Only Once a Week! The Mysterious White Hot Spring Experience at Dake Onsen, Fukushima

• Table of Contents
• What is Dake Onsen?
• [Day trip hot spring] Multilingual support available! Enjoy a blissful relaxing time at "Nagame-no-Yakata Kounkaku"
• [Footbath] Perfect for couples and families with children! "Dake Onsen Footbath" where you can enter as many times as you like
• [Accommodation] "Yuinosato Azumakan" where you can experience a full-body relaxing bath
• Access Information

What is Dake Onsen?

Dake Onsen, located in Nihonmatsu City , Fukushima Prefecture , is a historic hot spring that is said to have been discovered over 1,200 years ago during the Heian period.

There have been many disasters in the past, including landslides and the Boshin War, and the area has been repeatedly destroyed or annihilated. However, each time the hot springs have been re-drained and rebuilt, and in 1906 the area was finally settled in its current location.

The temperature of the water at the source of the bath is over 70 degrees, but there is a secret as to why we are still able to bathe in it.

The water is drawn from the source of the hot spring over a distance of about 8km, and is naturally kneaded as it travels down the mountain, so that it arrives at the perfect temperature at the hot spring town.

However, if the approximately 8km of pipes are not cleaned regularly, they will become clogged with "yunohana" (sparkling mineral deposits) from the hot springs... That's where the "yumori" (guardians of the hot springs) come in.

The Yumori are people who are in charge of managing everything related to the hot spring source and the drawn water. They make sure the water flows smoothly and continue to weave the history of Dake Onsen.

The people who look after the bath periodically clean off the mineral deposits that have built up in the pipes. This process turns the clear, colorless hot spring water milky, creating the famous "Milky Days" of Dake Onsen.

On a milky day, the Dake Onsen has a stronger sulfurous scent than usual and the water is smoother. If you want to enjoy two Dake Onsen at once, you can stay overnight and enter both hot springs.

In principle, the baths are washed away once a week, usually on Mondays. However, as this is dependent on natural conditions, the dates of Milky Days are announced on the official social media accounts of the Dake Onsen Tourist Association.

Blessed with medicinal waters and abundant nature, Dake Onsen is also valued as a national health resort and is recognized as a healthy hot spring resort.

Check out the official social media accounts of the Dake Onsen Tourism Association

[Day trip hot spring] No.1 in Dake Onsen! Take a piping hot bath at Dake no Yu

Dakeno-Yu, which was founded in Showa period, is located right in between Himaraya Street, where the Dake Onsen town is located, and Sakurazaka, where cherry blossoms bloom in abundance in the spring.

At Dake no Yu, the water is drawn from the source and poured freely at its original temperature without any modification. The temperature at the outlet of Dake no Yu is an amazing 49 degrees! This is the hottest hot spring facility in Dake Onsen.

Take no Yu, located at the entrance to Sakurazaka, is marked by the red character "Yu." Go through the noren curtain and pay the day-use bathing fee at the bandai.

I was surprised at the incredibly low price of 400 yen for adults and 150 yen for children of elementary school age and above! I excitedly made my way to the changing room.

First, we started by gradually raising our body temperature in the shower, building up a foundation for enduring the 49 degree heat. Some customers even used wooden buckets to scoop up hot spring water before washing themselves, to help get their bodies used to the water.

As you slowly enter the hot spring from your calves, you will feel your cold feet gradually warm up. As you put your feet in and out and patiently endure the temperature, it will slowly become comfortable.

I slowly immersed myself in the hot spring up to my waist and then my chest, and after five minutes I was able to release all the tension in my body and relax.

If you're worried about the heat, you can pour water over yourself or add water while bathing. When I visited, I saw some friendly regulars giving advice to beginners, saying things like, "It's okay to add water," and "It's best to start by pouring water over yourself to get used to it."

Dake Onsen is said to be effective for atopic dermatitis, diabetes, cuts, etc. Dake no Yu offers not only day trips, but also overnight stays and private rooms for day trips. Business hours are from 10:00 to 19:00, so if you want to take your time and enjoy the benefits of Dake Onsen, be sure to stop by.

Dakenoyu

964-0074 270 Dake Onsen 1-chome, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture

A day-trip hot spring and accommodation facility where you can experience the hottest waters of Dake Onsen. You can enjoy the natural Dake Onsen water that flows directly from the source.

[Day trip hot spring] Multilingual support available! Enjoy a blissful relaxing time at "Nagame-no-Yakata Kounkaku"

Nagame-no-Yakata Kounkaku is a hot spring inn that boasts a commanding view from its rooftops. It was founded in Showa with the desire to "allow people to enjoy hot springs in a place with a great view."

Nagame-no-Yakata Kounkaku is available for both overnight stays and day trips, and if you stay overnight you can see the Abukuma mountain range from most of the rooms. As it is located on a 50m hill above Dake Onsen town, you can enjoy the seasonal nature of Dake Onsen with a little sense of superiority.

The hot springs we visited are open from 11:00 to 14:30. The reception also sells a special plan that includes a bath and lunch. The price is very reasonable, 900 yen for adults and 600 yen for children from 3 to elementary school age.

After checking in and proceeding through the building, you will come across an entrance to the hot spring that resembles a tiled roof! Between the men's and women's baths, the famous water of Tara flows elegantly, and you are free to drink it. After rehydrating sufficiently, it's time to start bathing.

