Staying overnight is also recommended for day trips! 11 popular hot spring facilities in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture

Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture is a treasure trove of natural hot springs!

Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture is one of the areas known as "Hakuba Valley," which is home to many famous ski resorts, and is a spot that attracts many tourists every year in search of high-quality powder snow.

Hakuba Village may have a strong image of winter sports, but it is actually known as a rare hot spring resort with a total of six different types of hot springs within the village, making it extremely popular among hot spring enthusiasts.

As a result, there are plenty of hot spring inns, hotels, and day-trip hot spring facilities, making it a great destination for traveling with friends or family.

Six types of hot springs to enjoy in Hakuba Village

Hakuba Village has six different hot springs with different spring qualities. Let's take a closer look at the characteristics and effects of each.

Hakuba Happo Onsen

"Hakuba Happo Onsen" is a colorless, transparent alkaline simple spring that springs up through a rock layer called "serpentine layer." The serpentine that is commonly found on the Happo Ridge contains a lot of magnesium and iron, and the Happo Ridge Onsen that springs from there is known as one of Japan's strongest alkaline hot springs.

The strong alkaline spring water has the effect of removing old dead skin cells and dirt from the surface of the skin. Many people who have bathed in Hakuba Happo Onsen say that their skin has become so smooth!

Hakuba Salt Road Hot Springs

"Hakuba Shionomichi Onsen" is a unique hot spring that tastes salty when you lick it, and the spring quality is sodium chloride bicarbonate spring. The water at Hakuba Shionomichi Onsen is salty because it is pumped up from seawater sealed deep underground, 1,050 meters below ground.

Another feature is that it contains many ingredients not found in other hot springs. Immediately after being pumped, the water is colorless and transparent, but when it comes into contact with air, the iron and salt contained in the water oxidize and turn brown.

The hot water contains a lot of salt, so it warms you from the inside out.

Hakuba Himekawa Hot Springs

Hakuba Himekawa Onsen is a hot spring that naturally springs up along the Himekawa River, which flows from Hakuba Village to Otari Village.

The spring quality is characterized by being a chloride hot spring containing sodium. The salt that adheres to the skin during bathing keeps the water warm for a long time, which is why it is also called "hot water."

The pH balance of the water is neutral, slightly alkaline, which is about the same as that of human blood, making it gentle on the skin.

Hakuba Katakuri Hot Springs

"Hakuba Katakuri Onsen" is a colorless, transparent, simple hot spring. It is especially popular among women because it contains a relatively large amount of minerals that have skin-beautifying effects.

Hot springs containing minerals warm the body from the inside out and are also expected to have the effect of relieving muscle stiffness. Many people use them to relieve body pain such as neuralgia, muscle pain, and joint pain, as well as to improve poor circulation, recover from fatigue, and improve their health.

It is often used by people who want to relieve fatigue after engaging in winter sports, trekking, etc.

Hakuba Mizubasho Hot Springs

"Hakuba Mizubasho Onsen" has clear green water and is a sodium bicarbonate spring. The alkaline spring water softens the surface of the skin, making stiff elbows and heels smooth.

In addition, sodium bicarbonate springs warm the body from the core, so they are also effective in treating poor circulation and fatigue. They are popular not only with people suffering from muscle and joint pain, but also with those who are concerned about frozen shoulders, bruises, and neuralgia.

Hakuba Ryujin Hot Springs

The spring quality of "Hakuba Ryujin Onsen" is a weakly alkaline sodium chloride and sulfate spring. Compared to other hot springs, the spring ingredients are very concentrated, and in the hot spring facilities where Hakuba Ryujin Onsen gushes forth, the spring ingredients accumulate like "senmaida" (a rice field with a thousand layers of rice) and "dragon scales."

A relaxing soak in the water not only smooths the surface of your skin, but is also expected to relieve nerve pain and muscle pain, making it a great choice for skin care after winter sports or outdoor activities.

9 popular hot spring inns in Hakuba Village

From here, we will introduce some carefully selected hot spring inns that are particularly popular in Hakuba Village.

Hotel Goryukan (Hakuba Happo Onsen)

The large indoor bath at Hotel Goryukan in the Hakuba Happo Onsen area is an open space surrounded by large glass windows. The open-air bath with a spacious wooden tub is roofed, so you can bathe without worrying even during the snowy season.

The dry sauna, with an average temperature of 100°C, also comes with a "self-loyly" sauna where you pour water onto the hot stones yourself. There is also a cold water bath filled with natural water pumped up from 65m underground in Happo-one, which is popular for cooling down after the hot springs and sauna.

Hotel Goryukan also offers a day-trip bathing plan on irregular days. For 2,000 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for children, rental towels are included, and there are plenty of amenities, so you can go to the hot spring empty-handed.

[Hot spring sauna]

Opening hours: Hotel guests: 6:00-10:00 / 15:00-23:30

Day-trip bathing (reception hours) 15:00-20:00

Sauna 15:00～23:30

Day-trip bathing fee: Adults (12 years and over) 2,000 yen, Children (under 12 years old) 1,000 yen (free for children under 6 years old) *No prior reservation required. Check in at the front desk

Shinshu Hakuba Happo Onsen Shiroumasou (Hakuba Happo Onsen)

Shiroumaso's particular focus is on Japanese-style interiors that convey the warmth and elegance of wood. The fact that each room has a different design shows just how particular they are.

