Ryokan Tanigawa

The name of the spring quality is “Weak Alkaline Simple hot springs” with a pH of 8.3. It is said to be a typical “Hot spring for beautiful skin”. Because it removes dead skin cells and makes the skin feel smooth and silky after bathing.
Simple hot spring is a type of hot spring with less dissolved substances, which means that it is low irritating, so there is no risk of getting a hot spring fatigue unless you take a very long bath. It is also said to be “Hot spring for family” because it is gentle to children and the elderly, as well as to those with sensitive skin. Because of the quality of the spring, it is also suitable for rehabilitation after illness or surgery, and is also known as “Hot spring for neuralgia” or “Hot spring for stroke (palsy)”. Even though the dissolved substances are relatively less, it should be added that this hot spring has about 4 to 6 times more active components than commercially available bath additives. Furthermore, looking more deeply at the Hot Spring Analysis Report, the calcium ions, which are said to help stabilize the mind, were noticeable. Also, sodium and chloride ions are abundant, indicating that this is a well-warming spring.

In general, hot springs can be expected to be effective when bathed in them, known as indications.
Chronic pains or stiffness of muscles or joints (chronic phase of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lower back pains, nerve pains, frozen shoulder, bruises, sprains, etc.), Muscle stiffness in motor paralysis, Sensitivity to cold, Peripheral circulatory disturbance, Gastrointestinal hypofunction (slow digestion, intestinal gas formation, etc.), Mild hypertension, Impaired glucose tolerance (diabetes), Mild hypercholesterolemia, Mild asthma or Emphysema, Hemorrhoidal pains, Autonomic instability, Various symptoms from stress (sleep disorders, depression, etc.), Restorative phase from illness, Recovery from fatigue, Health promotions are the General indications for bathing.
In addition to this, there are indications by spring quality that can be expected to be even more effective depending on the type of hot spring.
The indications for Simple hot springs are Autonomic instability, Insomnia, Depression.
In other words, this spring is a so-called mental health spring. When the autonomic nervous system is out of balance, some people experience fatigue, headaches, nausea, excessive sweating, palpitations, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, dizziness, stiff shoulders, numbness in the hands and feet, and many other signs of illness. Bathing in a Simple hot spring means that the gentle spring water will low-irritation to the skin, increase relaxation, and relieve stress. In Japan, there are currently 10 different types of spring quality, but only Simple hot springs have “Insomnia” as an indication for each type of spring quality.

Ryokan Tanigawa has a total of 4 private and 1 public sources of spring water.
The 4 sources with different temperatures (58-44 °C) are mixed to the suitable temperature and delivered to the bathtubs.
Using those abundant hot spring sources, the men's and women's large public baths and open-air baths, as well as the open-air baths in guest rooms, are 100% natural free-flowing hot spring water, so new hot spring water is constantly being poured into the bathtubs (108 liters/minute) and the hot spring water overflows from the bathtubs.
The 2 private open-air baths are always filled with new hot spring water, but the hot spring water is recycled by using a circulation and filtration system to disinfect the water with chlorine and ozone. It may be difficult to control the temperature of the hot spring water.

Being away from daily life and experiencing fresh hot spring areas in this mountainous area rich in negative ions at the foot of the famous Mt. Tanigawadake is the right choice from a medical treatment perspective, and even healthy people can refresh themselves both mentally and physically. In other words, stimulating the five senses is recognized to have the effect of normalizing the functions of metabolism, immunity, and reproduction through hormones from the brain, one of the endocrine organs, as well as the autonomic nervous system, which controls blood pressure, respiration, and other functions. This is known as the “Environmental change effect”, one of the physical effects of hot springs, and is expected to have a psychological effect as well.

Tanigawa Onsen is located in the northwestern part of Gunma Prefecture on the border of Niigata Prefecture, just below the southern side of Mt. Tanigawadake (1,977 m above sea level), which is one of the “100 most famous mountains in Japan”. Located in a forest rich in nature, the inns are lined up along the Tanigawa River's clear stream.
This hot spring area, which is one with nature, with its riverside open-air baths, murmuring mountain streams, and the sometimes chirping of kajika frogs, has been loved by many writers and artists, as evidenced by the stone monument to Osamu Dazai and the poem monument to Makisui Wakayama.
Tanigawa Onsen is one of the so-called Mizukami Onsenkyo (hot spring resorts), but it has been welcoming many guests from a different vector from the central part of Mizukami Onsen, where large onsen ryokan and hotels are in full swing. Although it is a small hot spring area with only 4 ryokan inns and a few pensions and guest houses, it is currently the most popular hot spring area in Mizukami Onsenkyo.

Ryokan Tanigawa is a hot spring inn with 28 guest rooms. In the lobby, a photo gallery of Mt. Tanigawadake is permanently displayed, and seasonal exhibition events are held. The large public baths for men and women are equipped with an open-air bath, also 2 private open-air baths are available.
Ryokan Tanigawa offers a wide variety of guest rooms, including standard Japanese-style rooms, rooms with free-flowing hot spring open-air baths, and rooms with beds on tatami matted flooring in the Japanese-style rooms. Recently, there are rooms with king-sized beds where you can enjoy watching movies with a projector on the wall, and also active-type rooms that you can store your own skis, snowboards, and mountain bikes, etc. in the room.
The secret of this popularity is the meticulous service and ideas.
For example, the inn has provided numerous services, such as special hinoki squares filled with local sake and ice cream delivered to the open-air bath, socks washing service, and maitake mushroom miso soup served in the lobby before breakfast, etc. The cuisine, using local ingredients, is also well-received, and the inn is a favorite among repeat guests.
It is also known as the inn related to novelist Osamu Dazai (1909-1948), who wrote “Run Melos!”, “The setting sun”, and “No longer human”, etc. In 1936, at the recommendation of literary giant Yasunari Kawabata (1899-1972), he stayed at this inn (called Kawakuboya at that time) for about one month to recover from an illness (so called “environmental change therapy”). The “Osamu Dazai Mini Gallery” inside the inn exhibits valuable relics and books.
Activities in the area around the inn are also popular. From spring through fall, rafting and canyoning on the abundant Tone River are popular.
In winter, there seem to be a variety of options for skiing, snowboarding, and of course, taking a walk in the snowy landscape using snowshoes.
Soak to your heart's content in the “Hot spring for beautiful skin” and enjoy the delicious mountain air and spectacular scenery.
By the way, there is a luxury ryokan called “Bettei Senjuan” in this hot spring area. This inn, which is now well known by many people, including overseas visitors, as an admired inn with an open-air bath in every room, is also managed by “Ryokan Tanigawa”.
Travel Journal