Inn features
- Hot spring
Only features verified through published information or reporting are shown.
This article is an unreported research guide based on official information as of 2026-08-11 and guest reviews in 2026.Cat numbers and behavior change, and guest-room visits depend on the cat’s mood and physical condition, so please check the latest information before booking.
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 Yamaguchiya Ryokan’s resident cat or guest room) / Photo: silvia lusetti, Pexels
“Yamaguchiya Ryokan” in Shiobara Onsen Village, Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, is a small inn that is popular not only for its hot springs and homemade food, but also for its proximity to multiple resident cats.
The cats walk freely inside the inn, and if guests wait with the guest room door slightly open, they may wander around the room at will. This is a hotel that fits well with what we are looking for on this site, “an inn where cats come to the guest room.”
Resident cats patrolling the guest room
Multiple guest reviews posted from May to June 2026 record that cats such as Mimitan, Kinako, Mugi, and Kotetsu took turns visiting the guest room.
There are specific examples of cats visiting guests when they left the guest room door slightly open, relaxing on cushions, and sleeping on their laps. Since there are multiple new reviews, the basis for the A rating is considered to be quite strong.
However, there are certain rooms and times when cats tend to gather, and there is a possibility that no one will come. When opening the door, be sure to follow the escape prevention and inside the inn rules provided by the inn.
Mimitan ranked 1st in resident cat ranking 2026
The official website introduces that the long-haired brown tabby cat “Mimitan” has ranked first in Jalan’s “I want to meet you! Inn resident cat ranking 2026”.
Cats other than Mimitan also live here, and information on new cats is updated on the official blog. The number of cats and members are not fixed, so you may not be able to meet all the cats named in the article.
Hot springs flowing directly from the source and homemade food
Yamaguchiya Ryokan is not just a facility for cats, but a hot spring inn where you can enjoy the hot spring water and food of Shiobara Onsen. In addition to indoor and outdoor baths for men and women, there are also private baths, and the hot springs and wide variety of dishes are also highly praised in reviews.
Guest rooms are mainly Japanese-style rooms. Amenities and smoking conditions may vary depending on guest room/plan, so please check on the reservation page.
Things you should know before staying
- Cats are free to roam, so we cannot guarantee that they will come to the guest room.
- Avoid forcibly holding the cat, locking it in a room, and giving it food.
- Please be careful about cats escaping at doors and windows leading to the outside.
- If you have a cat allergy, please discuss the inside the inn environment with the inn in advance.
- Cat names, number of cats, and interaction rules are subject to change.
Basic information
| Item | Contents |
|---|---|
| Facility name | Yamaguchiya Ryokan |
| Location | 703 Nasushiobara Shiobara, Tochigi 329-2921 (local address: 〒329-2921 栃木県那須塩原市塩原703) |
| Distance with cats | There are many current cases of multiple resident cats walking freely inside the inn and visiting guest rooms |
| Hot springs | Men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor baths, private baths |
| guest room | Mainly Japanese-style rooms |
| Official website | Yamaguchiya Ryokan |
Location and Google Maps
Yamaguchiya Ryokan (こだまの湯 山口屋旅館)
〒329-2921 栃木県那須塩原市塩原703
Related video
A relaxing hot spring inn where you can play with cats｜Yamaguchiya Ryokan
Channel: ねこ旅 猫宿・看板猫がいる旅館やホテルを紹介
Summary
Yamaguchiya Ryokan is a hot spring inn where multiple resident cats roam freely around the guest room and may relax together in the room. There are many specific accommodation examples for 2026, and it can be said that it is an inn with a strong basis for guest room visits even among the A-rated inns at this time.
This is a place where you don’t take the cat’s visit for granted, and you want to enjoy the hot springs and food while quietly waiting for the cat to choose to come to your room.