The bathhouse, made of rare Tagoishi stone with a grain pattern, is a relaxing and tasteful space. The water flows directly from the source of Hakuba Happo Onsen, and is 100% natural hot spring water that is filtered without adding water.

After taking a bath, you will feel smooth skin and your body warmed from the inside. The bath itself is compact, so only about 4 to 5 people can use it comfortably at one time.

If you make a reservation in advance by phone, you can also use it as a day spa or for a rest break.

Hakuba Highland Hotel (Hakuba Himekawa Onsen)

Hakuba Highland Hotel has two hot spring facilities. The Warabi-daira hot spring, which is available exclusively to guests, has the added benefit of allowing you to enjoy two baths with different atmospheres, the Ishi-no-yu (stone bath) and Iwa-no-yu (rock bath), at the same time.

In particular, the open-air bath features a water mirror in front of the vast 10-meter-long bathtub, and is designed to allow you to fully enjoy Hakuba's natural beauty.

"Tenjin no Yu" is available for day trips as well as for overnight guests. It boasts an open-air bath that not only offers a panoramic view of the Northern Alps mountains, including the "Hakuba Sanzan," but also a view of the ski jump where the Nagano Olympics were held.

In addition, during the winter season, a free shuttle bus is operated exclusively for guests staying at the Hakuba Highland Hotel to the popular ski resorts in the Hakuba area (Hakuba Happo, Iwatake, Goryu, Hakuba47, and Sanosaka Ski Resorts), providing excellent access to each ski resort.

Oak Forest (Hakuba Himekawa Onsen)

For those who want to enjoy winter sports to their heart's content at Hakuba's ski resorts, we recommend Hotel Oak Forest, where Hakuba Himekawa Onsen hot springs spring up.

The hot spring facilities are equipped with separate covered open-air baths for men and women, as well as an indoor bath with a high ceiling.

Oak Forest also offers a winter accommodation plan that includes a one-day ticket for the Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba47 lifts. Breakfast and dinner, which use plenty of Nagano Prefecture's flavors, are also popular, so you can enjoy winter sports, gourmet food, and hot springs to the fullest.

Hotel Grandjam Tsugaike

Hotel Grand Jam Tsugaike is a new hotel that opened in 2019 and is located a 5-minute walk from the Tsugaike Gondola base station at Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort.

The small open-air bath and indoor bath use water from Hakuba Himekawa Onsen, which has the characteristic of keeping your skin salty and not cooling down easily. There is also a shampoo buffet where you can choose your favorite shampoo and conditioner from several types.

The beauty-enhancing waters will soothe your tired body after enjoying winter sports.

Hotel Resort Inn Marion Shinano (Hakuba Himekawa Onsen)

Hotel Resort Inn Marion Shinano is attractive for its convenient location, with quick access from the hotel to the ski resort.

It's just a 1-minute walk from Oyanohara Slope at Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort, which is popular for its high-quality powder snow, and just a 3-minute walk from the Eve gondola station, so it's perfect for those who want to make the most of their time skiing.

On the top floor of the hotel, there is a large public bath with a view where you can fully enjoy the waters of "Hakuba Himekawa Onsen." From the large public bath, you can spend a blissful moment with a panoramic view of Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort and the Northern Alps mountains.

Another attractive feature is that if you apply at the front desk, you can receive a package of services after check-out, such as parking, bathing (from 12:00), and luggage storage, for just 1,000 yen per person.

Hotel Stella Bella (Hakuba Katakuri Onsen)

Hotel Stella Bella's hot springs boast a miso barrel open-air bath that can only be seen here. The bathtub, made from a large miso barrel measuring 220cm in diameter, was polished and built by many people, including hotel staff and carpenters. Since its completion in 2004, it has been a hot topic in the Hakuba area.

The interior, which reuses obi-doors from old houses, is full of character and will give you an extraordinary experience.

Hotel Stella Bella is also popular for its convenient location, just a 3-minute walk from Hakuba Goryu Ski Resort. It is recommended for those who want to enjoy not only skiing and snowboarding, but also the nature of Hakuba.

Hotel Sierra Resort Hakuba (Hakuba Mizubasho Onsen)

At "Sierra Resort Hakuba," the large public bath "Kominka no Yu" where water from "Hakuba Mizubasho Onsen" springs up is popular. The hotel is impressive for its quaint appearance, utilizing an old house from the Edo period.

The bath area has three types of baths: a large indoor bath, an open-air cypress bath, and an open-air rock bath. The mountains of the Northern Alps spread out beyond the natural forest, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful and magnificent air.

Guests staying at the hotel can use the large public bath even after checking out, and day-trip bathing is also available.

A wide range of amenities are available, so you can stop by empty-handed on your way home from sightseeing.

