Hidden Gem in Nagano: A Guide to the Onsen and Must-Visit Attractions in Otari Village

• Table of Contents
• What is Otari Onsen, famous for its "beauty baths"?
• 3 sightseeing spots around Otari Village
• 3 recommended day-trip hot spring facilities in Otari Village
• How to Get There

What is Otari Onsen, famous for its "beauty baths"?

Nagano Prefecture is home to nearly 200 hot springs. Among the hidden hot springs that have been loved and protected by the locals is Otari Onsen, which was discovered 470 years ago.

Otari Onsen was discovered by a retainer of Takeda Shingen during the Battle of Kawanakajima in 1555. Since its discovery, it has flourished as a hot springs resort for a long time.

The spring quality that made it a popular hot spring is sodium bicarbonate spring (neutral hypotonic hot spring). It is known as "beauty bath" because of its ability to flush out oil and secretions from the skin without the need to wash it off with soap.

The hot spring water is also famous for its "drinkable spring" effect, which is said to be effective in treating cuts, diabetes, liver disease, and other illnesses, and the area has been designated as a national hot spring resort .

3 sightseeing spots around Otari Village

Otari Village can be enjoyed both as a day trip or an overnight stay. If you've come all the way to Otari, you'll want to make the most of the surrounding tourist spots.

So, here we will introduce three sightseeing spots that you can stop by on your way to Otari Village. Please use them according to the purpose of your trip, whether that be to buy souvenirs or enjoy local cuisine.

Michino Eki Otari

Michino Eki Otari is less than a 10-minute walk from Kita-Otari Station on the Oito Line. This spot is home to Miyama no Yu, a hot spring with an open-air bath, a shop where you can purchase Otari's specialty products, and Oni no Kuriya, a restaurant perfect for lunch.

The first thing that greets you when you enter the store is a row of souvenirs! Locally grown vegetables, pickles, alcohol, and more are lined up in a small space, and you'll be overwhelmed just by walking around.

When I was in trouble, it was the manager, Mr. Tomino, who came to my rescue.

"We recommend the Yukidoke Cider, which is perfect for refreshing after a bath, as well as the prosciutto made with Otani Nobuta pork and Nobuta curry. These are all items that can only be found in Otari Village, so be sure to enjoy your shopping," she kindly advised.

By the way, when I visited in the winter, the snow sake (sake matured by placing ingredients in the snow) and snow cabbage were also delicious. In Otari, where the seasons are clearly defined, seasonal ingredients are one of the things they are proud of.

Once you've got your souvenirs, it's time to enjoy lunch! We'll have the most popular lunch at Oni no Kuriya, the "Daily Kamado Set Meal."

As the name suggests, the menu changes daily, with the chef providing the most delicious dishes of the season.

On this day, we had the following menu: Oyano pork shogayaki, Oyano pork miso soup, snow cabbage salad, and a small bowl of bracken. You can have as much rice and pickles as you like, and you can choose from two types of miso soup: pork miso soup or miso soup with seasonal ingredients.

The first thing you'll want to try is the pure white rice, made from Koshihikari rice produced in Otari and cooked in a kamado (traditional Japanese cooking stove).

The freshly cooked, shiny rice has a sweet and fluffy texture while still retaining a firm bite. It goes well with the rich ginger pork, and before you know it, you'll be munching away at the rice.

The ginger pork and pork soup are made with Otani pork that has been free-range raised in the natural surroundings of Otani for four months. The firm, satisfying meat is perfect for a hearty lunch!

The pork soup was flavored with a mellow taste, with the high-quality fat from the Koyano pork seeping out of it.

By the way, if you eat a meal and also go to the hot spring at Michino Eki Otari, the bathing fee will be half price. Please try combining this with a day trip to the hot spring.

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.

Ichirin no Hana

For those who want a light meal to eat in the car on the way home, or want to try a bakery that's loved by locals, we highly recommend Ichirin no Hana, a bakery located on the main street of Minami Otari Station.

The owner originally worked at a Chinese restaurant, which is why the restaurant's name includes the Chinese character "hua."

Since opening in 1991, this husband and wife business has been delivering simple, affordable and beloved bread to the people of Otari.

When you enter the shop, you'll be enveloped in the aroma of freshly baked bread, which will make you feel at home and whet your hunger.

The shop becomes full when two or three customers enter, but because of its small size, it is a comfortable space to ask the wife for bread recommendations or to have a chat. Take your time finding your favorite bread in this homey space.

When I asked the wife what bread she recommended, she patiently explained, "The hard roll has always been 50 yen since the shop opened. It's French bread, so anyone can eat it easily. Ogura is popular with foreign visitors. I don't speak English, but many people buy it when I tell them I want sweet bean."

What's more, they also sell their sliced bread and rolled buns to the nearby elementary and junior high schools for school lunches! This shows that they are a great shop that lives up to the reputation of "Otari's bakery."

After much deliberation, I decided on three flavors to take home: the recommended Ogura, a chocolate banana croissant made with Danish dough, and orange.

The dough is light and fluffy, and the fruit oozing out from inside is incredibly luxurious.

I also got plenty of breads such as buns, hard rolls, and cheese French bread to eat at home.

These breads stay fluffy even after time has passed and are the perfect size for breakfast or a snack, making them ideal souvenirs.

The shop opens at 10:00, but the best time to visit is between 13:00 and 14:00, when all kinds of bread are available. Payment can be made in cash or by QR code.

