Motoyu Hakoyama Hot Spring

I don't really want to write about this sort of thing because it will attract more visitors, but I think this is the best day-trip hot spring in Yamanouchi Town. The water temperature, spring quality, cloudiness, parking, and restaurants all make it the best overall in my opinion. Other day-trip hot springs are colorless, almost odorless, and very hot in some places, so I didn't find them very appealing. However, there are signs at the entrance asking people with tattoos to refrain from entering, but there are local regulars with tattoos, so rather than focusing on the people themselves, I wonder what the establishment thinks about that. It would be better if there were no signs warning about tattoos, as even if someone with a tattoo came, the establishment is probably too elderly to accommodate them.

You can really feel the history. I didn't notice it until I entered the premises from the road. Although it is a hot spring inn, it also offers day-use hot springs. The bathing fee is 600 yen. You purchase tickets from the ticket machine. The indoor bath is small, so we didn't use it. It's already full with four people. The open-air bath is slightly larger. The water is not hot at all, so it's very comfortable to soak in. There was surprisingly a sauna as well. The temperature was around 90°C, so it wasn't too hot either, and if you sit in it for a while, you'll start to sweat. The cold water bath was nice and cold. The only downside is that there's no place to soak in the open air. There were no chairs, so I sat on the stones next to the open-air bath and soaked in the open air, which felt great!

This hot spring is a sodium calcium sulfate spring, and I strongly felt the presence of iron. My skin felt a bit rough after soaking in it, so it must be rich in metaboric acid. I could taste the iron and bitterness. It was described as a lukewarm bath, but it seems to vary from day to day. However, at the end of October, the water temperature was around 40 degrees Celsius, so I was thoroughly warmed. There were many locals there, and it seems they are generally closed on Thursdays. It was a very nice hot spring, thank you very much.

Great small sized onsen. Baths are quite small (particularly the indoor one). Felt well off the beaten baths to us as tourists. Seems to be mostly elderly locals when we visited! No English spoken, not much on signs etc. Coin lockers in reception area (before entering onsen). The restaurant is also very good. Cheap and authentic Japanese. Free hot and cold tea provided, and sitting-on-floor style tables.

Great place for staying after snow sport. Both outdoor and in door onsen, sauna. The food was good, reasonable price, tried soba and tofu salad, enjoyable dishes after bath. Remember to bring enough cash. Bath 500pp, set meals roughly around 500-1000. Has a sign Tattooer not allowed, but please ask the owner for permission with good manner.