ONSEN

Stay at a Renovated School in the Mountains: Katakuri-no-Yado, a Hidden Hot Spring in Akiyamago Trip date: June 2022 (Wrapped in the fresh, rainy scent of the mountains...) Tucked along the border of Niigata and Nagano prefectures lies Akiyamago—a remote village where time seems to move a little slower. We stayed in the peaceful hamlet of Ketto, at a very special place called Katakuri-no-Yado. This cozy hot spring inn was once a wooden school building—now lovingly renovated into a nostalgic retreat. A warm wooden welcome. Wait, is this really an inn? At the entrance, we’re greeted by two signs—one for ...

Check the lowest price for this inn Visited in: June 2022 (Clear skies and sunshine) Nestled in the snowy region of Tokamachi, Niigata, Matsunoyama Onsen is one of Japan’s three greatest medicinal hot springs—alongside Arima and Kusatsu. Its naturally salty, steaming hot spring water is rich in metaboric acid, said to aid skin healing and sterilization. With a source temperature of 97.5°C, it’s no exaggeration to say the waters here are seriously powerful! Built in 1938: Ryounkaku, a Registered Cultural Property I stayed at Ryounkaku, a beautiful wooden inn built in 1938 and designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. ...

Did you know Japan has "Three Great Hidden Regions"? You might be thinking, “Wait, hidden regions?” Yes—it’s true. Japan has three areas officially called “The Three Great Hidden Places.” They are: Shirakawa-go (Gifu), Iya Valley (Tokushima), and Shiiba Village (Miyazaki). So! This time, I ventured into one of them: **Iya Valley in Tokushima Prefecture. Iya Valley: A Remote Mountain Escape in Tokushima The weather wasn’t great when I visited Iya. Low-hanging clouds covered the mountains like a blanket. The mountains are deep, the roads have intense elevation changes... Even on mountaintops, there are small villages. It didn’t feel completely deserted—people ...

What is I♥︎湯? I♥︎湯 (I Love Yu) is a fully functional public bathhouse (sento) combined with an immersive art installation. It was designed by renowned Japanese artist Shinro Ohtake and opened in 2009 as part of the Benesse Art Site on Naoshima Island. It’s located just a 1–2 minute walk from Miyanoura Port, the main gateway for ferries from Takamatsu and Uno. An Artistic Bathing Experience The building’s exterior is a wild, eclectic mix of mosaic tiles, neon signs, tropical plants, and even parts of a ship—giving it a colorful, scrapbook-like appearance. Inside, every surface becomes a canvas: ...

Escape to one of Japan’s Top 3 Hidden Valleys – Iya Valley (祖谷渓) Deep in the mountains of Tokushima lies a hot spring retreat like no other. Iya Onsen Hotel is a secluded ryokan perched on a cliffside, offering breathtaking views and a private cable car ride down to a riverside open-air bath. Nestled in the heart of nature, Iya Valley is famous for its vine bridges, steep gorges, and untouched serenity – a perfect off-the-beaten-path getaway. The onsen water here is silky-smooth alkaline sulfur spring water, known as “beauty bath” for its skin-softening effect. Relax in the ...

There are many hot springs near Beppu Station. You don't need a car! We have compiled a list of hot springs near Beppu Station that you can visit on foot without taking a bus or train. The entry fee is inexpensive and the quality of the springs varies, so why don't you enjoy a variety of hot springs? Let's go to Beppu Onsen Tour on foot. You can make an efficient tour if you go around in the order we introduced! Ekimae Koto Onsen Located on Beppu Ekimae Dori, Ekimae Koto Onsen is a hot spring facility with an exterior ...

A janitor who loves hot springs is trying his hand at a mixed bath! My first mixed bath was with Aomori Sangayu. My first mixed bathing debut in a non-swimsuit area was at Ashigayu Onsen in Aomori Prefecture. Ashigayu Onsen allows women to wear yumi-no-maki (swimsuits), so it's a relatively easy mixed bath for women, but I took on the challenge of no towel, no yumi-no-maki (swimsuit) (laughs). This is because Sangayu Onsen has a blindfold from the women's changing room until you enter the mixed bath, so you can enter the onsen relatively naked. Once you're in the water, ...

Kansai is home to many mixed-bathing hot springs where you can enjoy a day trip or an overnight stay! In this article, we've selected 14 mixed-use hot springs in the Kansai region, and will introduce the features and bathing methods of each facility in detail. There are mixed baths where you can wear a swimsuit, mixed baths where you can't wrap a towel, etc. The number of mixed baths in Japan is decreasing every year, so why not visit one with your family or significant other before they disappear? Mixed baths in Osaka The Great Hot Springs of the Spa ...