Amakazari Kogen Onsen

I was lucky enough to be able to bathe with a local resident, and he told me all sorts of stories. I was told that the baths are closed in winter because snowplows can't get in. The first thing I thought as soon as I got in the water was, "What kind of spring is this?" It was a smell I'd smelled somewhere before, but where? What was it? My own conclusion was that it might be the smell of the stones. So I thought maybe it was a hot spring that gushed forth containing components from various geological layers (although I didn't actually know what it was). It was more like an open-air bath than an outdoor bath, with no washing area, shower, soap, or anything else. It was the ultimate hot spring.

It's located a short flight of stairs from the road. The baths are separated into men's and women's sections halfway through. This free public open-air bath is well-maintained. There's a box for offering gratitude in the changing room, so visitors are welcome to leave a small donation. Photography is prohibited in the bath, so I can't provide any images, but it's fairly spacious, so it shouldn't feel cramped for about 5-6 people. Of course, the water is directly from the source. The temperature was just right. Soaking in the hot springs, surrounded by the dappled sunlight and the faint smell of sulfur, is truly a delight. Sodium bicarbonate spring pH 7.2 (September 2025)

A fantastical hot spring surrounded by beech forests. The water is quite warm, allowing for a relaxing soak. There's a slight sulfur smell, perhaps? The baths are separated by gender, but there are no showers or amenities, so it's really just an open-air bath. The changing rooms and toilets are kept clean, and there's a parking lot nearby that can accommodate 6-7 cars, so be sure to leave a small gift if you use it. There is also a signposted road that leads to Myoko, but it's an unpaved gravel and stone road that stretches for about 10 kilometers, so we recommend taking a detour.

I used the bath after hiking Mt. Amakasari. It was all to myself. It felt great to be able to wash off the sweat. However, there were horseflies that kept attacking me, so I couldn't calm down and had to keep swinging my towel around. Also, if you look closely at the bath, it's pretty dirty, so it's a bit discouraging. You can put in any amount of money as a contribution, so I put in 500 yen. Photography was prohibited, so I didn't take any photos of the bathroom.

Stumbled upon this while travelling through the countryside. It's beautiful, well kept, and free. However, there is a donation box, please consider giving to preserve this wonderful spot! It was thundering and pouring but still very enjoyable and I think made the atmosphere better!