Kashoen onsen ryokan lies deep within the valley of Hanamaki Onsen, a stunning luxurious onsen it belongs to the Hanamaki Onsen Group. When you arrive, it can be a bit confusing as the area is quite large and the various sister hotels/ryokans are actually located pretty much next to each other. The other sister hotels/ryokans are Hotel Koyokan, Hotel Hanamaki and Hotel Chiakikaku (Senshukaku).

Kashoen is the higher end of the four hotels/onsen ryokans and it’s design favours the more traditional ryokan style. Once you step inside you are instantly transported to another time and place, with its stunning large zen garden and wide panoramic windows, one’s body just relaxes with such a calming view.

There are a variety of rooms available, however as always I do prefer to select a traditional tatami room just to enjoy the whole experience of staying in a ryokan even more traditional. This particular room also had a private bathroom which is made of cypress which gives a lovely evocative feeling of almost being in your own private onsen, but it is an ofuro bath. Some of their rooms that have indoor baths also have fresh flowing onsen water to enjoy whilst their premium rooms that were recently renewed in 2022 & 2023 have semi open air and open air private onsen for guests to enjoy.

NOTE:

I’ve written this before, but another gentle reminder… as you explore more unknown remote areas of Japan, be prepared for the fact that a private onsen may simply not be an option… and only public baths will be. Some of the most famous onsens in Japan are only public… so don’t let your fear of public bathing miss out on all these amazing places!

There are no private onsen baths available at Kashoen, all are public and though Kashoen is a larger style Ryokan, due to the remoteness of Iwate and perhaps just pure luck, I was able to enjoy the public baths to myself.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

FOOD

As always a lovely experience, delicious local and premium produce. For me perhaps I could have had a weeee bit more, but granted I’m a tad of a gluttonous pig so I think the amount will be fine for the majority of people.

ONSEN

I really enjoyed the large open-air cypress bath, and the inner bath was also very nice (sorry forgot to take photos), however as it’s a bigger onsen ryokan you do run the risk perhaps of having it filled with guests. Luckily I pretty much had it all to myself. No private onsens are available.

ROOM AMBIANCE

Traditional, simple and very classic ryokan room. Spacious enough for two people and was very nice to have the private bathroom included.

VENUE AMBIANCE

Kashoen is a bigger style ryokan than I normally prefer, I try my hardest to find small boutique ones, but sometimes when you’re in a prefecture that is not as well travelled, you will only find bigger options as they’re all concentrated around a main hotspring area. I loved the wide open glass windows to view the gorgeous zen garden facing the lobby.

SURROUNDING AREA

The surrounding area within Iwate, is stunning if you love a wild outdoors landscape, there are several mountains to climb and explore, fields etc but you will need a car and if you’re not an outdoors person, there’s always sake. The Nambu Toji are from Iwate Prefecture, which requires a whole other individual post.

HANAMAKI ONSEN KASHOEN (at time of stay)

• COST: starting from ~15000JPY+ per person per night

• MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast & Dinner

• CHECK IN/CHECK OUT TIME: 1500 / 1100

• PAYMENT: cash & credit card accepted

• ROOMS:

• ENGLISH SPEAKING STAFF: one or two

• WEBSITE: https://www.hanamakionsen.co.jp/kashoen/en/

• IG: @hanamaki_onsen