Shima Tamura (四万たむら) is Shima Onsen’s oldest ryokan, founded over 500 years ago. As one would have expected, Shima Tamura has a splendid traditional-looking entrance finished with a thatched roof! The floor beyond the entrance is covered by tatami mats, allowing you to enjoy the comfort of the traditional flooring material. In addition, its open-air onsen pool offers a stunning river view. Plus, it has a private onsen tub that you can rent!
Shima Tamura is surrounded by a forest called Tamura Forest (たむらの森). This means you can enjoy the quietness, birds chirping, and fresh air during your stay. Even better, the water from the tab is mineral-rich from Mt. Inazutsumi (稲包山). So the water you will come across at Shima Tamura is all high quality!
For those who love looking at cultural properties and Japanese architectural style, you will have a lot of fun exploring Shima Tamura. The decorations, exhibits, and interior designs will surely catch your attention when you travel between different facilities in the ryokan. In particular, the exhibition room steeped in history close to the entrance is like a small museum filled with old photos and many valuable items, such as Buddha statues.
If you would like your room to overlook Shima Onsen’s mountains, consider booking a room at their Suiyōkan (水涌館). While the middle-ranked guestrooms located at the higher levels of the complex are away from the hot spring pools, you will still get the widest view through the room’s almost ceiling window.
Shima Tamura’s Hot Spring
Important: Since the pandemic, Shima Tamura’s hot spring pools are closed to day visitors until further notice.
For Shima Tamura’s hot spring pools, there are seven of them, including the ones that you can rent for private use. All of them have hot springs with high moisturizing effects. There is also a hot spring drinking fountain.
The open-air bath, Ryugu (竜宮), is an interesting one amongst the hot spring pools. As it is located next to a river, it will disappear when the amount of water flowing in the river increases (´▽｀*).
For those who are comfortable sharing their bathing time with strangers, be sure that you visit Mori no Kodama (森のこだま), Shima Tamura’s best open-air hot spring pool. Situated next to the river and close to a waterfall, the surrounding scenery and the sound of water flow enhance the relaxation effect of bathing at Shima Tamura!
Some might be unaware of it, but Shima Onsen’s hot spring is used for cooking. The porridge served at Shima Tamura is cooked with Shima Onsen’s hot spring. The rice is soaked in the hot spring overnight before it is cooked for the ryokan guest to enjoy in the morning!
Tip: The Private Bath Crystal can be rented between 3:30 pm to 11 pm. The cost is 2,200 yen for 40 minutes.
Things to Consider Before Booking
- Shima Tamura’s wooden structure doesn’t have good soundproofing.
- The internal of the ryokan is like a maze to some people. This could be a bit problematic if you prefer facilities to be close to you.
- Shima Tamura’s buildings show signs of aging.
- If you prefer not to consume fish, meat, or egg, Shima Tamura can only exclude one of them from the meals served.
How to Get to Shima Tamura
- Shima Tamura is around a 3-minute walk from the bus stop, Shima Onsen.
- Refer to our Shima Onsen article for information about how to get to the hot spring town.
Discover Other Attractions at Shima Onsen
Now that you have sorted your accommodation, it is time to find out where in the hot spring town is worth your time. Aside from the natural attractions, Shima Onsen has a couple of historical and cultural spots you might be interested in visiting. Furthermore, a ryokan is rumored to be the stage of the Ghibli movie Spirited Away!
So refer to our Shima Onsen article for where else to stop by while at the onsen town, including a couple of delicious places to try out!