If you are looking for a local famous restaurant unique to Otari, be sure to visit us.

Ichirin no Hana

399-9422 6773 Chikuniotsu, Otari Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano P...

This bakery is located on the main street of Minami Otari Station and sells simple, reasonably priced bread.

Walking around Otari Village

If you would like to know more about the charms of Otari Village, why not take a stroll around the village?

The Nakatani River, a first-class river, runs from north to south through Otari Village, and the snowy scenery of the river is particularly spectacular! You can enjoy the sight of the powerful water flowing and the village atmosphere filled with negative ions.

Around Minami-Otari Station, there remains the "Salt Road" that was used to transport salt and other marine products from the Sea of ​​Japan side to the Pacific Ocean side. It is the most well-maintained of the itinerary, so even beginners can walk it with confidence.

The Salt Road Festival is held every year on May 3rd, and is an exciting event that draws the whole village in.

You can also deepen your understanding of history at the Otari Village Local History Museum and the Otari Specialty Museum, or during the new green season, head out to discover spectacular views of nature, such as Mount Amakazari, which has been selected as one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, or Lake Kazebuki Oike, a lake in the Northern Alps.

3 recommended day-trip hot spring facilities in Otari Village

From here, we will introduce three day-trip hot spring facilities in Otari Village. You can enjoy a variety of hot springs, including Otari Onsen.

You can also take the luxury of touring the hot springs and enjoy the health benefits of each one to the fullest.

Yamada Ryokan

Otani Onsen was first discovered 470 years ago, in 1555.

Until the Showa era, several inns, including Yamada Ryokan, offered baths in Otari Onsen, but currently Yamada Ryokan 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 is that you can enjoy the collaboration between the hot springs and the six buildings, all of which are registered tangible cultural properties. The main building, new building, bathhouse, and more are all registered tangible cultural properties, and you can enjoy a spectacular view that gives you a sense of the overlapping of history no matter where you look.

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 please make sure to have some cash ready before you arrive.

At the end of a quaint corridor are the entrances to the men's and women's baths, which are located side by side.

We say goodbye to the snowy scenery outside the window and head to take a bath.

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 hot spring. This luxurious way of using the hot spring water will have you saying to yourself, "I'm glad I came to Otari Onsen!"

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

The sound of the hot spring flowing like a waterfall and the gentle steam floating in the air in the bathroom were soothing and I was able to relax and enjoy the hot springs.

The bathing area also has a reclining bath area and a wooden pillow on which you can rest your head, making it the perfect place to relax. It would be nice to take a relaxing soak when you want to cleanse yourself of fatigue and worries.

Additionally, an observation bath is open 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 season 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.

For both overnight stays and day trips, please check the official website.

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.

Michino Eki Otari

Michino Eki Otari where you can eat lunch featuring Otari's famous products, also has a day-trip hot spring called Miyama no Yu attached to it. After you come for lunch, you can enjoy a day-trip hot spring without bringing anything with you.

Miyama no Yu, which is open from 12:00 to 18:00-19:00, is a mixed spring of Kitakotari Onsen and Kazebukiso Onsen. The spring quality leaves your skin feeling smooth and warm after bathing.

After receiving a towel at the reception, it was time to start bathing! There were three types of baths: "hot water" straight from the source, "lukewarm water" which is lower in temperature, and the main "open-air bath."

First, wash off any dirt in the washing area, then warm your body thoroughly in the hot water inside the room.

When you soak up to your shoulders in the hot water, the sound of the endless flowing spring water and the rising steam will give you a sense of freedom that relaxes your soul.

Once your body has warmed up, move to the open-air bath and relax in the hot spring water.

My time in the hot spring was so cleansing to the point that I found myself muttering, "This is paradise..."

At Miyama no Yu, you can bathe as many times as you like in a day for just one bathing fee!

You can also take another bath after lunch, or stop by during your sightseeing trip to Otari, depending on your travel schedule.

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.

Santeinn Otari

Santeinn 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.)

Within the building there are three attractions: a large public bath where you can enjoy the hotel's own hot spring, Kudarise Onsen, a restaurant where you can eat delicious handmade soba noodles that are famous locally, and a shop selling Otari's famous products.

It is usually bustling with locals, tourists, skiers and hikers.

Shimosatose Onsen was opened in 1972. Its strong alkaline properties have the effect of removing dirt from the skin and leaving it smooth, as well as keeping the skin warm after bathing, and it is also known as the "beauty skin bath."

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

After checking in, you excitedly step through the curtains of the natural hot spring and begin bathing.

There are four types of hot springs in the bathroom: a bubble bath, a pressure bath, a reclining bath, and a cypress cold bath.

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

The bathroom is filled with sunlight and is a warm space enveloped in steam from the hot spring. It's the perfect place to reminisce about your travels and relax.

When you immerse yourself in the water up to your neck, you'll feel a slight lubrication on your skin.

I later learned that when the hot spring water washes away dirt from the skin, a slimy sensation is felt. I was so pleased to be able to experience the effects of the hot spring water while bathing!

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

After the bath, we were able to relax in the relaxation room, which was covered with tatami mats, and enjoy watching TV.

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.

How to Get There

There are several ways to access Otari Village, including by 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. You can get off at "Hakuba-cho" or "Hakuba Station" and access Kita-Otari, Nakado, and Minami-Otari Stations on the JR Oito Line.

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