20 Onsen in Nagano worth your time

A hot spring resort in the Northern Alps featuring exceptionally high alkaline waters and four distinct public bathhouses.

What it is

• A hot spring resort area located in Hakuba Village near the Northern Alps.
• The facility features alkaline simple hot spring water with a high pH level of 11.5.
• The hot spring source was successfully drilled in May 1982.
• The resort area consists of four public bathhouses and two public footbaths.

What to see

• Happo-no-yu is one of the four public bathhouses available to visitors.
• Mimizuku-no-yu offers a bathing experience within walking distance of the station.
• Obinata-no-yu provides an open-air bath experience located further up in the mountains.
• The surrounding landscape features views of the nearby Northern Alps mountain range.
• The town is situated adjacent to the Hakuba Happo-one Ski Resort.

Getting there

• The area is accessible via the JR Oito Line at Hakuba Station.
• Mimizuku-no-yu is a ten-minute walk from Hakuba Station.
• Happo-no-yu can be reached by taking a bus from Hakuba Station.

Official site

hakuba-happo-onsen.jp

Read more about Hakuba-Happo Onsen

A high-altitude hot spring at 2,100 meters offering natural sulfur baths with expansive mountain views after a challenging hike.

What it is

• A mountain hot spring located at an elevation of 2,100 meters in Nagano Prefecture.
• The facility features the highest natural discharge volume for its altitude in Japan.
• The spring water contains sulfur, magnesium, and calcium at a temperature of 43.1 degrees Celsius.
• The mountain hut is dismantled every winter to prevent damage from local avalanches.

What to see

• Natural spring water flowing directly from a crack in a large rock.
• Outdoor mixed-gender and women-only baths overlooking the surrounding mountain landscape.
• A mountain hut that provides seasonal accommodation for hikers and bathers.

When to go

• The mountain hut and facilities operate from early July to late September.

Getting there

• Access requires a four to five hour hike starting from Sarukura.
• Japan Post designates this location as a difficult-to-reach area for visitors.

Official site

www.hakuba-sanso.co.jp

Read more about Hakuba Yari Onsen

A heritage hot spring in Nagano where wild macaques bathe in natural pools near a historic riverside inn.

What it is

• A designated Japanese Hot Spring Heritage site located along the Yokoyu River.
• The location where author Matsutani Miyoko wrote the story Taro the Dragon Boy.
• Home to the Korakukan, the only inn currently operating at the site.
• A natural area famous for wild Japanese macaques that bathe in the water.

What to see

• The Shibu Jigokudani Fountain, which is a designated national natural monument.
• Four indoor baths and two mixed outdoor baths at the local inn.
• A dedicated bathing pool for wild monkeys at the nearby monkey park.
• The surrounding valley landscape and the flowing Yokoyu River.

When to go

• Winter season, though the local parking lot is closed during this time.

Getting there

• A thirty minute walk is required to reach the site from Kanbayashi Onsen.
• The Jigokudani Monkey Park is located a five minute walk from the hot spring.

Read more about Jigokudani Onsen

A historic high-altitude hot spring resort and trailhead in Nagano featuring thirty-six water sources and cultural heritage buildings.

What it is

• A hot spring resort officially opened in 1821 within Chubu Sangaku National Park.
• The facility sits at an altitude of 1,462 meters in Azumino City.
• It serves as a primary trailhead for hikers climbing Mount Tsubakuro.
• The site features thirty-six separate hot spring sources with water reaching 95 degrees Celsius.

What to see

• Seven buildings including the Main Building Kiku are Registered Tangible Cultural Properties.
• Naturally occurring colloidal silica and sinter designated as National Natural Monuments.
• A historic outdoor onsen pool originally constructed in 1923.
• Mountain scenery surrounding the resort at the base of the Northern Alps.

When to go

• The facility operates seasonally from late April to late November.

Getting there

• A bus from Hotaka Station takes 40 minutes to reach the resort.

Official site

nakabusa.com

Read more about Nakabusa Onsen

A quiet hot spring resort in Nagano known for its high-alkaline waters and daily morning markets selling local specialties.

What it is

• A hot spring resort discovered in 1973 during railway tunnel construction.
• The area features alkaline simple sulfur springs with a pH value exceeding nine.
• The village maintains a quiet atmosphere by prohibiting neon signs and adult entertainment.
• The resort contains more than twenty different lodging facilities for visitors.

What to see

• A daily morning market starting around 6:00 AM selling local vegetables.
• Market stalls offering traditional regional snacks made from insects.
• Two free public footbaths available for visitors to use.
• The first lodging facility established at the site in 1975.

