Accommodation review of the cat inn “Shichirigawa Onsen” in Chiba’s Kimitsu | Experience of a resident cat sleeping in a futon at a hot spring inn

These are existing stay reports and photographs of cats spending time in guest rooms and inside the inn. Their behavior was recorded during the visit and does not guarantee guest-room visits on every stay. We rechecked the official service and travel information on 2026-09-05. This update is not a return visit or new on-site report.

In the deep mountains of Chiba, there is an inn where cats, a hearth, and a rare hot spring are all gathered. “Irori no Yado Shichirigawa Onsen,” wrapped in the deep green of the Boso Hills, is an inn that cannot be missed by Neko Yado Research.

What kind of place is Shichirigawa Onsen?

It is a hot spring inn situated in the mountains of Chiba Prefecture’s Kimitsu. As the name suggests, “hearth” and “cat” are its specialties, and it is a unique ryokan with a wide range of fans, from local regulars to cat-loving travelers.

The hot spring is a rare sulfur spring direct flow on the Boso Peninsula. It is a full-scale hot spring where transparent water with a yellow tint is poured into the bathtub, and it also accommodates day trips.

The inside of the inn is a traditional Japanese space with a sense of age, decorated with paintings and antiques. It is precisely because it is not a neatly organized ryokan that the cats are finding their places freely, which is what makes this inn special.

Access

The official travel information indicates approximately 30 minutes from Kisarazu-Higashi Interchange via National Route 410. Total journey time from central Tokyo varies with the starting point and road conditions, so do not assume a single fixed duration.

For public transportation, the official page has information on a reservation-based demand taxi from JR Kururi Station. Since it is not the same as regular bus routes or the inn’s shuttle, please check the usage date, boarding location, and operating conditions in advance.

Immediately upon arrival, a black cat greets you at the parking lot

The moment I got out of the car, there was a black cat lying flat and relaxed on the gravel parking lot. Even when I approached, it showed no sign of moving, displaying an imposing presence as if to say, “This is my spot.”

This was my first encounter with Shichirigawa Onsen.

Once I entered the room, the cat came in with me

Around the time I checked in and settled into the room, a ginger-and-white cat slipped in. It immediately claimed the futon, curled up as if it were its own bed, and began to sleep.

An inn where you can sleep in the futon with a cat is not something you encounter often. Just this one instance makes it clear that Shichirigawa Onsen is a place that Neko Yado Research cannot overlook.

Meeting cats in various parts of the inn

Likes being under the sofa

The plump cream-colored cat treated the space under the sofa as its usual spot. Even when called, it wouldn’t move, completely sticking to its own pace.

A Special Seat on the Cardboard

In the lobby lined with paintings, a tabby-and-white cat is asleep on a cardboard box. Even a plain Panasonic box makes a fine bed for this cat.

The Night Doorman

When night deepens, a ginger-and-white cat sits alone in front of the sliding door at the entrance, staring intently at the darkness outside. The silhouette seen from behind is simply a wonderful picture.

The Master of the Hallway

On the wooden hallway, the ginger-and-white cat stared back at me. The look was more like assessing me than being wary.

Eating Kibble in the Tatami Room

On the tatami mats of the Japanese-style room, a wooden box and a bowl were placed. The ginger-and-white cat approached there, ate the kibble, and glanced at me. This unassuming scene is the daily life of Shichirigawa Onsen.

Wicker chairs are the cat’s reserved seats

The wicker chairs in the guest room have a red hemp-leaf patterned floor cushion placed on them. This is the ginger-and-white cat’s favorite spot, and it spent the entire time there from night until the next morning.

As the night deepens, it curls into a perfect circle and sleeps soundly.

The next morning, it was still in the same chair as before. It stayed there just as it was from the night before.

Even when people come to stay, the cats’ pace is not disturbed in the slightest. I think that is the true nature of the comfort of Shichirigawa Onsen.

Hearth and sulfur spring

I’ve been talking about cats, but the inn has another face: the hot spring and the hearth.

Hot spring is a sulfur spring with direct flow from the source. It is a genuine sulfur spring, which is rare on the Boso Peninsula, and is impressive for its soft feel and unique scent. Day-use bathing is officially 8:00–22:00, with final reception at 21:00. Please check for regular holidays and any temporary notices.

At the hearth, the style is to cook and eat seafood yourself. Being wrapped in the heat of charcoal and the scent of smoke is an experience unique to mountain inns. Since there is also a plan for staying without meals, if you are bringing ingredients, please check how to use the hearth and the charcoal fee. The official service guide states that bringing ingredients is allowed but bringing alcohol is not, which does not mean you can freely use self-cooking facilities.

Conditions for rates and closing days to check before booking

The official price table checked on 2026-09-05 lists 7,850 yen per adult for a room-only stay and 13,900 yen for a stay with two meals, including consumption tax and bathing tax. Busy-period prices require confirmation, so these are reference amounts as of the checking date. Ask the inn for an actual quote with your party size, ages, and meal preferences.

The official page lists the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays as regular holidays, and states that the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the preceding day are generally not accepted for overnight stays. There are exceptions such as “consultation for 10 or more people,” and some notices specify dates, so do not decide booking availability based solely on the day of the week.

Photos of cats coming into the room are from this visit. It is not guaranteed that you can stay in the same room or plan with a cat. Please check with the host about how to handle the door when the cat wants to come out, and also refer to preparations for inns with guest room visits.

Basic information

Related video

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Hot spring inn with resident cats | Irori no Yado Shichirigawa Onsen
Channel: Animamille - Travel to meet animals.

Watch on YouTube

Summary

Shichirigawa Onsen is not a place where cats “can stay,” but a place where you can stay “together with” cats. They come into the room, sleep in futons, occupy chairs, and wander around the hallways. It feels like humans are intruding into a space where the cats live completely as the main characters.

It is not a well-finished facility, but that is also part of the inn’s charm. The combination of sulfur hot springs, a hearth, and resident cats is something you can hardly experience elsewhere. As Neko Yado Research, this is one inn we can confidently recommend.

Neko Yado Research actually visits and reports on inns and facilities where you can interact with cats.

Sources・Update history

• Official · Services and Rates
• Official · Transportation Guide
• Official Top · Business Notice
• Cat Inn Comparison in Chiba Prefecture
• 2026-09-05: Migrate existing photos to Markdown while retaining them. Review existing accommodation rates, add principles for the last admission time for day-use bathing, days when accommodation is not possible, and conditions for bringing food and beverages. Distinguish cat-related experiences as existing visit records.