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Hoshi Onsen Chojukan
Venerable onsen resort offering drop-in bathing options or extended stays
Sleep in a 19th-century ryokan at Hoshi Onsen Chojukan, a traditional inn favored by Japan's intellectual literati. Situated on the banks of the Hoshi River in the Minakami district of Gunma, Hoshi Onsen Chojukan is as much a mountain resort as a traditional inn, a place to sit surrounded by greenery and contemplate.
The inn's restorative waters come from a naturally occurring hot spring. Extended stays are the best way to experience these soothing waters but non-guests can drop in for lunch and bathing options in the cypress baths, too. Formal gardens, a sunken hearth, and in-room dining under burnished wood ceilings add to the guest experience. The Kunzanso and Horyuden annexes house newer yet elegantly understated guestrooms. Meals are meticulously prepared, beautifully plated and served in a prescribed order using fresh seasonal ingredients. Local meats—Akagi beef, Haruna pork, and Furai chicken—feature prominently on the menu. Service is charming and unobtrusive.