When to go

• Visit at 6:00 AM to experience the local morning market.

Getting there

• Accessible by bus departing from JR Iida Station.
• Located ten minutes away from the Iida-Yamamoto Interchange by car.

Official site

hirugamionsen.jp

Read more about Hirugami Onsen

A scenic hot spring resort in Nagano featuring radon waters, river boat tours, and views of the Tenryu Gorge.

What it is

• A hot spring resort established in 1989 within the scenic Tenryu Gorge.
• The spring water is a simple weak radioactive radon source.
• Part of the Tenryukyo 100-Year Revitalization Project in Iida City.
• A public day-trip hot spring facility operates within the town.

What to see

• Traditional river boat tours traveling downstream through the gorge.
• Accommodations built to overhang the cliffs of the gorge.
• Numerous apple orchards located throughout the surrounding area.
• A seasonal footbath available for public use from April to November.

When to go

• Visit between April and November to use the seasonal footbath.

Getting there

• The resort is located near Tenryukyo Station on the JR Iida Line.
• Road access is available via the Tenryukyo Interchange on the San-en Nanshin Expressway.

Official site

tenryukyou.com

Read more about Tenryūkyō Onsen

An 800-year-old hot spring resort in Nagano featuring mineral-rich waters and a historic central communal bathhouse.

What it is

• A hot spring resort serving as the center of Shinshu Takayama Onsenkyo.
• The resort area was established in 1798 after being discovered 800 years ago.
• Famous literary figures including Mori Ogai and Kobayashi Issa have visited the site.
• Nine traditional inns surround a central communal bathhouse known as Oyu.

What to see

• The Oyu communal bathhouse located at the center of the village.
• White thread-like mineral deposits floating in the natural hot spring water.
• The nearby Yamada Onsen Kids Snow Park for winter activities.
• Waters containing sulfur, sodium, calcium, and chloride at temperatures up to 70 degrees.

Getting there

• Buses and taxis run from Suzaka Station directly to the resort.
• A 30-minute drive from the Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi Interchange by car.

Read more about Yamada Onsen

A historic hot spring resort founded in the 7th century featuring traditional public bathhouses and cultural heritage buildings.

What it is

• A hot spring resort located in Yamanouchi Town within Nagano Prefecture.
• Founded in the 7th century by a priest named Chiyu.
• A former post town that served travelers on the Kusatsu Highway.
• The local waters contain a mixture of chloride and sulfur.

What to see

• Nine public bathhouses situated throughout the local district.
• The Oyu bathhouse which is ranked as a top-tier public bath.
• The Momoyama Bath at Yorozuya Ryokan, a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
• The former Yudanaka Station building preserved as a cultural property.
• Kaede no Yu, a day-use bath located directly at the train station.

Getting there

• Accessible via the Nagano Electric Railway Nagano Line to Yudanaka Station.
• Located twenty minutes by car from the Shinshu Nakano Interchange.

Official site

www.yudanaka-onsen.info

Read more about Yudanaka Onsen

Japan's highest year-round hot spring inn offers a remote mountain experience accessible only by a multi-hour hike through Nagano's peaks.

What it is

• A hot spring inn founded in 1882 located at an elevation of 2,150 meters.
• The highest year-round hot spring facility currently operating in Japan.
• A remote destination situated in a designated difficult-to-deliver mail zone.
• A mountain retreat accessible exclusively by hiking trails in Minamimaki Village.

What to see

• The open-air bath Unjo-no-yu located a ten-minute walk from the main inn.
• A mixed-gender outdoor bath with no private changing rooms for visitors.
• The indoor bath Kokemomo-no-yu which utilizes a separate drilled water source.
• Spring water rich in sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and sulfate minerals.

Getting there

• A three-hour hike starting from the Inagoyu bus stop.
• A one-hour walk from the designated four-wheel drive vehicle parking lot.

Official site

www.yatsu-honzawaonsen.com

Read more about Honzawa Onsen

A historic hot spring village and ski resort in Nagano featuring thirteen traditional public bathhouses and unique high-temperature cooking springs.

What it is

• A hot spring village in Nagano Prefecture founded during the Nara period by the monk Gyoki.
• Thirteen public bathhouses managed by local organizations featuring sulfur-rich spring water.
• A sister city to St. Anton in Austria with a ski resort on Mount Kenashi.
• Home to the famous local specialty vegetable known as Nozawa-na.

