Okuhachikuro Hot Spring

This hot spring is surprisingly difficult to reach. You can generally get there using Google Maps navigation, but be aware that the signal is weak. The sign for the national forest road that others have mentioned was not present (June 2017). It's located just after turning left before Okuoku Hachikuro Onsen, crossing a dam on foot. However, don't drive onto the narrow side road that branches off from the main forest road; park in the space immediately after the turn. The final challenge is crossing the dam, and depending on the timing, the river was flowing very strongly, making it dangerous. The water level was high enough to submerge your knees, and the current was strong; a slip and fall would likely be fatal. It's probably not suitable for children. The hot spring itself was muddy, and the bathing experience was rather unpleasant. It definitely compares to the nearby Okuoku Hachikuro Onsen. But the hot water was gushing out in a spectacular way, and the temperature was just right.

It's on the south side of the river. It is dangerous to cross the river, as the river is narrow and if it breaks, serious injury is inevitable. It is safer to go down about two steps from the southern slope. Since there was no signal in the area, I finally made it to Oku-Oku Hachikuro Onsen after about the third try. It's quite difficult to understand at first glance. As of 2020, the location displayed on Google Maps is correct (previously it was far off) There is space to park 1-2 cars along the road. The slope is a bit steep, but if you find a gentle slope and go down, you can wear sandals. At the end of October, the spring temperature is 26℃, and it bubbles up with a lot of bubbles, but the satisfaction level as a hot spring is much higher in the inner part of the mountain.

I went there early in the Golden Week holidays, just after 7am. Enter the forest road and keep going until you come to a bridge. Just before the bridge, on the left, there is a parking space for about two cars. From there, walk down the slope a short distance (1-2 minutes) along the footprints and you'll find it. I tried to get in, but the bottom was reddish-brown mud and it was cold, so I just dipped one foot in. Given the season, the view was good and easy to see, but it smelled a bit like animal dung, so I quickly left. It takes a bit of courage to get into this hot spring, but if it had been at least warmer I might have tried. 🙄

Okuhachiro Onsen My iPhone's Google Maps guided me only up to this point, but my au app took me a little further. From a parking space large enough for two cars, I descended a gentle slope and crossed a river, adding to the adventure. My predecessors had marked the trees with pink tape, so all I had to do was head there. It was about 30 meters from the car. Lukewarm water, not particularly hot, bubbled up from deep within the ground.

Visited on August 20, 2023. On the way to Okuoku Hachikuro Onsen, there's a space on the left where you can park two cars. There are tire tracks, so follow them and push through the bushes a little, and you'll arrive quickly. However, it was quite dirty, so I didn't go in. There's also a restricted area marked off. Everything is at your own risk.