須賀谷温泉

The water quality is excellent! This hot spring inn has a brown spring water at 42°C, a lukewarm 37°C bath that's perfect for children, and an open-air bath at 42°C. This hidden hot spring will discontinue day trips in 2026 and shift to overnight stays, and the scenery is all mountains! The name is reminiscent of the ruins of Odani Castle nearby. The meal menu is packed with local ingredients and is not too filling, so it's very satisfying. There is also a shop, and children's yukatas and old-fashioned toys can be rented out at the front desk.

If you are foodie, this is very good place to try Kaiseki. You need a car to access this place. They will pick you up from JR Kawake station. Remember train comes only ONE per hour! No tourist attraction by foot. If you are nice enough, you get dropped off at 11 faced Kannon temple which is near JR station. (Not Kawake station) if you don't have enough time, just go to Hikone castle. Dinner and breyarw heavenly, you make your own tofu at your table in the morning!

I chose this inn because of the promise of free-flowing hot spring water. However, in reality, only a small amount of hot spring water was flowing from the source for the open-air bath and indoor bath, and there was a chlorine smell, probably because the water was circulated. The secret hot spring, which was cooler, didn't have a chlorine smell, so I basically soaked in the secret hot spring, and when it got cold, I would take a short dip in the hot spring.

Can use the onsen as a visitor from 11 to 15:00 as of Jan. 2022. Two indoor baths, one clear and not so hot, one rusty cloudy and quite hot. Outdoor bath is lightly cloudy and no real view just of the woods through some bamboo, but has a roof which is nice on snowy or rainy days. Just a little expensive at 1000 yen plus 200 if you need a towel, but not crowded on weekdays especially and the water is great.

I used the hot spring for a day trip. I heard that day use would no longer be possible, so I wanted to check it out. The water is high in iron and is tasteless and odorless. It was brown in color. There are two indoor baths, one with hot water and one with lukewarm water. There is also an open-air bath. It's a shame that day use will no longer be possible for this great hot spring.