What to see

• The Ogama area where spring water temperatures reach nearly 100 degrees Celsius.
• Traditional public bathhouses with water temperatures ranging from 42 to 90 degrees Celsius.
• Footbaths located conveniently near the Oyu and Ogama areas.
• Mount Kenashi which hosts the local ski resort slopes.

Getting there

• Accessible by bus from Iiyama Station.
• Approximately 20 kilometers away from the Toyota-Iiyama Interchange.

Official site

nozawakanko.jp

Read more about Nozawa Onsen

A riverside hot spring resort in Nagano featuring diverse mineral waters and a gallery dedicated to poet Mitsuo Aida.

What it is

• A hot spring resort belonging to the Yudanaka Shibu Onsen group in Yamanouchi.
• Historically known as Kamigawara Onsenkyo before being rebuilt after a 1910 flood.
• Sits on the right bank of the Yomase River behind a protective levee.
• Features simple, sulfur, and salt-based hot springs with temperatures reaching eighty degrees Celsius.

What to see

• A gallery dedicated to the works of poet and calligrapher Mitsuo Aida.
• Traditional hot spring facilities rebuilt during the early Showa period.
• Views of the Yomase River from the town's riverside location.

Getting there

• Located a one to ten minute walk from Yudanaka Station.
• Accessible via a five minute walk from nearby Honami Onsen.
• Drivers can reach the area via the Shinshu-Nakano Interchange.

Read more about Hoshikawa Onsen

A remote riverside hot spring where visitors dig their own baths near unique geyser cones and mountain hiking trails.

What it is

• A hot spring area located at the confluence of the Mizumata and Yumata rivers.
• A destination featuring the Yumata Sanso and Seiranso mountain huts on opposing banks.
• Home to geyser cones designated as a natural monument since 1922.

What to see

• Open-air baths that visitors can dig themselves directly into the riverbed.
• Natural geyser cone formations located a short distance from the main spring area.
• The Takemura Shindo trail which leads hikers toward Mount Noguchigoro.
• The Ito Shindo trail connecting the area to the Mitsumata Sanso hut.

Getting there

• Take a taxi or walk to Takase Dam as general vehicles are prohibited past Nanakura.
• Follow the trail from Takase Dam for a three-hour walk to reach the hot springs.

Read more about Yumata Onsen

A secluded mountain hot spring inn at 1,220 meters elevation, serving as a gateway for hikers visiting Kamikochi.

What it is

• A single hot spring inn located at high altitude in Matsumoto City.
• Member of the Japan Association of Secluded Hot Springs founded in 1931.
• The facility moved to its current location along National Route 158 in 1984.
• Known as a hot spring for fertility with bicarbonate and sulfate waters.

What to see

• A traditional mountain ryokan building situated at an elevation of 1,220 meters.
• Natural hot spring baths containing chloride and other minerals.
• Access point for the surrounding hiking trails of the Kamikochi area.

When to go

• Mail delivery is suspended from November 11 to April 26 due to winter conditions.

Getting there

• Buses from Shin-Shimashima Station reach the site in 40 minutes.

Official site

sakamaki.yumori.jp

Read more about Sakamaki Onsen

A historic hot spring district in Matsumoto featuring alkaline waters, traditional inns, and a legacy of Edo-period lords.

What it is

• A hot spring district discovered in 939 by the Inukai clan.
• Home to approximately 30 inns and several public bath houses.
• Site of former private villas and baths used by Matsumoto lords.
• A location once used as a standby station for special attack units.

What to see

• Seven different active spring sources providing alkaline simple thermal water.
• Misa Shrine which enshrines three deities including Takeminakata-no-mikoto.
• Matsumoto City Baseball Stadium located within the district.
• Traditional architecture of the local inns and public bathing facilities.

When to go

• The annual Torch Festival held at Misa Shrine.

Getting there

• Accessible by bus from Matsumoto Station.

Official site

www.asamaonsen.com

Read more about Asama Onsen

A high-altitude hot spring resort on the Azusa River offering historic accommodations and natural thermal waters from Mount Yakedake.

What it is

• A hot spring resort located at 1,500 meters elevation on the Azusa River bank.
• The site features a simple hydrogen sulfide spring sourced from nearby Mount Yakedake.
• Accommodation services at this location date back to 1887.
• Two hotels currently operate facilities for visitors at the site.

What to see

• The Walter Weston Memorial stands adjacent to the hot spring site.
• Views of the Azusa River and the surrounding mountain landscape.
• Historic lodging sites where authors Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Kotaro Takamura stayed.

