Ryori Ryokan Shiono Onsen

Shiono Onsen is a single-inn hot spring set among the hills of Konan-cho in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, a region long known as the homeland of the Koka school of ninja. Legend holds that the spring was discovered roughly a thousand years ago by Kobo Daishi (Kukai). It also appears in the Omi Yochi Shiryaku, a regional gazetteer compiled in the mid-Edo period by Sangawa Tatsukiyo, a retainer of the Zeze domain, which records a small pool in Shiono village called Shio-no-ike whose waters rose and fell like the tide and were drawn for bathing to cure many ailments. It is regarded as one of the oldest spring sources in Shiga, and the inn itself was founded in 1898, giving it more than 120 years of history.

The water is a natural cold mineral spring of the saline type, a chloride spring containing sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Because the source emerges below 25 degrees Celsius, it is heated for bathing, but the salt content is known to warm the body thoroughly and keep it warm long after leaving the bath. The spring has traditionally been valued for gynecological complaints, digestive troubles, neuralgia and rheumatism.

Bathing facilities comprise an indoor bath built of granite and an outdoor goemon-buro, a traditional cauldron bath, along with a private family bath. The inn is barrier-free, fitted with handrails and shower chairs. As a ryori ryokan, it serves Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine using rice grown on its own fields. Note that bathing alone is not offered: a meal or overnight reservation is required.