Naganuma Onsen

It's been 20 years since I last visited here. A 30-minute bus ride from Kitahiroshima Station, the Chitosegawa Bridge, Kanehiro, and Naganuma Town Hall passing by the window, makes me feel a little sentimental. The number of people boarding the bus at the starting point in front of Kitahiroshima Station gradually dwindled, and by the time we approached our final stop, Naganuma Onsen, the bus was fully booked. I arrived at 2 p.m. on December 29, 2025. Despite it being the end of the year, the parking lot was sparsely populated, and the only people emitting smoke were me and the bus. But once I passed through the automatic doors, the view changed 180 degrees. A pale pink carpet lay beneath my feet, the joyous voices of children could be heard in the distance, and the friendly receptionist was very welcoming. I paid the 700 yen day-use bathing fee. I walked down the corridor behind the reception desk and soon came to a large resting area. The resting areas on both sides of the central corridor were elevated, with heated floors. There's a TV on each side, a manga section, a convenience store, and rows of vending machines, plus a crane game in the back. People fill their stomachs with snacks in the round table area, while others sleep soundly, lying on their backs along the long tables. (I followed their lead and took a nap while waiting for the bus home.) As I walk further and further down the corridor, I finally see the signs for men's and women's at the end. The changing room beyond the noren curtain is more spacious than I'd expected. There don't seem to be many lockers, but I'm sure I don't need any more. After carefully washing away my year's worth of fatigue in the shower, I head for the large bath. The temperature is just under 42°C, and as I immerse myself up to my shoulders, goosebumps suddenly appear all over my body. Once I get used to the temperature, I relax my body and my arms and legs naturally open. The large bath and the small number of customers mean I don't have to worry about others, which helps me relax as well. In Tokyo, I often sit cross-legged, but here, there's no need. It was the polar opposite of the phrase "sweet potato washing." Afterwards, I thoroughly enjoyed the open-air bath, sauna, and cold bath. Even if it was just for a moment, I was able to forget about work and reminisce about my late grandparents. I'm not sure when I'll be back in Hokkaido, but I've decided to add Naganuma Onsen to my next itinerary.

I visited on a weekday afternoon and was surprised to find the parking lot almost full. (Apparently, bathing is free for elderly residents of Naganuma Town.) It's quite a walk from the entrance to the changing room. The heated floors feel great on the soles of your feet. The area from the rest area to the back feels a bit dated, and I feel like the changing room and bath area need some renovation soon. 🥴 There are four indoor baths with different temperatures and one outdoor bath. There were quite a few washing areas. After warming up by soaking in 38, 40, and 42 in order, I returned to 38, feeling so soft and comfortable that I broke out in a sweat. I felt completely refreshed. It would be nice to stay longer, lounging around in the rest area with a manga in hand, then bathing again! There's also a restaurant and shop, so I'd like to enjoy a full day stay next time.♪

It's a good hot spring if it's not crowded. You'll need two 100-yen coins for shoes and a locker. Body soap, rinse-in shampoo, and a hair dryer are provided. Low water pressure in the shower, but a full-body shower is available. The water is directly from the source, so there's no floating debris like at "Yunni no Yu." The changing rooms are cleaned regularly, so there's little hair or debris. However, it gets super crowded on Sunday afternoons. There are few rest areas, so it's difficult to stay in for long periods of time. The hot spring is effective and warms the body sufficiently. It's close to Sapporo, so if you can go on a weekday, it's probably fine.

700 yen per adult. It was about 60% full around 6 PM on a Saturday. It had an old-fashioned feel, but the atmosphere was good and the place was generally spacious. The sodium spring water quality was excellent. The sauna, large enough for about 10 people, was in the low 90s degrees Celsius, and the cold plunge pool was lukewarm and just right. There were 3 chairs in the open-air bath and about 5 in the indoor bath. Rinse-in shampoo and other amenities were available. Lockers and shoe lockers required a 100 yen deposit (refundable).

Whenever I go to Naganuma Town for camping or a meal, I always warm up here before heading home. (It's close to the campsite, so it can get a little crowded with campers in the summer.) The baths are reasonably spacious, and I personally prefer the spring water, which has a higher salt content and warms me to the core. The hot spring tofu available at the shop or at Naganuma Tofu Workshop, located in the building next to the hot spring, is delicious, making it the perfect snack to enjoy with an evening drink when I get home.