page is one long page; the Japanese FAQ holds rules it does not repeat, including the tattoo rule, the non-smoking rooms and the 3-day allergy deadline.
- Arrive by 18:00, or call ahead between 8:00 and 21:00.
- Take a towel from your room to the large baths.
- Stock up before you leave Nakanojo; there are no shops near the inn.
- Yukata and samue are provided; a colored yukata rents for 540 yen.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the baths at Yoshimoto with a tattoo?
What time is check-in at Yoshimoto?
What is the cancellation policy at Yoshimoto?
Can children stay at Yoshimoto?
Are the baths at Yoshimoto free-flowing?
Bottom line (2026): Yoshimoto is a quiet eight-room inn in Shima Onsen where dinner is the point, with free-flowing open-air baths in three rooms and 24-hour large baths. Tattoos are refused in the large baths, check-in closes at 18:00, and the Japanese FAQ is worth reading before you book.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Yoshimoto’s official pages: home (Japanese), rooms, baths, cuisine, reservations, access, children, FAQ, the English page and English access page, plus the Nakanojo town page 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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