The spacious indoor bath has a sense of openness that makes you want to stretch your legs. Relax your body and soak up to your neck, and you'll feel like all your fatigue has been washed away. It's a comfortable bath that warms you up from the core of your body.

The open-air bath also has a small bath for one person, perfect for relaxing. Breathing in the clear air of Dake Onsen, I was able to spend a blissful relaxing time.

Nagame-no-Yakata Kounkaku is full of things to enjoy, such as a private bath for 3,000 yen for 50 minutes if you make a reservation, a place to fill your stomach with lunch, and a spacious shop where you can pick out souvenirs. Chinese, English, Indonesian, and Filipino support are also available, making it a recommended hot spring facility for foreign visitors visiting Dake Onsen for the first time.

We recommend using a car to get there, as it is a little far from the hot spring town. It takes about 10 minutes to get there by walking up a hill from the hot spring town.

Nagame-no-Yakata Kounkaku

964-0074 1-85 Dake Onsen , Nihonmatsu City , Fukushima Prefecture Pref...

This hot spring inn was founded in Showa with the idea of ​​"allowing people to enjoy hot springs in a place with a great view." You can enjoy Dake Onsen in a variety of ways, including indoor baths, open-air baths, baths for one person, and private baths.

[Footbath] Perfect for couples and families with children! "Dake Onsen Footbath" where you can enter as many times as you like

In spring, the Sakurazaka Tunnel is filled with cherry blossoms. Halfway up the tunnel is the Dake Onsen Footbath, which is free for anyone to use.

Fresh water flows continuously at the foot bath from 9:00 to 17:00 every day except for a few days around the New Year. The foot bath, which you can soak up to your calves, is the perfect spot to relieve the fatigue of your travels.

It is a small foot bath that can seat 4 to 6 adults, but the water that gushes out is the same as that of Mt. Dake Onsen. The Milky Day water turns milky white, and you can smell the faint scent of sulfur.

The water around the outlet is a little hot even in winter. It warms you up from your feet to your calves.

If you go around 11:00 on a Milky Day, you might even be able to witness the moment when the water changes color. Seeing the "beginning of a Milky Day" as the water gushes out from the source will surely be a great memory of your trip.

Anyone can use the foot baths, but drinking alcohol or being noisy is prohibited. Be sure to follow the rules and stop by during your trip.

Dake Onsen Footbath

964-0074 1-24-8 Dake Onsen , Nihonmatsu City , Fukushima Fukushima Pre...

A free foot bath spot located halfway up Sakurazaka.

[Accommodation] "Yuinosato Azumakan" where you can experience a full-body relaxing bath

The base of this trip was the "Yuinosato Azumakan," which was founded in Showa. In 2024, the "Dake Peak" facility was completed on the hot spring town side, which includes a foot bath and a select shop selling Fukushima Prefecture souvenirs, and is loved by locals as a place to relax.

If you stay overnight, you can use the large public bath from 12:00 to 25:00 and 5:00 to 10:00. After checking in, I excitedly headed to the large public bath.

When you open the door, the smell of sulfur hits your nose and you can experience the hot spring with all five senses. If you look past the steam, you will be captivated by the endless flow of hot spring water from the spout and the beautiful snow-covered scenery of the open-air bath.

Because it was a milky day, the water in the indoor bath was a soft milky white color. When I put my hand in 10cm, the water was so thick and milky that I couldn't see my fingertips.

In the open-air bath, I listened to the sound of the trees swaying and the sound of the hot spring flowing, and felt the luxury of my body gradually warming up. My body relaxed, my cheeks loosened, and I was so relaxed that I could entrust myself to the hot spring.

There is also a foot bath that just opened in 2024, which is convenient to use when checking in and out. Some days the fireplace is lit, so you can enjoy a little camping feeling.

You can bathe as many times as you like during your stay, and the men's and women's baths are switched at 5:00 in the morning. Enjoy the different views of the open-air baths and have a special bathing experience.

Yui no Sato Azumakan

964-0074 1-5 Dake Onsen , Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Fukushima Prefect...

"Yui no Sato Azumakan" was founded in Showa. In 2024, "Dake Peak", a facility that includes a foot bath and a select shop with Fukushima Prefecture souvenirs, will be completed on the hot spring town side, and it is loved as a place of relaxation for locals.

Access Information

To get to Dake Onsen, you can take the Shinkansen and JR trains or an express bus.

Accessibility varies depending on the purpose of your trip and the season, so we will introduce you to a detailed route.

Tohoku Shinkansen+ JR Tohoku line

First, take the Tohoku shinkansen to Koriyama Station, which takes about an hour and a half from Tokyo station.

From Koriyama Station, transfer to the JR Tohoku line and ride to Nihonmatsu Station, where Dake Onsen is located. From Nihonmatsu Station, you can access Dake Onsen by Fukushima Transportation buses, taxis, or shuttle buses arranged by your hotel.

Expressway bus + JR Tohoku line

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

Many express buses can be taken to Fukushima Station or Koriyama Station. Depending on the bus company, it will take about 3.5 to 4.5 hours to get there from Tokyo.

From Fukushima Station or Koriyama Station, transfer to the JR Tohoku line and ride to Nihonmatsu Station, where Dake Onsen is located.