Nagomigokoro No Yado Omori's Rooftop Open-Air Bath
A soak in hot water, wrapped in the sky and mountains that unfold beyond the door.
Stay report: the rooftop open-air bath "Roman"
Walking back to the inn along the Ikaho Stone Steps, I dropped my bags in my room and took the elevator to the top floor. Passing through a corridor lined with bamboo fencing, I opened the door—and Ikaho's sky and the mountains of Joshu opened up before me.
This is a firsthand report on Nagomigokoro No Yado Omori's signature rooftop open-air bath "Roman"—from the anticipation of the walk to the bath, to the design of the tub, the garden, the changing room, and the water quality, all based on our actual stay and photographs taken with the inn’s permission.
About the photos in this article
The photos of the rooftop open-air bath were taken with special permission from the inn, during a quiet period before opening hours. They were not taken during normal guest use.
What stood out during our visit
The walk up to the top floor already feels like an escape from everyday life / The view the moment you open the door is unforgettable / Depending on the time of day you can enjoy mountain views, sunset colors, or a starry sky / "Roman" and "Honoka" operate on an alternating schedule for men and women
Up to the top floor: a path toward the open-air bath that feels like climbing into the sky
Nagomigokoro No Yado Omori's rooftop open-air bath is on the top floor of the inn. Starting from the guide board at the entrance, the route leads through a tatami-floored lobby and a corridor lined with bamboo fencing before reaching the bath. The whole approach felt like a gradual departure from everyday life.
The "rooftop garden 800m above sea level" you notice at the entrance
At the entrance to Nagomigokoro No Yado Omori, a large guide board displays photos of the open-air bath lit up at night, along with the words "Rooftop Garden Open-Air Bath, 800m Above Sea Level." It's easy to imagine many guests strolling through the Ikaho hot spring town being drawn in by this sign and choosing to stay here.
At the base of the sign, horse-shaped silhouette ornaments are lined up, along with a wooden plaque reading "Umadome" (horse tie-up). It is said to be a remnant of the days when Ikaho Onsen bustled with pilgrims and hot-spring guests, who would tie up their travel horses here. This horse motif echoes the bamboo-crafted horse displayed at the entrance to the rooftop bath, and feels like something cherished throughout the inn.
The guide board in front of the inn, with a horse-shaped ornament
From your room, by elevator, to the tatami-floored top-floor lobby
After picking up your room key at the front desk and dropping off your bags, you head up to the rooftop bath. Stepping off the elevator, you find a small, tatami-floored lobby with numbered wooden lockers, where you store your valuables before heading to the bath. On the wall is a sign reading "Open-Air Baths Honoka & Roman." In fact, this rooftop has two open-air baths—"Roman" and "Honoka"—and thanks to the alternating schedule for men and women, guests can enjoy both.
The lobby with its lockers, and signage for the rooftop bath
Greeted by a bamboo-crafted horse, then through the noren curtains
Continuing through the lobby, you reach a small landing where a bamboo-crafted horse ornament greets you. Noren curtains dyed boldly with the characters for "women" and "men" hang to either side, and a poster depicting Ikaho's hot-spring townscape adds a nostalgic touch. "Roman" and "Honoka" alternate between the men's and women's baths from 3:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., and again from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.—so which bath you're guided to depends on the time of your visit.
The entrance, split into men's and women's sides, with a bamboo-crafted horse to greet you
A bamboo-lined passage that builds anticipation
Past the noren curtains is a changing room enclosed by woven bamboo walls. Climbing the stairs with the help of a handrail, daylight gradually begins to filter in.
Walkway and stairs surrounded by bamboo walls
The moment you open the door, the sky fills your view
After setting your things in a basket, you open the door to the bath, and the outside air rushes in along with an expansive view. The shift from the dim, bamboo-lined corridor to the open sky and mountains is sudden—and that contrast makes the bath's impact even stronger.
Open-air bath entrance
"Roman": 800m above sea level, with views of the sky and the mountains of Joshu
Ikaho Onsen is a hot spring town of sloping streets and stone steps. Up on the rooftop, the atmosphere shifts—a spacious, unhurried calm quite different from the hot spring town below. Beyond the large bathtub, distant mountain ranges stretch into view. It's a bath where the sky feels close enough to touch.
A large tub opening onto the mountains
Named "Roman": the warmth of cypress and a feeling of openness
The bath we photographed for this feature is called "Roman." Set on a rooftop garden 800m above sea level, it lets you soak in the hot spring at ease while taking in the open, natural air.
On clear days, the inn says you can see mountains representative of the Joshu region—Mt. Akagi, the Hotaka mountain range, Mt. Komochi, Mt. Onoko, and the Tanigawa mountain range. By day it's the mountain ridgeline, at dusk the changing colors of the sky, and at night a sky full of stars. The mood shifts so much through the day that you'll want to visit both in the evening and again in the morning.
