【Onsen Shokudo】The "Chilled Dried Sardine Salt Ramen" after a bath topped with Akagi Roast Pork is the best.

On a midsummer day, I drove in Gunma and got drenched in sweat. After refreshing myself at a local hot spring bustling with elderly guests, I enjoyed authentic cold ramen made with plenty of local ingredients from Maebashi City in Gunma Prefecture.

I casually stopped by the "Fuji View Onsen Mihara-yu Fureai-kan" in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture

The onsen dining room is rarely crowded, and you can enjoy local gourmet dishes and simple flavors unique to the area. In fact, I’m not good at eating in crowded places. This time, I stopped by an onsen I stumbled upon during a drive around Mt. Akagi in Gunma.

The facility is spacious and well-equipped. It seems to be a place of relaxation for many local elderly visitors. The admission fee is also reasonable at 520 yen for adults.

The bathing area is large, kept clean, and comfortable. However, perhaps due to timing, it was quite crowded with local bathers, despite it being a weekday.

Restaurant Akagi's "Chilled Dried Sardine Salt Ramen"

After refreshing myself, I head to the restaurant Akagi located inside the building. This place seems to focus on ramen, particularly recommending ramen with char siu. Since it’s a quite hot day, I was looking for something cold and discovered a limited menu item called chilled noodles. This time, I chose the chilled niboshi ramen with a salt flavor.

The restaurant itself is spacious, with tables, counter seats, and tatami mat areas, creating a comfortable atmosphere. The staff's response is warm, and I'm eagerly awaiting the completion of the chilled noodles.

The finished chilled noodles are beautifully presented. They are generously topped with locally sourced summer vegetables, and further enhanced with Akagi roast pork. When I tried the clear broth made from niboshi, it was flavorful yet rich, and it seeped into my sweaty body.

The noodles are flat and have a chewy texture. They are authentic noodles, making me want to try other ramen as well. They go down smoothly and easily.

The gently prepared Akagi roast pork is as tender as it looks and very delicious. I’m extremely satisfied to have tasted such authentic ramen at a hot spring I happened to stop by. Thank you for the meal.

Checked the on-site direct sales store for agricultural products

I arrived at the direct sales store for agricultural products located next to the hot spring. There are shops selling light meals and terrace seating available. It has an atmosphere similar to a roadside station, and it might be nice to take a break here. I felt thirsty, so I went inside to see if there was something to drink.

I discovered a Gunma-limited cider perfect for a hot day. With a nostalgic-tasting drink to wrap it up, my trip in Gunma comes to an end. Traveling on a summer day can often be harsh, but I would like to handle it by refreshing myself at hot springs like this time.

Reporting and text by Kazuma Tanaka

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