Keiunkan or Horaikan? Two Very Different Stays in Nishiyama Onsen
Keiunkan is an overnight-only inn; Horaikan lists day bathing, self-catering stays and a mixed communal bath for visitors seeking a soak.
Checked: September 27, 2026
Both inns sit deep in Hayakawa’s mountain valley, but they are not interchangeable stops. Keiunkan reopened after a major renovation in March 2026 and sells an overnight stay with several baths and updated sauna facilities. Horaikan keeps a simpler, older hot-spring-inn format, including day use and longer-stay options. Their most important difference is basic: Keiunkan does not take day visitors.
| Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan | Motoyu Horaikan | |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use bathing | Not accepted | Listed 10 am–3 pm; ¥1,000 per visit |
| Rest plan | Not applicable | ¥2,500, according to the town listing |
| Overnight style | Full-service inn with meals and renovated bathing areas | Traditional inn, with self-catering hot-spring-stay options |
| Bathing arrangement | Separate men’s and women’s baths, outdoor baths and private outdoor baths for overnight guests | Main communal bath is mixed bathing; speak with the innkeeper about the arrangement for women guests |
| Source information | 52°C spring; operator says its baths use source water without dilution or heating | Hayakawa Town lists a 36.8°C spring and source-flowing supply |
Keiunkan is the more complete overnight stay
The inn reopened on March 5, 2026, after renovation. The work refreshed the lobby and bathing areas: the outdoor Nozomi bath received a new tub, an upgraded sauna and a cold plunge; the riverside Hakuho bath gained a cave-style space and a rock-bed bath made with Amehata inkstone. Guests choosing the inn for a stay have more to do than simply move between hot pools.
Keiunkan lists six bathing areas, including gender-separated baths and private outdoor baths for families. Its operator says the baths use spring water without dilution or reheating. The source temperature is listed as 52°C; that is not the fixed temperature of every individual pool.
For visitors without a car, the operator offers a pre-booked shuttle from Minobu Station for overnight guests. Confirm the departure time and reservation conditions with the inn when booking. Do not assume the same transfer is available to someone travelling only for a bath.
Horaikan makes sense for day use or a slower, simpler stay
Hayakawa Town lists Horaikan’s day-use bath from 10 am to 3 pm at ¥1,000, with a separate ¥2,500 rest option. The listing describes a source-flowing communal bath and says meals such as mountain-vegetable dishes and noodles need to be reserved. Call first: the town’s January 2026 newsletter says day-use hours are 11 am–3 pm and asks visitors to check in advance because overnight guests take priority. That newer notice narrows the older listing’s start time.
Horaikan’s single main bath is mixed bathing. The town says women can tell the proprietress when they wish to bathe, and other guests will wait. That is an arrangement made at the inn, not a bookable private bath or a guarantee of a separate women-only facility.
The inn also keeps a self-catering hot-spring-stay option, which better suits guests who want to spend time in the area and bathe repeatedly than travellers looking for hotel-style amenities. The town’s older listing gives meal and lodging prices, but current rates should be confirmed directly before booking.
Which one fits your plan?
For a walk-in soak, go to Horaikan only after confirming that it can accept you that day. Keiunkan is strictly a lodging choice. If a separate bathing area, sauna facilities and a hotel-style stay matter most, Keiunkan’s 2026 renovation is relevant. If you are interested in an old-style hot-spring inn, mixed bathing and the option of self-catering, ask Horaikan about the current stay plan and access details.
Either way, transport deserves advance planning. Hayakawa’s shared bus is infrequent, and the roads can be affected by heavy rain or snow. Check the latest bus timetable and road restrictions; do not plan a return around the bath’s closing time alone.
For a day-use option nearby with outdoor spring-flow bathing, see Yushima no Yu.
