Babadani Onsen Spring Source

I visited at the end of October. It's about an hour's walk from Keyakidaira Station on the Kurobe Gorge Railway. There are reports of falling rocks, and helmets were available for rent along the way, but I arrived safely without any problems. Regular sneakers are perfectly fine. The bathing takes place in a secluded mountain hut. It has a charming atmosphere. Hot springs bubble up from various places along the surrounding riverbank, with steam rising everywhere. I brought raw eggs and boiled them to eat. The ride on the trolley was a bit chilly, but I could feel the breeze, and I also enjoyed hiking and the hot springs.

August 4, 2017 (Heisei 29), 10:00 AM I visited this hot spring the morning after staying at the Obadani Onsen Hut. While various documents and social media posts indicate that some people enjoy bathing in this spring, it's incredibly hot. There's a small pool-like area, but it's far too hot to enter as is. There are several spots along the riverbed where hot spring water bubbles up; the only way to use it seems to be to dig into one of these pools, mix it with stream water to reach a suitable temperature, and then bathe. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time, so I only managed a hand bath.

As you emerge from the long tunnel and begin crossing the bridge, the smell of sulfur fills the air. At the intersection after crossing the bridge, turning left leads to Obadani Onsen, heading diagonally to the right leads to the Hakuba mountain climbing area, and going down along the river to the right leads to Obadani Jigoku (Obadani Hell). Obadani Jigoku is difficult to spot at first glance, but if you continue along the river, you'll find several safety cones, making it easy to find.

It’s an excellent place to visit. It takes about an hour from Keyakidaira station. The slope of the tunnel is a little bit tough to walk. So not so many people can reach this point on my visiting day. However, I think it’s worth coming here. The scenery is so good with the clear color of water and leaves. I recommend coming until this point if you have time.

I went to Sobadani Jigoku. Steam and the smell of sulfur are floating on the riverbank. The hot spring water is hot to the touch, but apparently if you add the cold water from the river it becomes just the right temperature. I dipped just my toes in. The flow of the river is also very beautiful.