Nozawa Onsen Oyu
大湯36°55′ N 138°27′ EPublic bathFree
Oyu is the bathhouse at the heart of Nozawa Onsen and the one to try first; it costs nothing, and its two tubs run hot enough to need a slow start.
Photo 小石川人晃 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Know before you bathe
Wash before you get in, keep your towel out of the water and check with other bathers before running the cold tap. Turn it off once the tub is bearable.
Getting there
Oyu stands in the centre of Nozawa Onsen village on Oyu-dori, a short walk below Ogama.
Oyu stands in the middle of the village, and its wooden bathhouse has kept the same Edo-period form for generations. Villagers also call it Inukai no Miyu. Inside, a high ceiling rises over a hot tub and a cooler one, so you can move between them as your skin adjusts. The bath enshrines the Yakushi triad, the healing Buddha with two attendants, as guardian of the village's waters.
The spring under Oyu is weakly alkaline simple sulphur water that comes out at 66°C, and the tourism bureau credits it with easing tired muscles and loosening tension. Entry is free, with a donation box by the door. Bring your own towel and soap, and if Oyu is full there are twelve more soto-yu within a few minutes' walk.
Worth knowing
- Pour water over your shoulders for a minute before getting in. The resort's guide puts soto-yu tubs at 45–49°C.
- Collect Oyu's stamp at the stand outside if you're doing the village stamp trail.
Quick answers about Nozawa Onsen Oyuよくある質問
Is Oyu in Nozawa Onsen free?
Yes. Oyu charges no entry fee like the other Nozawa Onsen soto-yu, and a donation box by the door takes coins for upkeep.
What are the opening hours of Oyu in Nozawa Onsen?
Oyu opens from 5:00 to 23:00 between April and November and from 6:00 to 23:00 between December and March.
How much does Nozawa Onsen Oyu cost?
Nozawa Onsen Oyu is free to visit.
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In the journal
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Should you stay in Nozawa Onsen instead of Hakuba?
Nozawa suits riders who want to walk from the inn to the lifts in the morning and to a free village bath at night, on one big mountain at ¥7,800 a day. Hakuba suits anyone who wants ten resorts on one ticket and Epic Pass days.
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Which ski-hill onsen towns are best for a soak after the last lift?
Nozawa puts thirteen free public baths a short walk from the lifts. Kusatsu is the clearest answer for tattooed riders, and Shibu and Ginzan give their best baths to the people who stay the night.