Kawamata Hot Spring

Visited September 12, 2025 ★It's amazing if you can make it ★Don't underestimate the journey ★Mid-September is recommended Read user reviews on Google Maps I visited with some preparation. As I drove to the very edge of the road, I saw a protruding sign warning me, "Missing Person, Continue at Your Own Risk." Following the Kawamata Onsen sign, I made my way through the mountains. At first, it felt easy. The footing was not bad, and I made steady progress. Halfway through, the path became overgrown with vegetation. I crossed the riverbed. The water was incredibly cold, even in September. Your feet will get completely wet. Sneaker sandals are recommended. Note: Sandals and flip-flops are dangerous. Sneakers will get soaked. Watch your step. In some places, there's a cliff just below. Your feet will be slippery. Cross the riverbed several times. At the end, just before the riverbed, it feels like a dead end, but I continue upstream. You'll see the broken changing room. You can tell by the piles of boards stacked on top of each other. The hot spring water was very lukewarm, almost like a swimming pool. There was no one there, so I took off my clothes right there and got in completely naked. You can experience the beauty of nature in the mountains, next to a riverbank. The hot spring can only fit about two people, and it's an awkward size if you're with someone you don't know. lol It's easy to get lost on the way back. The best place to head is where there are three layers of large stones that someone has stacked on top of each other. Be careful. It seems like there are a lot of bugs in August, but in September there were none and it was comfortable! Anyway, be careful on the way there. It was tough, but I was impressed!

It's about a 20-minute walk from parking, but there are clear signs, so you won't get lost. I've uploaded the directions from the parking lot. (Google Maps provides directions to the parking lot.) You'll be walking along a path where bears are likely to be found, so be sure to wear a bell. I crossed the river four times, but the most likely point of confusion is to turn right upstream when you first come across the river. Follow the signs at the parking lot to cross. For the next likely point of confusion, when you come across the river again, just keep climbing upstream along the main stream. There are cliffs and a narrow path along the way, so be careful. Then you'll see the changing room, and a hot spring nearby. Looking into the bath, you can feel the bubbles rising from below. The temperature was around 32°C, but the feeling of being one with nature is so good you'll want to stay in for a long time! For open-air bath lovers, it's a must-see! (lol) The changing room is already rotten, but there's no one there, so it's no longer a useful place to be (lol) Please be careful of bears and rising water.

When I visited in winter, I had to walk timidly from the paved road quite a distance before, but gave up and had to go home as the sun was setting. This time, I tried again when the heat had subsided. Unlike in winter, I was able to drive over rough roads and drive as far as the hot springs (Washibetake Betsu Route hiking trail). This was my first time taking a natural hot spring bath, so I started out with a mixture of anxiety and excitement. The hot spring is about 800 meters from here. You'll cross the river three times and can enjoy moss on a par with Tarumae Garo. There is a changing room? But the floor is rotten, so you have to undress outside. When you enter the bath, the clear water is mixed with sand. The water temperature is just right for long soaks at this time of year. Sandals or hiking boots are recommended.

Visited on September 16, 2023, around 4:00 PM ⚠️The road was closed 2.5km before the peak due to logging work. We parked our car in a place that wouldn't get in the way after the work was completed. We were dropped off shortly before the peak, so if you're in good health, please allow about an hour for the trip. We also spotted bear droppings along the way, so be sure to take precautions. After crossing the river four times and clearing the bamboo grove, the hot springs finally came into view—a truly impressive sight. The rest is up for grabs! The water temperature is around 34°C, so it's best to visit during the hot season. There are no more changing rooms!

I visited in June, August, and October 2012, and May 2013. My most recent visit was in July 2017, after a long absence. I parked my car in the parking lot and walked for over 30 minutes. I crossed the river twice. There used to be a hot spring inn here, but now it's a completely natural hot spring. The first time I visited, I had a hard time following the map. But I'll never forget the excitement I felt when I finally arrived. Perhaps it's precisely because natural hot springs like this are not easily accessible that they are so valuable. You'll need to cross the river, so you'll need the appropriate equipment.