[Day trip bathing]

Business hours: 13:00-17:00 (last entrance 16:00) (irregular holidays)

Price: Regular season: 2,000 yen for adults, 1,500 yen for children (towel included); Peak season: 2,500 yen for adults, 2,000 yen for children (towel included)

*Special rates are available during Golden Week, summer vacation, and the New Year holidays. Please enquire.

* May be unavailable due to maintenance, etc. Please enquire before visiting.

Hakuba Ryujin Onsen Nagomi no Yuyado (Hakuba Ryujin Onsen)

For those who want to try out a sauna and an unusual bath, we recommend Hakuba Ryujin Onsen Nagomi no Yuyado.

This is one of the largest hot spring facilities in the region and offers a wide variety of baths, including an open-air bath with a spacious feel, a "Tsubo-yu" bathtub made of ceramic, and an indoor bath where you can enjoy the view outside while bathing.

Starting in the winter of 2023, a mysterious projection mapping with a dragon god motif will be introduced to the open-air bath at night, attracting a lot of attention.

In addition to the hot springs, there is also a dry sauna, a cold bath, and a rock sauna exclusively for guests staying at the hotel. It also offers day trips to the hot springs, so it's definitely something you'll want to include in your Hakuba sightseeing schedule.

[Day trip bathing]

Business hours: 15:00-20:00 (last entry 19:30)

Price: 2,000 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for children (elementary school students) *Towel included *Free for preschool children

2 Popular Day-Trip Hot Springs in Hakuba Village

We will introduce two recommended hot spring facilities in Hakuba Village that you can easily drop by.

Happo-no-yu (Hakuba Happo Onsen)

There are many hot spring facilities where you can enjoy Hakuba Happo Onsen, but Happo-no-Yu is the largest day-trip hot spring and is visited by many visitors.

The secret to its popularity is the beautiful view that can be seen from the baths. You can get a panoramic view of the Hakuba mountain range, including Mt. Hakuba, Mt. Shakushi, and Mt. Hakuba Yari, collectively known as the "Three Hakuba Mountains."

It is located right in front of the Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal and at the entrance to Happo Onsen town, so it's not only the perfect final stop on your hot spring tour, but is also recommended as a place to drop in on your way back from skiing or snowboarding.

Kurashita no Yu (Hakuba Salt Road Hot Springs)

Kurashita no Yu is a day-trip hot spring facility that was founded and opened in 1994 as the original hot spring for Hakuba Shionomichi Onsen.

The hot spring water used at Kurashita no Yu is pumped up from a stratum 1,050 meters underground on the premises, and is characterized by its abundance of components such as sodium ions, magnesium ions, metaboric acid, and bicarbonate ions.

The biggest attraction is that you can enjoy the luxury of highly concentrated natural hot spring water that is 100% straight from the source.

Another secret to its popularity is the panoramic view of the Northern Alps from the open-air bath. Why not try experiencing something extraordinary in the open bath where you can feel the vastness of nature and the rich spring water that stores the energy of the earth?

Three tips for enjoying hot springs in Hakuba

There are many hot spring facilities in the Hakuba area, so you need some tips to make the most of them. Here are three tips for enjoying hot springs in Hakuba.

Purchase a common hot spring bathing ticket

If you are planning to visit hot springs in Hakuba Village, we recommend purchasing a "Hot Spring Common Bathing Ticket" which is sold at roadside stations and tourist information centers in Hakuba Village. It comes in booklet form and is easy to carry around.

The price is 1,200 yen per book, and one book can be used as a bathing ticket worth 1,500 yen. It is convenient when you want to visit multiple day-trip hot springs in Hakuba Village, so be sure to purchase one as soon as you arrive at the hot spring town.

Please note that there are periods when the service is unavailable, such as Golden Week, Obon, and the New Year holidays.

Choose the accommodation that best suits your travel needs

Hakuba Village has not only hot spring facilities, but also many accommodations such as hotels, inns, pensions, and private lodgings. Therefore, we recommend staying for several nights and enjoying multiple hot springs, sightseeing in Hakuba, and enjoying the local cuisine.

Especially during the winter season, many skiers and snowboarders visit from both within Japan and overseas, and many tourists come to enjoy winter sports, hot springs, and accommodation all at once.

Another point to note is that each accommodation facility has its own unique plans, such as ones that include a lift ticket or allow you to taste local ingredients.

Choose a convenient and affordable mode of transportation

If you're going sightseeing, you want to choose the easiest and most economical mode of transportation possible.

The Snow Liner express bus runs directly to ski resorts in the Hakuba area, and you can travel there without having to transfer from Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, or terminal stations such as Yokohama Station.

Some accommodations in Hakuba Village offer free shuttle buses to the slopes.

There are also shuttle buses connecting each ski resort, so you can enjoy multiple ski resorts during your stay.

Ski trips often involve carrying large amounts of luggage, so it's important to choose a means of transportation that will allow you to easily get to the slopes, such as the Snowliner. For more information, check out the Snowliner official website .

Snowliner reservations here

summary

Hakuba Village has many unique hot spring facilities, so some people may want to try as many as possible. In addition to using a common bathing ticket to visit the hot springs, we also recommend tasting the local gourmet food and visiting souvenir shops. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and the charm of Hakuba to the fullest.