Right Onsen › Gunma › Shimonita
Arafune Onsen
3.8★ · 685 Google ratings · Shimonita, Gunma · 下仁田 荒船の湯
✓ Day visitors✓ Outdoor bath✓ Sauna
Before you go
Can you bathe here?
Day visitors
✓ YesConfirmed by recent visitor reports
Hours
Not publishedCheck the official site
Tattoos
? Call aheadNo policy stated in the 38 recent reviews we read or on the facility's website
Price
¥900 adultConfirmed by recent visitor reports
How we know this
- Day visitors: Day-use bathing (non-residents welcome) was offered for 700-900 yen depending on year, but since 2024 the facility has repeatedly closed unannounced and some 2025-2026 reviews suggest it has shut down permanently. · 3 visitors, Apr 2024 – Jul 2025
- Price: Weekend/holiday adult admission was 900 yen in 2024, up from 700-800 yen reported in 2020, with weekday rates around 800 yen. · 3 visitors, Apr 2024 – Aug 2024
The bath
What you’ll find
Arafune Onsen was a public day-use bathhouse near Shimonita with indoor and outdoor baths, sauna, restaurant, but reviews from 2024-2026 report frequent unannounced closures and possible permanent shutdown, so visitors should confirm it is open before going.
Bath setup
Indoor baths
2.0Confirmed by recent visitor reports
Outdoor bath
✓ YesConfirmed by recent visitor reports
Sauna
✓ YesConfirmed by recent visitor reports
Cold bath
✓ YesReported by two visitors
View
ForestConfirmed by recent visitor reports
Spring water
Spring type
carbonated springReported by one visitor
How we know this
- Indoor baths: The number of indoor baths was reported as 3 in 2020-2024 reviews and 2 in a 2024-06 review, possibly reflecting renovation or partial closures. · 3 visitors, Jun 2024 – Jul 2025
- Outdoor bath: The facility has an outdoor bath area with features like a reclining bath, jar bath, and waterfall bath, though its size and view are described inconsistently. · 3 visitors, Apr 2024 – Dec 2025
- Sauna: A sauna is present, though it was reported closed during the COVID period around 2020-2022. · 3 visitors, Apr 2024 – Nov 2024
- Cold bath: A cold plunge bath exists in recent visits, though one 2020s COVID-era review reported it was unavailable. · 2 visitors, Apr 2024 – Nov 2024
- View: Some visitors described pleasant nature and birdsong views from the baths, while another said the outdoor bath was walled in with no view. · 3 visitors, Apr 2024 – Sep 2025
- Spring type: The onsen was described as a carbonated spring, though the water appeared clear and odorless. · 1 visitor, Jun 2024
Practical
What you need
Payment
✕ Cash onlyCredit cards were accepted in 2022 but by 2024 the facility had become cash-only, with card readers no longer working.Confirmed by recent visitor reports
Hair dryer
✓ YesReported by two visitors
Facilities
Rest area
✓ YesReported by one visitor
Restaurant
✓ YesConfirmed by recent visitor reports
How we know this
- Payment: Credit cards were accepted in 2022 but by 2024 the facility had become cash-only, with card readers no longer working. · 3 visitors, May 2024 – Aug 2024
- Hair dryer: Hair dryers were available in the changing area. · 2 visitors, May 2024 – Jul 2025
- Rest area: A rest area is available for lounging after bathing. · 1 visitor, Apr 2024
- Restaurant: An on-site restaurant serves regional dishes like pork bowl and udon, though it was sometimes closed or out of menu items in later visits. · 3 visitors, Jul 2024 – Jul 2025
Getting there
How to get there
Nearest station
Shimonita11.3 km in a straight line; bus or taxi from the station
Address
9326-1 Minaminomaki, Shimonita, Kanra District, Gunma 370-2626From the facility's listing
Show a driver
下仁田 荒船の湯The name in Japanese, for a taxi or at the counter
Website
arafunenoyu.comOfficial, in Japanese
The map loads only when you ask for it and connects your browser to Google.
Nearby
Other baths close by
Myōgi Fureai Plaza / Myōgi Onsen Hot Spring ‘Momiji no Yu’
3.9★ · 11.4 km · Tomioka
✓Day useTattoos ?✓Outdoor bath✓Sauna
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Questions
Common questions
Can I visit Arafune Onsen without staying overnight?
Day-use bathing (non-residents welcome) was offered for 700-900 yen depending on year, but since 2024 the facility has repeatedly closed unannounced and some 2025-2026 reviews suggest it has shut down permanently.
How much does Arafune Onsen cost?
Weekend/holiday adult admission was 900 yen in 2024, up from 700-800 yen reported in 2020, with weekday rates around 800 yen.
