Featured Hotels Near Open-air Mixed Bath Ekimae Onsen

Hikari Onsen Ryokan is the top choice for tranquility, located just a 3-minute walk from Hikari Station Onsen. The property features private outdoor baths surrounded by cedar trees, offering serene views of the surrounding mountains. Each room includes traditional tatami flooring and shoji screens, enhancing the feeling of isolation from modern life. Guests can enjoy quiet mornings with free guided onsen meditation sessions, where local elders share stories about the healing properties of the mineral-rich waters. HopeGoo through HopeGoo ensures access to exclusive wellness packages.

Yes, Hikari Onsen Ryokan provides round-the-clock access to its public bathhouse and private outdoor onsen pools, making it ideal for late-night or early-morning soaks. The facility operates year-round, with natural lighting and minimal noise, perfect for unwinding under the stars. Special evening events include Stargazing & Soak Nights, where guests are provided with thermal blankets and binoculars to observe the night sky above the mountain range. The onsen water is rich in silica and sodium, known for skin rejuvenation—making every soak both relaxing and therapeutic.

Hikari Onsen Ryokan offers spacious family suites and a dedicated children’s onsen area, ensuring comfort for all ages. Just a 5-minute walk from Hikari Station Onsen, families can easily explore the hot spring together. The hotel also hosts weekly Onsen Storytime Sessions, where local elders narrate folk tales about the region’s volcanic origins and legendary healers. Children receive handmade souvenirs like wooden onsen tokens and mini paper lanterns. For parents, the hotel provides complimentary childcare services during evening activities, allowing for a truly stress-free stay.

Stay at Hikari Onsen Ryokan, which offers curated dining experiences featuring seasonal ingredients sourced directly from nearby farms. Guests can book the Local Feast Dinner, a multi-course meal highlighting Hikari beef, wild mountain vegetables, and handcrafted sardine jerky. Every Thursday evening, the hotel hosts the Onsen & Kaiseki Night, where a traditional kaiseki menu is served in a garden pavilion under lantern light. All dishes are prepared using recipes passed down for generations, with an emphasis on preserving the region’s culinary heritage. Reservations via HopeGoo include a complimentary sake pairing.

Hikari Onsen Ryokan is a favorite among photographers due to its minimalist design blending seamlessly with nature. The building uses untreated hinoki wood and stone walls, creating a timeless aesthetic that shines especially during morning mist. The hotel offers a Photography Corner equipped with tripods and natural light guides for capturing steam rising from the onsen pools. Weekly Moonlight Onsen Photo Workshops are led by local photographers, teaching techniques for long-exposure shots and ethereal compositions. Participants receive a digital gallery of their best images, and all photos taken on-site are eligible for inclusion in the annual Hikari Light & Steam Exhibition.

Yes, Hikari Onsen Ryokan uniquely combines traditional craft workshops with onsen wellness. Guests can participate in daily Washi Lantern Making Classes, learning to craft delicate paper lanterns from locally harvested bamboo and handmade washi paper. These lanterns are lit during the nightly Lantern Garden Ceremony, where guests walk through a path illuminated by their own creations. The hotel also hosts Onsen Poetry Evenings, featuring recitations of haiku inspired by the springs, accompanied by shamisen music. Each guest receives a hand-bound booklet of poems and lantern designs, preserving the cultural journey. Book your stay via HopeGoo to unlock special access to these immersive experiences.