When to go

• Facilities are open annually from late April until mid-November.

Getting there

• The site is a 20-minute walk from the landmark Kappa Bridge.

Read more about Kamikōchi Onsen

A historic hot spring town in Nagano featuring traditional wooden architecture and nine public bathhouses for guests to explore.

What it is

• A hot spring resort area located in Yamanouchi Town within Nagano Prefecture.
• Founded 1300 years ago according to legends involving the monk Gyoki.
• Historical site used by Takeda Shingen as a hidden hot spring location.
• Traditional town featuring thirty-five inns and thirty-seven different hot spring sources.

What to see

• Stone-paved streets lined with traditional wooden inn buildings.
• Nine public baths accessible to local residents and overnight guests.
• The Kanaguya Ryokan which is a nationally registered tangible cultural property.
• Hot spring water reaching temperatures between sixty and ninety degrees Celsius.

Getting there

• Five minute bus ride from Yudanaka Station to the resort area.

Official site

www.shibuonsen.net

Read more about Shibu Onsen

A historic mountain hot spring resort in Nagano known for its therapeutic sulfur waters and literary connections to Shimazaki Toson.

What it is

• A traditional hot spring resort located in the mountains of Mount Jukkan.
• Designated as a National Health Resort Hot Spring featuring alkaline simple sulfur water.
• Reportedly opened during the Asuka period and currently managed by a local asset union.
• A quiet destination consisting of five inns and one public bathhouse.

What to see

• The Uchiyu public bathhouse which underwent renovation in June 2000.
• Masuya Ryokan where author Shimazaki Toson stayed to write his works.
• The filming location for the movie Ping Pong Bath at Masuya Ryokan.
• Two main spring sources with temperatures of 34.6 and 40.0 degrees Celsius.

Getting there

• Buses connect the resort to Ueda Station via Aoki Village.

Official site

www.vill.aoki.nagano.jp

Read more about Tazawa Onsen

The oldest hot spring in Shiga Kogen, offering high-altitude sulfur baths at 1,600 meters with a history dating to 1802.

What it is

• The oldest hot spring area in Shiga Kogen, discovered between 1802 and 1842.
• A high-altitude retreat sitting at an elevation of 1,600 meters in Yamanouchi Town.
• The site served as a venue for giant slalom events during the Nagano Olympics.
• Hot springs feature simple sulfur and hydrogen sulfide water at 50 degrees Celsius.

What to see

• Baths created by mixing spring water with steam from Nishidateyama.
• Historical site mentioned in the Kutuno Nikki diary by Sakuma Shozan.
• Mountain scenery surrounding the oldest thermal source in the Shiga Kogen region.

Getting there

• Buses run directly from Nagano Station to the hot spring area.
• Local bus services connect Yudanaka Station to the site.

Read more about Hoppo Onsen

A high-altitude hot spring resort in Nagano featuring acidic volcanic waters piped directly from the slopes of Mount Norikura.

What it is

• A hot spring area in Matsumoto City supplied by water from Mount Norikura.
• The current piping system for the resort was completed in 1976.
• Approximately 100 local inns and pensions receive water from the volcanic source.
• The spring yields 1,500 liters of water per minute at 50 degrees Celsius.

What to see

• Two distinct types of spring water including white and transparent varieties.
• Public bathing facilities available at Yukemurikan and Ginzanso.
• The surrounding landscape of the Mt. Norikura ski resort area.
• Highly acidic water containing hydrogen sulfide piped from seven kilometers away.

Getting there

• Buses run from Shin-Shimashima Station directly to the hot spring area.

Official site

www.spa-norikura.com

Read more about Norikura Kōgen Onsen

A Nagano hot spring resort established in 1991, featuring alkaline waters and public baths overlooking the scenic Iiyama Basin.

What it is

• A hot spring area in Iiyama City established through drilling in 1991
• The site features alkaline simple hot spring water
• A ski resort destination with many local inns for visitors
• The location serves as a base for winter sports and relaxation

What to see

• Two public bath houses named Akatsuki-no-yu and Nozomi-no-yu
• Outdoor baths providing views across the Iiyama Basin
• Togari Onsen Ski Resort situated on the mountain side
• Tanker trucks delivering hot spring water to the surrounding inns

Getting there

• A 30-minute bus ride from JR Iiyama Station
• A 20-minute drive from the Toyota-Iiyama Interchange
• Ninety minutes by car from the Shiozawa-Ishiuchi Interchange

Official site

www.togarionsen.jp

Read more about Togari Onsen