Yamizo Hot Spring

Wow, Yamizo Onsen, which I stopped off at on my way back from my solo camping trip, was truly a simple and wonderful hot spring. I don't want to tell anyone about it; the term "secret hot spring" truly fits this place. First of all, regarding access, there's a sign at the entrance from National Route 294, but the sign at the entrance just before is faded, so it's hard to find unless you look carefully. It's south of the center of Nakagawa Town, far removed from the Batou Onsen area to the north, and honestly, I was surprised to find a hot spring in such a location. Located near the Mumogawa River, this quiet hot spring is only known to those in the know, emerging from what appears to be a construction company's garden. It's a small, rustic day-trip hot spring facility nestled in the woods, nestled deep in a residential area, and its rural, hidden hot spring atmosphere was incredibly relaxing. The facility itself lacks the flashiness that's popular these days, and is a quiet, isolated establishment. Neither the exterior nor the interior is new. It's a rural spot where time flows slowly, reminding us of an old campground, and we really enjoyed it. It's been in business for 30 years, so it's a little worn, but that's all part of the fun. The two mascot dogs are what make Yamizo Onsen so special. I stopped by after a solo camping trip on my motorcycle, and I was greeted by two dogs who seemed to hate motorcycles. I'd read reviews saying the dogs can approach cars at high speeds, so I drove slowly through the parking lot. Although they look intimidating, they were very calm, just coming up and sniffing. Seriously, they're so damn cute. Having a friendly dog, despite being so approachable, is one of the great charms of this hot spring. There are also dogs and chickens on the spacious grounds, which makes it even more interesting. The hot spring is only open on weekends and holidays. I arrived before 10:00 on a weekday, and was able to bathe right away. You pay the 500 yen bathing fee at the reception desk and then proceed to the bath building. A lively old lady standing near the reception desk accepts your payment in cash; there are no tickets. The laid-back, unpromising atmosphere of these ladies running the place makes it feel very homey and welcoming. The mothers who work there are warm-hearted and friendly, and they don't seem to follow a set schedule. That's what makes it so great. I was greeted by cheerful ladies and enjoyed the warmth of the hot springs. The hot spring building is located in a separate building. The reception, hot spring building, and rest area are all separate, allowing you to relax in the spacious, garden-like grounds. The gazebo, stone lanterns, and bright red torii gates further enhance the rural mountain atmosphere. The hot springs have a mysterious atmosphere, and I was curious about the shrine visible from the bath, so I went to see it and found an Inari deity enshrined there. The baths are indoors only. As of October 2, 2022, the open-air bath was closed and only the indoor bath was open, as stated in reviews. Apparently, the open-air bath has been out of service since the earthquake, and there are no plans for restoration. Many people have reported that the open-air bath was closed, but while there is no open-air bath or large resting area, the bathtub is spacious and the washing area is comfortable. The bathroom is small, but the bathtub can fit about 10 people, and the bathtub is only big enough for six or seven people. There are only three washing areas. Since there are only three washing areas, you may have to wait if there are many people, so it's all down to luck. The day I visited was a weekday, so it was completely private, and I had the hot spring all to myself, which was great. Many people have reported visiting on a Sunday around noon and having the hot spring all to themselves, so one of its attractions is that it's not crowded. The spring quality is alkaline simple spring water. The water was wonderful. The water is a colorless, transparent, simple spring, but its excellent quality allows it to softly cling to your skin from the moment you pour it on. The water is slippery, leaving your skin feeling smooth. It's slippery and has a viscous consistency, so wonderful it feels like lotion. My skin felt smooth and comfortable after getting out. Though it's a simple hot spring, it contains a high amount of bicarbonate ions, which are said to have fatigue-relieving properties. The water from the faucet is typical of hot springs, and washing with soap was difficult to remove, so I was wondering why it was soaking, but it turned out to be slippery. I've experienced this myself. The water is a free-flowing hot spring that's only heated, and its temperature is about 41 degrees Celsius. It's neither hot nor lukewarm, but just right. It's a little lukewarm, but it's slippery and soft. Because it's lukewarm, you can stay in it for as long as you like. The low source temperature makes it a refreshing hot spring, even in the summer. The thick, alkaline water is heated, but it's luxuriously flowing constantly. There's also something like a jet bath, and although it doesn't say "circulating," it does have a jet bath. I wondered the same thing: doesn't this mean the water is also flowing? Is the jet bath just for stirring the water? Maybe. In terms of facilities, the men's bath has three shower stalls, and shampoo, body soap, and a hair dryer are provided. It's rare to find shampoo and other items provided. However, the hair dryer's airflow is weak, which is a drawback. There are only three shower stalls, and the showers are the type where you adjust the hot and cold water yourself, so it can be difficult to use. There's no mirror in the bathroom. This is not a modern hot spring facility. They rely solely on the quality of the water, so you should be prepared not to expect too much from the facilities. Also, there are no lockers, so keep your valuables in your car or bring a Ziploc bag with you into the bathroom. I read a review that said it's best not to bring valuables with you since there are no lockers with locks in the changing room, and since I was on my motorcycle, they kept my bag for me. This kind of warm hospitality is one of the great things about this hot spring. When you open the window in the bathtub, you can see the trees and the river, and it's a bath you'll want to stay in forever. When you open the window, you can see the trees and the river, and it's a bath you'll want to stay in forever, with the mountain stream stretching out outside. While soaking in the tub, watching the sunlight filtering through the trees onto the Mumo River flowing below, you feel like you've traveled back in time. The large window made me a little nervous, but the view was great. The fresh greenery was beautiful, and the river flowing below. When you open the window, there's no partition between the window for the mixed-gender bath and the other one, so you can move between them...I also heard some wild information that this is how it is. The facility is dotted amongst the forest, and is full of negative ions, and a gentle breeze in the shade of the trees will soothe your body after warming in the hot spring. There is no rest area, but there are table seats. There seems to be a paid rest room, but the price is unknown. It seems you can order food at the rest area, and there is a separate hut that serves ice cream, drinks, and food. You can rest and eat even without taking a bath, so it's a relaxing place. Another attraction of this hot spring is the food. Meals were the unaju set meal for 2,200 yen and the salt-grilled sweetfish set meal for 1,300 yen. Even with the price hike, the unaju is still 2,200 yen, and it's apparently wild-caught. It's cheap. Many people said it was a price smash. I ordered eel before bathing, and the eel that was served afterwards was surprisingly larger than I could have imagined. It was like dinner at a ryokan inn. Since the open-air bath was closed during this time, it's no wonder many people said they want to come back next time to enjoy both the open-air bath and the meal. Since wild ayu are caught during their peak season and frozen, it's best to make a reservation or call ahead to schedule a time before visiting. It was lunchtime, so I started off with some cold soba noodles at the restaurant. They served three small side dishes. There was no air conditioning. The retro Showa-era feel of the hot springs also matched the atmosphere. Finally, and this is a bit unfortunate, but there was someone who barely washed their body before entering the bath. I figured this was just a given at any hot spring or public bath, but this guy washed his body thoroughly after entering the bath. I really wish they'd just washed their body from the start. This is one of my favorite hot springs, so I don't want people like this to come here, and I wish the establishment would put up a proper sign. This popular hot spring, which is quiet, cheap, and has a Showa-era retro feel, may have a bit of a wild feel to it, but it stands out solely for the quality of the water. It's an alkaline hot spring, which I personally like, and it was fantastic. I'll definitely come again.

