Shimobe Hotel

“Kids’ paradise in this quiet onsen town”

This is my review of Magma Resort in Shimobe Hotel. I’m a local and have always been a fan of Shimobe Hotel, but this time I was looking for a hot spring with a kids’ club that could make both my elderly parents and my first-grader daughter happy. Room: We stayed in the most affordable “Ume” room… Mais

This is my review of Magma Resort in Shimobe Hotel. I’m a local and have always been a fan of Shimobe Hotel, but this time I was looking for a hot spring with a kids’ club that could make both my elderly parents and my first-grader daughter happy. Room: We stayed in the most affordable “Ume” room. The bathroom area has been renovated, but since the building itself is old, it still has that classic inn musty smell—covered up nicely with incense. Everything was spotless, though the amenities are more business-hotel level. The cool part? This room was once the regular stay of Yujiro Ishihara, a legendary Showa-era actor, so you get a taste of Japanese tradition and culture. Honestly, I’d much rather stay in a room with real history than in some shiny modern hotel that doesn’t clean properly! Hot spring: Shimobe Onsen, known as the “hidden spring” of warlord Takeda Shingen, is famous for its cool waters. Many people even stay long-term here for therapeutic purposes. The hotel has three different types of hot springs, including sulfur and strong alkaline. The washing areas and baths are huge, so you can really relax. The staff will even help bathe your child if you ask—and ice pops are all-you-can-eat! Food: Meals are buffet-style for both dinner and breakfast. You can try tons of local specialties like houto noodles, traditional river fish dishes, sushi, sashimi, sizzling wagyu beef, and super fresh seasonal fruits (Yamanashi is fruit country!). The kids’ corner even had nagashi somen (flowing noodles you catch with chopsticks), which was a huge hit with the kids. Fresh yamame grilled over an open hearth was amazing too. On sunny days, kids can catch their own fish in the club program, clean it, grill it, and eat it. Dinner also came with a cart service where spaghetti was tossed in a big wheel of cheese right in front of you, and breakfast had fresh-baked bread. My breakfast tip: try the croissant stuffed with a whole grilled fish—it sounds crazy but was delicious. For adults, draft beer, lemon sours, and highballs are unlimited. And when you’re done eating, you can just message the kids’ club on LINE and the staff will personally come pick up your child. Amazing service! Kids’ club: From check-in until around 9 p.m., and again from 6:30 a.m. until checkout, you can leave your kids in the club and enjoy some adult time. But honestly, the kids’ smiles were too good to miss, so I ended up joining almost everything. Even adults felt like kids again! On our first (rainy) day, activities included laser tag, a Japanese TV show–style game of tag, crafts, dyeing, ball games, trampolines, board games, fireworks, cooking, boiled egg making, foot baths, taiko drumming, mochi-pounding… it was so busy I barely had time to soak in the hot springs! As a childcare worker myself, I was impressed at how well thought-out the program was. Parents are even asked in advance what kind of growth or experiences they’d like their kids to have, and the experienced staff make it happen. My daughter has ASD and struggles with communication, but the staff helped her connect with other kids, noticed her strengths, and praised her a lot—which made me so happy as a parent. They even plan little surprises for parents too. At the Magma Resort lounge, soft drinks and Asahi draft beer are always free-flow, and in the evenings you can enjoy snacks, wine (Yamanashi is wine country!), and other drinks—perfect for winding down while the kids are busy. Kids can also earn “Magmoney,” the resort’s own currency, which they can save or trade for toys. Overall: The weather wasn’t great, so we only joined indoor activities, but my daughter had such a blast that just watching her made me happy too. They even surprised us with a birthday celebration, which I hadn’t even requested—thank you so much! My personal highlight was the grape fireworks—slow, sparkling, smoky, and just beautiful. As someone who loves “Moon-chan,” the local mascot of nearby Yunooku Kinzan, I’m really grateful that Maguma sans chose to build a kids’ paradise here in this quiet onsen town. The hot springs and service are already top-notch, so next time I definitely want to visit in another season on a sunny day. For nearby spots, I recommend Fuji River Craft Park, and for dining, the teppanyaki restaurant “Fujikawa” for delicious Koshu beef.

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