Shichirigawa Onsen is a peaceful hot spring destination in Kimitsu City, Chiba Prefecture. Located in a quiet valley surrounded by the Boso Hills, also known as the Kazusa Mountain Range, the hot spring offers visitors a relaxing escape alongside the clear waters of the Obitsu River.
Surrounded by forests and mountains, Shichirigawa Onsen is an ideal place to enjoy a traditional Japanese countryside experience, with natural hot springs, rustic accommodations, hearth-cooked meals, and seasonal scenery.
Shichirigawa Onsen is a simple sulfur spring with a source temperature of approximately 15°C and a pH of 7.9.
The spring water is provided without adding water, disinfecting, or recirculating it. It is simply heated before being used for bathing, allowing visitors to enjoy the fresh spring water in its natural state.
There is one accommodation facility at Shichirigawa Onsen that also accepts day visitors. The inn has five Japanese-style tatami rooms, as well as indoor and open-air baths.
The open-air bath is especially popular because guests can enjoy the surrounding scenery while soaking in the warm water. The landscape changes throughout the year, offering a different atmosphere in every season.
Day-use bathing fees are as follows:
Adults (high school students and older): 1,150 yen
Children (ages 3 to junior high school): 500 yen
Young children: 200 yen
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Closed: The first and third Wednesday of each month
One of the highlights of Shichirigawa Onsen is its traditional irori hearth dining. Guests can gather around a sunken hearth and enjoy grilled foods and local game dishes.
In particular, dishes made with wild boar meat are popular and offer a chance to experience the flavors of the Boso countryside.
Guests can also grill seafood and meat themselves over the hearth, making the meal an interactive part of the traditional mountain-inn experience.
Examples of grilled dishes include:
Grilled Split Kinmedai (Splendid Alfonsino): 1,000 yen
Boso Pork Marinated in Miso: 1,000 yen
Salt-Grilled Ayu (Sweetfish): 770 yen
Guests may also bring their own ingredients to cook over the hearth. In this case, a charcoal fee of 650 yen for adults and 350 yen for children applies.
Shichirigawa Onsen offers a variety of accommodation plans, ranging from room-only stays to plans that include two meals.
Two meals included: 12,650 yen (11,650 yen for children)
Room only: 7,150 yen (6,150 yen for children)
All guest rooms are Japanese-style tatami rooms with private toilets. The facility also includes traditional spaces such as the irori hearth and a spacious communal room, adding to the atmosphere of a traditional mountain inn.
The clear streams around Shichirigawa Onsen are suitable for stream fishing. Fish such as haya and Oikawa can be found in the area, making it an enjoyable destination for anglers ranging from beginners to experienced fishermen.
Shichirigawa Onsen is located in a tranquil valley surrounded by the Boso Hills. The natural scenery provides something different throughout the year.
Spring: Cherry blossoms add color to the surrounding mountain landscape.
Autumn: The forests turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow, creating beautiful scenery for visitors.
The quiet valley, flowing river, and changing seasonal landscapes make the area an ideal place to slow down and enjoy the natural beauty of rural Chiba.
Shichirigawa Onsen opened in June 1984. The facility was later renovated in July 1995, when additional facilities, including an open-air bath, were introduced.
Since then, it has been loved as a traditional mountain inn centered around an irori hearth, offering visitors an authentic countryside atmosphere alongside its natural hot spring.
Shichirigawa Onsen can be reached from the Kisarazu-Higashi Interchange on the Ken-O Expressway by taking National Routes 410 and 465.
The nearest railway stations are Kururi Station and Kazusa-Kameyama Station on the JR Kururi Line.
From either station, visitors can use the Kimitsu City Demand Taxi, which operates by reservation.
During the autumn foliage season, the Boso Satoyama GO bus service also operates in the area, with Shichirigawa Onsen available as a boarding and alighting point.
Shichirigawa Onsen is a peaceful retreat where visitors can experience a natural hot spring, traditional hearth cooking, stream fishing, and beautiful seasonal scenery.
The open-air bath provides a relaxing way to enjoy the surrounding valley, while the irori dining experience offers a taste of traditional rural Japanese culture. Visitors can also spend time fishing in the streams or simply walking through the forests and enjoying the changing scenery.
Whether you visit for a few hours or stay overnight, Shichirigawa Onsen offers an opportunity to escape the noise of the city and experience the tranquil mountain landscape of the Boso Peninsula.