Nagano's Hidden Gem: Otari Onsen Village - Discover Japan's Best Kept Secret for Silky Smooth Skin

• Table of Contents
• Otari Onsen, a hot spring that has been in operation for 470 years
• 3 Hot Springs Facilities to Enjoy in Otari Village
• Getting There

Otari Onsen, a hot spring that has been in operation for 470 years

Otari Village in Nagano Prefecture, located on the border with Niigata Prefecture, is a village in the northwesternmost part of Nagano Prefecture that changes its appearance with lush greenery in the summer, colorful autumn leaves in the fall, and heavy snowfall in the winter.

Otari village is proud of Otari Onsen, which was discovered in 1555. It is said to have been discovered by a retainer of Takeda Shingen during the Battle of Kawanakajima, and since then it has flourished as a hot spring resort.

The spring quality of Otari Onsen is sodium bicarbonate spring (neutral hypotonic hot spring). It is called "beauty bath" because it flushes out oil and secretions from the skin without the need to wash off with soap.

It has also been designated as a national hot spring resort , as its drinking spring waters are known to be effective in treating cuts, diabetes, liver disease, and other illnesses and conditions.

3 Hot Springs Facilities to Enjoy in Otari Village

Otari Village is a small village with a population of around 2,600 people, but there are plenty of spots within the village where you can enjoy various hot springs, including Otari Onsen.

This time, we will introduce three facilities where you can enjoy hot springs on a day trip.

Michino Eki Otari

If you come to Otari Village, you should definitely stop by Michino Eki Otari. It's just under a 10-minute walk from Kita-Otari Station on the Oito Line.

Michino Eki Otari is equipped with a restaurant called Oni no Kuriya and a shop, as well as Miyama no Yu, where you can enjoy the hot springs in a relaxed atmosphere.

Miyama no Yu, which is open from 12:00 to around 18:00-19:00, is a mixed spring of Kitakotari Onsen and Kazebukiso Onsen.

The water stays nice and warm for a long time, and has a wonderful quality that leaves your skin feeling smooth after bathing.

As soon as I opened the door to the bathroom, I was greeted by hot spring steam!

The sunlight reached the bathroom and reflected off the water's surface, creating a fantastical scene.

There are three types of baths in the bathroom: "hot water" straight from the source, "lukewarm water" which is lower in temperature, and the main "open-air bath."

First, you wash off any dirt in the washing area, then slowly raise your body temperature in the hot water inside the room.

The sound of the endless flowing hot spring water and the rising steam will give you a sense of freedom that will relax your soul.

Once your feet are warm, move to the open-air bath and relax in the hot spring water up to your shoulders.

When I visited, the bath was designed as a "snow-viewing bath" from which you could gaze upon the accumulated snow, but apparently you can enjoy different seasonal scenery, such as colorful autumn leaves, rainy season rains, and lush greenery, depending on the season.

You can feel the four seasons from the open-air bath, so you'll want to visit again and again in different seasons.

After thoroughly relaxing in the hot springs, head to Michino Eki Otari's signature restaurant, Oni no Kuriya.

Apparently, if you enjoy both the hot springs and a meal, you can get half off the bathing fee, so we immediately ordered some food.

This time, we had the most popular dish, the "Daily Kamado Teishoku." This set meal includes fluffy rice made with Koshihikari rice from Otari, cooked in a kamado, with each grain firm and plump, and a main dish.

The daily specials on this day included Oyano pork ginger stir-fry, Oyano pork miso soup, snow cabbage salad, and bracken pickles.

The restaurant creates a daily menu with an emphasis on locally produced ingredients, allowing you to enjoy seasonal ingredients and Otari specialties to the fullest.

Once your stomach and heart are full, it's time to enjoy picking out souvenirs at the shop.

In Otari village, where the cold is intense, we recommend dishes such as snow sake (made by placing ingredients in the snow to mature), and snow cabbage.

Be sure to check out the "Snow Melt Cider," which is perfect for a refreshing drink after a bath, and the easy-to-carry "Wild Pig Curry."

Michino Eki Otari is where you can enjoy all of Otari's specialties and hot springs to your heart's content. It was the perfect starting point for sightseeing in Otari.

Michino Eki Otari

399-9601 1861-1 Kitakotari, Otari Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano...

Michino Eki Otari in Otari Village, Nagano Prefecture, It houses the hot spring facility "Miyama no Yu," the restaurant "Oni no Kuriya," and a souvenir shop.

Yamada Ryokan

Otari Onsen has been flowing for 470 years since it was first discovered in 1555.

Up until the Showa era, there were several inns, including Yamada Ryokan, but now it is the only place where you can enjoy Otari Onsen.

At Yamada Ryokan, you can either take a day trip and stay overnight; there is a "drop-in bath" which lasts for about an hour, or a "day trip to cure the hot springs" where you can take a bath as many times as you like while taking a break in a private room.

The charm of Yamada Ryokan lies in its six buildings, all of which are registered tangible cultural properties, and its collaboration with Otari Onsen.

Whether viewed from the inside or the outside, it is a spectacular sight that gives a sense of the overlapping of history.

The reception hours for day trips to the hot springs are from 10:00 to 14:30. For 700 yen per person, you can enjoy the benefits of Otari Onsen to the fullest.

However, bathing fees can only be paid in cash, so be sure to have some cash ready before you arrive.

