SAITAMA

Nagatoro Choseikan Ryokan

A century-old riverside inn where seasonal nature meets comfort and hospitality.

Nagatoro Choseikan Ryokan offers travelers a stay deeply connected to the rhythms of the Arakawa River and its surrounding gorge.

Onsen & Stay

Access

Experience Nagatoro at ease through river-facing rooms, seasonal baths, local cuisine, and strolls through flower-filled gardens.

Choseikan is a historic riverside inn that has grown alongside Nagatoro’s rise as one of Saitama’s most scenic destinations. The inn opened in 1912, shortly after the arrival of the Chichibu Railway, and its history mirrors the area’s shift from an industrial transport hub to a retreat for nature lovers. Today, Choseikan sits just a three-minute walk from Nagatoro Station, directly above the Arakawa River, with sweeping views of the Nagatoro Gorge and its iconic Iwadatami rock formations, designated a Natural Place of Scenic Beauty.

All guest rooms face the river, offering uninterrupted views of the Arakawa, the layered rock formations of the gorge, and the surrounding mountains. Accommodations are primarily traditional tatami rooms, with one Western-style twin room available. Several room types can accommodate families, and select rooms feature private open-air baths. The inn’s communal baths include both indoor and outdoor options: the open-air baths use a mildly alkaline metaboric hot spring, while the indoor baths feature bamboo vinegar, known for its warming and skin-soothing qualities. Bathing here becomes a seasonal experience, with rotations of cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, autumn foliage, and crisp winter air.

Meals at Choseikan focus on local Chichibu flavors, served in kaiseki style using seasonal ingredients from the surrounding mountains and rivers. Dishes such as the koi no arai sashimi platter, wild boar hot pot, and salt-grilled river fish reflect the region’s culinary traditions. Dining can take place in guest rooms or in the Irorian Hanamizuki, a hearth-centered dining space that evokes rural Japan. Throughout the property, flowers play a central role in hospitality: more than 80 varieties bloom across the gardens, walkways, and interior spaces, changing with the seasons. Guests are encouraged to stroll the grounds and enjoy the arrangements, asking staff about unfamiliar blooms.

Nagatoro offers year-round activities, from spring cherry blossoms and summer river rafting to autumn foliage, seven-herb temple pilgrimages, and winter plum and wintersweet festivals. The famous Nagatoro Rhine Cruise begins or ends just below the inn, while the 1,900-year-old Hodosan Shrine, museums, shopping streets, and seasonal flower festivals are all nearby. Staying at Choseikan allows travelers to experience Nagatoro at a slower, more intimate pace.

Photo courtesy of Nagatoro Choseikan Ryokan

Address

449 Nagatoro, Nagatoro-machi, Chichibu-gun, Saitama Prefecture

Access Information

https://choseikan.com/english/access/

Phone number

+81-494-66-1113

Business hours

Check-in: from 3:00 p.m. / Check-out: until 10:00 a.m.

WEB site

https://choseikan.com/

Digital Map