The hotel is located in Oshuku Onsen, a hot spring area with more than 450 years of history.

Its natural spring water emerges from the ground at approximately 45°C (113°F), with more than 100 liters flowing every minute. The water is delivered to the baths without added water, reheating, filtration, or circulation, offering what the hotel describes as a fresh, untouched hot spring experience.

With a pH level of 8.3, the alkaline simple spring has a soft, slightly silky texture that is said to leave the skin feeling smooth. Guests can enjoy the water in spacious indoor baths and an open-air bath surrounded by the quiet scenery of northern Japan.

One of the hotel’s most unusual experiences is todo-ne (トド寝), a traditional bathing style found in parts of the Tohoku region.

The name literally means “sea lion sleeping,” and the technique is exactly as relaxed as it sounds. Guests lie down on the bathhouse floor as hot spring water flows gently around their bodies from the overflowing baths.

Thanks to the hotel’s abundant spring flow, the dedicated todo-ne area is constantly covered in warm, fresh hot spring water. It is essentially the closest most travelers will get to becoming a very comfortable sea lion.

The todo-ne area is available in one of the hotel’s two large bathhouses. The men’s and women’s bath areas switch between morning and evening, so overnight guests can experience both.

The hotel’s dinner buffet is designed to feel more like a food festival than a standard hotel meal.

The headline attraction is a dramatic tuna-cutting show, during which a chef breaks down an entire tuna in front of guests. The freshly prepared fish is then served as sushi and sashimi.

The buffet also features snow crab, seasonal seafood, freshly fried tempura, and roast beef made with Iwate-raised beef. Guests can also sample local dishes, including Iwate’s famous wanko soba, which consists of small bowls of noodles served one after another.

Tuna-cutting show dates will be announced through the hotel’s official website. Wanko soba requires an additional fee, so guests should confirm the details directly with the hotel.

The indulgence continues the following morning. At the breakfast buffet, guests can create their own seafood bowls using ingredients such as salmon roe, sweet shrimp, and whelk. Local specialties including Morioka cold noodles and hittsumi, a comforting regional soup containing hand-torn pieces of dough, are also available.

The hotel has 57 guest rooms, ranging from modern Japanese-style twin rooms to suites with private hot spring baths.

The four Gensen Suites include open-air baths, while the two Grand Gensen Suites feature semi-open-air baths. These rooms allow guests to enjoy the natural spring water in private, without having to leave their accommodation.

Located around 15 minutes by car from JR Shizukuishi Station, Gensen Itto Iwate Shizukuishi offers a memorable mix of traditional bathing culture, abundant natural spring water, and decidedly theatrical dining.

Come for the 450-year-old hot spring, stay to sleep like a sea lion, and make sure to leave enough room for the seafood buffet.