We arrived at the bathhouse, enjoying the quaint corridor and the snowy scenery visible from the window.

When you open the door, the first thing you see is the abundant hot spring water gushing out!

Apparently, you can enjoy a 44 degree hot spring bath, drawn without adding water or heating, from just behind the inn.

What's more, the water used to wash your body is straight from the source. This luxurious use of the source water is a real pleasure in Otari Onsen.

After washing your body and soaking in the bathtub, you will feel as if the soft water is enveloping your entire body.

The hot spring water flowing like a waterfall and the steam rising from the bath were very pleasant, allowing me to relax and enjoy the hot springs.

The bathroom is equipped with a reclining bath area and a wooden pillow to rest your head on, making it the perfect place to relax.

It might be a good idea to take a leisurely soak in the bath when you want to cleanse yourself from everyday fatigue and worries.

In addition, an observation bath is open seasonally from mid-April to early November.

From Yamada Ryokan, located on the mountainside at an altitude of 850m, you can have the surrounding mountains and the sky as far as the eye can see all to yourself. The recommended time for first-time visitors to Otari Onsen is April to November, when there is no need to worry about snow and it is easy to travel by car.

Yamada Ryokan

399-9511 18836 Nakado Elementary School, Otari Village, Kitaazumi Dist...

The only inn where you can bathe in Otari Onsen. You can bathe in Otari Onsen whether you are a day trip or an overnight stay.

Santeinn Otari

Santein Otari is located a 15-minute walk from Nakado Station on the JR Oito Line.

This tourist spot is also designated as a stop for the JR Oito Line's increased bus service. (Information current as of February 2025. Please refer here for the latest operating schedule for the JR Oito Line's increased bus service.)

The hotel is home to a large public bath where you can enjoy the hotel's own hot spring, Kudarise Onsen, a restaurant famous for its hand-made soba noodles, and a shop selling local specialties, and is bustling with tourists and locals alike.

The hot spring waters at Shimosatose Onsen, which comes from the hotel's own hot spring source, are highly alkaline and have the effect of removing dirt from the skin, leaving it smooth, and preventing the water from cooling down, so they are also known as "beauty skin baths."

It once served as a recreation center for the village of Otari, and is still popular today as a place of relaxation for local regulars and those who enjoy hiking and skiing.

Bathing is available from 12:00 to 19:30, and day bathing is available for 700 yen for adults and 350 yen for elementary school students.

Descend the magnificent spiral staircase and pass through the hot spring curtains.

The bathroom has four baths: a bubble bath, a douche bath, a reclining bath, and a cypress cold bath.

The source temperature is 31.8 degrees so the water is generally heated, but the cold bath can be enjoyed at its original source temperature.

The first thing that surprised me was that all the baths were colorless and transparent! While most baths have milky or reddish brown cloudy water, you can bathe in crystal clear water that is almost like a pool.

The water is so hot that you can clearly see your toes, and after soaking for a while, you will experience the feeling that your skin is becoming warm.

When I asked the manager, Mr. Hayashi, he told me, "Our hot spring removes old dead skin cells and skin from your skin. When that happens, you get a slightly slimy feeling. Many of our repeat customers are women, and some of them say that they come because the water is so good."

There are many ways to spend your time in the bathroom, from being stimulated by the bubbling bubbles to enjoying a relaxing bath.

After you get out of the bath, you can relax in the tatami-floored relaxation room, watch TV or do whatever you like.

Additionally, from 11:30 to 13:30, you can enjoy soba noodles handmade by craftsmen every day in the restaurant.

It is apparently known among locals as a place to eat delicious soba noodles, and many customers flocked to the restaurant as soon as it opened.

The soba noodles are chewy yet smooth and easy to eat, and you'll definitely want to come back after just one try.

Depending on the season, you can also enjoy mushroom and wild vegetable tempura.

If you want to enjoy the delicious gourmet food that Otari Village is proud of and the hot springs that will make your skin smooth, then be sure to check it out.

Santeinn Otari

399-9421 2504-9 Nakakotani, Otari Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano...

A hot spring facility in Otari Village that offers day trips and overnight stays. You can bathe in Kudarise Onsen, which is a private hot spring source.

Getting There

There are several ways to access Otari Village, including by express bus, Shinkansen and JR Oito Line.

Accessibility varies depending on the purpose of tourism and the season, so we will introduce it in detail.

Hokuriku Shinkansen + JR Oito Line

First, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Itoigawa Station. The fastest train from Tokyo will take you there in about two hours.

If you are coming from Osaka, take the JR Thunderbird Express to Tsuruga Station, then transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen and arrive at Itoigawa Station in about two hours.

From Itoigawa Station, transfer to the JR Oito Line and get off at Kita-Otari, Nakado, or Minami-Otari Station, where Otari Village is located. You can enjoy sightseeing in Otari at your own leisure.

Express bus + JR Oito Line

If you are coming from Tokyo, you can also take an express bus from Busta Shinjuku or the Yaesu exit of Tokyo Station.

If you take an express bus, you can easily access it by searching for buses going to Hakuba Village, which is next to Otari Village. Get off at the "Hakuba-cho" bus stop or the "Hakuba Station" bus stop, and then take the JR Oito Line to Kita-Otari, Nakado, or Minami-Otari Station.

Similarly, if you are taking a highway bus from Osaka, it is a good idea to check for buses going to Hakuba Village.