"Roman"'s counterpart is the other rooftop bath, "Honoka," known for its greenery and breeze. We didn't use Honoka on this visit, but true to its name, it's said to be a garden-style bath where you can feel the greenery and the breeze. Both baths alternate between men and women from 3:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., and again from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., so depending on the timing of your stay, you may get to experience both.
A rooftop garden wrapped in rock, wood, and seasonal flowers
This bath's appeal isn't only the view. Its garden-like design, built around the natural textures of rock and wood with carefully placed plantings, has a quiet character rather than anything flashy. Mountain ridgelines layer beyond the rising steam, forming the kind of calm scenery that feels distinctly Ikaho.
One corner of a bathtub surrounded by wooden fence and greenery
A rock-lined pool, and a bench to rest on after bathing
At the back of the garden, a pool built from large stacked rocks is fed by a quiet trickle of water. A bench sits nearby, so you can cool off after bathing while taking in the mountain view. Trees in white blossom add a touch of seasonal color.
The rock-lined pool, and a bench placed in the gardenThe water source of the rock-lined pool, framed by flowers
A changing room and hot spring facilities you can use with peace of mind
The changing area was clean and had a calm, settled atmosphere—the kind of careful upkeep you'd expect from a hot spring ryokan. A wooden plaque reading "Rooftop Garden Open-Air Bath" was accompanied by a poem about the garden, quietly hinting that this is a special place.
The clean, tidy changing area
The water quality of "Nishizawa-no-yu," as shown on the posted analysis
A hot spring analysis report was posted on the changing room wall. The source is a blend of Ikaho Onsen's "Nishizawa-no-yu" wells No. 1, 3, and 4, and the water is classified as a simple hot spring (tanjun-sen) containing metasilicic acid. According to the posted notice, the water is diluted and reheated.
The hot spring analysis report for the open-air bath
Bamboo-charcoal drinking water, a welcome touch after bathing
In a corner of the bath lobby, alongside hand soap and paper cups, sat a dispenser of bamboo-charcoal drinking water with a note saying it's "gentle on the body after bathing"—a small but thoughtful touch.
Bamboo charcoal drinking water corner
A private open-air bath for time to yourself
Besides the rooftop open-air bath, the inn also offers the private open-air bath "Nagomi," where you can soak without worrying about anyone else around. It suits families and couples, but also works well for guests who simply want quiet time alone in the water—a private experience quite different from the open, expansive "Roman."
The ceramic tub of the private open-air bath "Nagomi," beneath a red paper umbrella
Private open-air bath "Nagomi"
On the top floor, you'll also find the private open-air bath "Nagomi," notable for its striking ceramic tub. Our separate report—based on an actual reservation and visit—covers the 45 minutes spent there beneath a red paper umbrella in more detail.
About reservations and operating hours
Fees, hours, and reservation methods for the private open-air bath are subject to change. Please check the official website, or ask at the front desk during your stay, for the latest details.
What we appreciated about booking on the official site
For this stay, we booked a plan with breakfast and dinner through Nagomigokoro No Yado Omori's official website. Being able to compare room types and meal options made it easy to plan a stay centered around the open-air baths.
Since the rooftop open-air baths "Roman" and "Honoka" alternate between men and women, which bath and time slot you'll have access to can vary by the date of your stay. If you'd also like to use the private open-air bath "Nagomi," it's a good idea to check availability early, alongside your room reservation.
The latest stay plans, room details, and availability for Nagomigokoro No Yado Omori are available on its official reservation page.
What's the rooftop open-air bath at Nagomigokoro No Yado Omori like?
It's an open-air bath where the sky and mountains feel close by. Built with a calm use of rock and wood textures, it offers the kind of quiet time Ikaho Onsen is known for.
Does Nagomigokoro No Yado Omori have a private open-air bath?
Yes, there's a private open-air bath where guests can enjoy time to themselves. For the latest hours, fees, and reservation details, please check the official website or ask at the inn during your stay.
When were the photos of the open-air bath in this article taken?
These photos were taken with special permission from the ryokan, during a quiet period before opening hours.
Where can I book a stay?
The latest room information and availability for Nagomigokoro No Yado Omori are available on its official reservation site.
What can you see from the rooftop open-air bath "Roman"?
It's a rooftop garden-style bath 800m above sea level, and on clear days the inn says you can see mountains of the Joshu region such as Mt. Akagi, the Hotaka mountain range, Mt. Komochi, Mt. Onoko, and the Tanigawa mountain range. By day you can soak while taking in the grand mountain scenery, and at night, a sky full of stars.
Does the rooftop bath alternate between men and women?
Yes. There are two open-air baths on the rooftop, "Roman" and "Honoka," and they alternate between men's and women's use from 3:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., and again from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
