Inn features
- Hot spring
Only features verified through published information or reporting are shown.
This article is a research guide based on current accommodation information as of 2026-08-11. This is not an accommodation coverage article. Please check the latest information before booking as the number and behavior of cats may change.
About the photo: it does not show this inn or its resident cats
This illustration does not document the rooms or cats currently in residence.
Illustrative image (not a photograph of Ebisuya’s cat or inside the inn) / Photo: Viktorya Sergeeva, Pexels
In Shiobara Onsen Village in Tochigi Prefecture, there is an inn where you can enjoy both secret hot springs and cats. This is “Ebisuya” at Shiobara Motoyu Onsen.
The Jalan facility description lists four house cats; this wording was checked on 2026-10-10. Numbers may change, so confirm the current cats with the inn before booking.
What kind of accommodation is Ebisuya?
Ebisuya is a small hot spring inn with 9 rooms located in Motoyu Onsen, which is said to be the birthplace of Shiobara Onsen. In a quiet mountain environment, you can enjoy free-flowing hot spring water from two sources owned by the inn.
The specialty is “Kajiwara no Yu”.This inn is reminiscent of an old-fashioned hot spring resort, and many people visit for the hot springs themselves.
resident cat walks inside the inn
Accommodation information and stay records indicate that the cats live inside the inn rather than in a designated display space. Recent stay records include a long-haired white cat named “Mashumaru” approaching guests in the lobby and allowing them to pet it.
However, it is not guaranteed that the cat will always show up or enter the guest room. If you see a cat, don’t chase it; wait for the cat to approach you.
Be careful about cat allergies
The inn also advises people who dislike cats or are allergic to cats to refrain from staying at the inn. It’s an environment where cats walk inside the inn, so it’s not suitable if you have severe allergies.
Charm as a hot spring inn
Besides the cats, the murky hot springs and the tranquility of the mountains are also big attractions. It will be easier to imagine your stay if you choose a small inn where you can enjoy the ancient hot spring culture rather than a large hotel with well-equipped facilities.
The inn has two hot spring sources of its own: the lukewarm “Kajiwara no Yu” and the hot “Kobo no Yu” that comes from an intermittent spring. Kajiwara no Yu is also used for drinking, and is also used in meals such as hot spring porridge and hot spring tofu for breakfast. The bathhouse has a mixed bathing area, so please check the usage instructions in advance.
This accommodation is suitable for people
- People who want to meet resident cats inside the inn and enjoy both the historic hot spring water
- People who prefer the atmosphere of an old-fashioned spa hotel to new facilities
- A person who can wait quietly until a cat approaches
Access
About 30 minutes by car from Nishinasuno-Shiobara IC. It is approximately 15 minutes by taxi from Shiobara Onsen Bus Terminal. Please check with the inn as transportation may require advance reservations or a fee.
Basic information
| Item | Contents |
|---|---|
| Facility name | Shiobara Motoyu Onsen Ebisuya |
| Location | 153 Yumoto Shiobara, Nasushiobara, Tochigi 329-2922 (local address: 〒329-2922 栃木県那須塩原市湯本塩原153) |
| Check-in | 15:00 |
| Checkout | 10:00 |
| Cats | The Jalan facility description lists four house cats; confirm the current cats with the inn |
| guest-room visits | unconfirmed |
| Hot springs | Two sources owned by the inn: Kajiwara no Yu and Kobo no Yu |
| Information classification | Current accommodation information confirmed/not covered |
Location and Google Maps
Ebisuya (塩原元湯温泉 ゑびすや)
〒329-2922 栃木県那須塩原市湯本塩原153
Related video
An inn where beloved cats await | Ebisuya
Channel: ワンスアポンアタイム イン 栃木
Summary
Ebisuya is a secret hot spring inn that cat lovers will love, with cats roaming inside the inn. The encounter with the cat depends on the cat that day, but it is a candidate for those who want to feel the presence of cats inside the inn while enjoying the hot springs.
