Takaragawa Onsen
宝川温泉36°51′ N 139°03′ ERyokan¥1,500, about CAD 13 or USD 9.50 (October 2026 rates)
Takaragawa Onsen suits couples and families who want to bathe together in huge riverside pools in the snow, with bathing wear provided for everyone, and it sits at the end of a mountain road a long way above Minakami.
Photo kallerna · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Know before you bathe
Three of the four pools are mixed, and Takaragawa provides bathing wear for both men and women in them. Maya-no-yu, the lowest pool on the river, is for women only. Wear the inn's bathing wear in the mixed pools, and keep cameras away from other bathers.
Getting there
Drive up from Minakami, or take a bus from Minakami Station to Takaragawa Iriguchi, about 30 minutes for ¥1,150, where the inn's car meets booked guests.
Takaragawa is a single inn at the top of the Tone River system, and its four outdoor pools spread along both banks of the Takaragawa, with a suspension bridge from the inn to the pools. Together they cover about 470 tatami mats. Kodakara-no-yu, at 200 mats, has the Hotaka shrine set in its roof. Maka-no-yu, at 120 mats, is the pool that appears on the posters, and Hannya-no-yu, at 50, has a shallow half where children can sit.
The three big pools are mixed, and the inn hands everyone bathing wear so men and women can share them comfortably. Maya-no-yu was built in 1970 after women asked for a pool of their own, and it stays women-only at 100 mats. The inn marks its 100th year on its front page.
Day visitors use Takaragawa Sanso, a separate building with its own indoor baths, a hall for about 100 people to rest and a canteen cooking kamameshi to order and grilled iwana until 15:30. Arrive before 15:00 to get your four hours in. A trail behind the main building climbs about 30 minutes to a lookout.
Worth knowing
- Book the courtesy car when you book a room; it meets guests at a set afternoon time.
- Bring a bag for wet bathing wear if you are staying, or hand it back at the desk on a day visit.
Quick answers about Takaragawa Onsenよくある質問
Is Takaragawa Onsen mixed bathing?
Yes. Three of its four outdoor pools are mixed, and the inn provides bathing wear for men and women. Maya-no-yu is a women-only pool.
How much is a day visit to Takaragawa Onsen?
Day entry costs ¥1,500 from middle-school age and ¥1,000 for primary-school children, including bathing wear. Preschoolers enter free.
Can I bring my own swimsuit to Takaragawa?
No. Takaragawa asks everyone to wear the bathing wear it provides, and it does not allow bathing wear you bring yourself.
Does Takaragawa Onsen allow tattoos?
Takaragawa does not publish a tattoo rule, so call the inn on 0278-75-2611 before you visit.
What are the opening hours of Takaragawa Onsen?
Takaragawa Onsen keeps these hours: Mon–Sun 10:00–16:30.
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