Unusual Onsen

Taking a long soak in a volcanic hot spring bath is one of the essential Japanese experiences and Snow Country is blessed with an abundance of onsen. Pretty much anywhere you stay will have an onsen either in-house or close by. (For those of you that are not au fait with the ins and outs of taking a bath Japanese style, check out this handy guide.)

There are some really famous onsen in these parts that have been soothing away aches and pain for centuries. Onsen have played an important role in both curative and preventative medicine is Japan. The different kinds of water all have different affects and there will usually be a notice on the wall explaining the benefits of each particular bath.

Here are a couple of the more unusual onsen on offer in these parts.

Yusenkaku

This accommodation backs onto the river. The river has hot springs pumping into it. You can dig around and create your own personal onsen pool right there. It doesn't get more natural than that.

Kanzan

Their bath has a giant picture window that offers a stunning vista of Mount Tanigawa towering above you.

Takahan

The source of the hot spring is the reason the ryokan is here. It sits atop its own onsen source with the water completely refilling the bath every 3 hours.

Chitose

This ryokan in Matsunoyama has a really famous outdoor bath that is high on the list of onsen aficionados. It really comes in to its own in winter when it is almost buried in snow.

Ryugon

This ryokan is one of the oldest ryokan around and also have great onsen. Their outdoor bath backs right onto the local mountains and is so famous that it was the location for a beer commercial a few years ago.