Jiho Onsen

Teraho Onsen is a hot spring facility that can be used flexibly for various purposes, including day trips, private rooms, and overnight stays. Accommodation, in particular, offers exceptional value for money, costing around 10,000 to 12,000 yen for two people for a room-only stay. Adding dinner is only an additional 2,500 yen, and adding breakfast is only an additional 1,300 yen, making it a very reasonable price. Advance reservations are essential. Even if you're just visiting for the day, the facility offers a microwave, vending machines, and snacks, so you can relax and unwind. It's close to Teradomari, and has now become a staple stop on my way back from Teradomari. But most of all, the hot spring itself is particularly noteworthy. Teraho Onsen's source is a therapeutic spring, and its quality is suitable for therapeutic purposes. While the fact that the entire facility is free-flowing from the source is impressive enough, this hot spring is deliberately described as "waterless" rather than "flowing." I feel that this single phrase encapsulates the quality and philosophy of this hot spring. While the typical "flowing" bath is described as "not circulating," the term "discarded" here refers to a declaration of resolve that "once used, the water will never be returned." It's a term that you wouldn't use unless you were absolutely confident in the amount of hot water. Indeed, as you watch the water flowing lavishly from the bathtub, the thought of "this is a philosophy..." comes to mind before any sense of waste. The water is impeccably fresh, and the softness it feels the moment it touches your skin, along with the light, lingering feeling of relief after a bath, are truly impressive. There's none of the chlorine smell or heaviness that's common with circulating baths, allowing you to simply savor the power of the water itself. There are no flashy displays or lengthy explanations, but the term "discarded" says it all. This is a bath that leaves you quietly moved by the sincere attitude of treating hot springs not as a facility but as a finite resource. If you're a hot spring lover, this is a must-try. It speaks volumes in its few words.

Since I was in Nagaoka, I visited this hot spring, which has a good reputation. It was lunchtime, but the parking lot was fairly full. I paid 800 yen per person in cash at the front desk. The changing room is quite spacious, despite being separated by a wall. There are plenty of shelves for changing clothes, but they're small, so the baskets are small. The bath area has four faucets inside and two outside. The ratio of the changing room to the bath is off, and the washing area is also cramped (lol). There are two bathtubs. The one on the right has carbonated water, but the amount seems small and there's no visible bubbles. The other bathtub was about 41.5°C and didn't seem to have any bubbles. Both baths had a slimy, moiré-colored water. The water in the faucets was also brown and hot spring water. It's said to be a sodium chloride spring, but it wasn't salty. There is also an open-air bath and a cypress bath outside, which were also lukewarm. The water seems to have a good heat-retaining effect, so it's lukewarm, but I think it's perfect for this time of year.

Teraho Onsen, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture Take the 25-minute bus bound for Yoita via Kawanegawa from JR Nagaoka Station, Platform 2, and get off at the Teraho Onsen bus stop, a 1-minute walk away. (Please note that buses run infrequently, so please check in advance.) Weekday Room Only: ¥5,300 (tax and service charge included) Japanese-style Room 6J (kitchen, refrigerator, microwave, and washlet toilet included). Food is allowed. Optional Dinner: ¥2,500 (Catered Lunch Box) Optional Breakfast: ¥1,300 (Catered Lunch Box) This hot spring is not a naturally flowing hot spring; its source is drilled nearly 1,000 meters underground. However, with a pumping capacity of 330 liters per minute, all nine baths are free-flowing (though the owners prefer to call them "discarded" baths), creating a foamy bath that leaves you covered in bubbles. Moreover, the source temperature is 40.7°C, which contains bicarbonate ions, and the bath temperature is close to body temperature, making it a great hot spring where you can soak for a long time.

I used the hot spring for a day trip. The hot spring water is brown. All the baths are generally warm, and the indoor bath is particularly lukewarm. As a result, many older men stay in the bath for hours. The brown hot spring water also flows from the faucet, but adjusting the temperature is a bit of a hassle. The changing room has no lockers, just unsecured baskets. There are lockers for valuables, but they're extremely small, so it might be best to keep your wallet, keys, smartphone, etc. in them. The price is quite high at 900 yen for a day trip. (Price increased by 100 yen in January 2026.) No ticket machines, just cash payment. The water quality is very good, but everything else...hmm.

It's a 400 yen bus ride or about 4,000 yen taxi ride from Nagaoka Station. But once you soak in the unique light brown waters here, you'll be glad you came. There are two indoor baths, one slightly hot and one warm, and three semi-open-air baths with lukewarm water. The rooms are typical of Japanese inns, where you lay your own futon. A generous breakfast was available for an additional fee. The lady at the front desk was kind and cheerful. Wi-Fi is also available. The Echigo Kotsu bus stop "Teraho Onsen-mae" is right in front of the hotel. However, please note that there are very few buses, so be careful.