This is information from a visit to Yamizo Onsen on April 13, 2025. This is a small, rustic day-trip hot spring facility nestled in the woods. Soaking in the bathtub and watching the sunlight filtering through the trees onto the Mumo River flowing below makes you feel like you've traveled back in time. Currently, it's only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm, and the fee is 500 yen for adults. Pay the bathing fee to the lady at the reception building in front and proceed to the hot spring building on the right. There are no shoe lockers or lockers in the changing room, so please store your valuables in your car or somewhere similar. Amenities include bar soap, body wash, shampoo, and a hair dryer. The bath area is small, with only three faucets and one indoor bath, but the water is of a strong hot spring. There were no fans in the changing room, so it may be a little hot in the summer. The spring water is a hypotonic, alkaline, simple hot spring, primarily composed of sodium and bicarbonate, a type of sodium bicarbonate spring. Its dissolved substances are 409 mg, its temperature is low at 29.6°C, and its pH is a little high at 8.9. While the water appears colorless, transparent, tasteless, and odorless, it has a strong, viscous consistency. After a bath, you can cool off with a stroll in the shade of the trees on the premises, or enjoy sweetfish dishes at the teahouse restaurant. Upon investigation, it appears that the annex building next door to the left used to be available and featured an open-air bath, but it is currently closed. While this facility is the polar opposite of today's stylish, sophisticated, and clean spas, it is recommended for those who appreciate the rustic, dilapidated atmosphere of wabi-sabi. Please note that there are several dogs roaming the premises, so please be careful when parking.

I used the facility around 4 p.m. on a Sunday. After paying 500 yen at the reception, I inquired about whether there were lockers available, but was told there weren't any and asked to leave valuables in my car. When I entered, there was one other guest, but they left shortly after, so I had the facility to myself. The water was a simple alkaline spring, thick and gentle on the skin. The shower was also thick, so it might be a hot spring. There was only one bathtub. I was worried about leaving my valuables in my car and couldn't relax in the bath, so I wish they'd at least installed a valuables box. There was also an unused open-air bath in the building next door, but it was completely visible from the outside. There were a lot of dogs, so those who don't like dogs should be careful.

I've been wanting to go, and finally got to. I arrived around 11:00 AM and was in the hot spring alone, passing several other groups on my way out. The hot spring was great. If you're sensitive to insects, you might want to bring your own shampoo, conditioner, and body soap. There are bugs, so if that bothers you, it might not be for you. The food was delicious. I'd love to come again.

I went there today. It's surrounded by nature and is perfect for relaxing. The bathing fee was 500 yen. The hot spring was tasteless and odorless, and had a slightly slimy feel. I thought the temperature was just right. There is only an indoor bath. The view from the indoor bath was beautiful. Meals are also available. Today I enjoyed the delicious unaju (eel rice bowl) (2,200 yen)!