Location	Akakura Village, Myoko-Kogen
Benefits	Effective against diabetes, external wounds, arteriosclerosis, gastrointestinal disorders, nervous disorders, rheumatism, hemorrhoids
Description	Opened in 1816, Akakura Onsen is the largest of Myoko's onsen, and one long popular with Japanese and international tourists. The Akakura Hot Spring is located at the foot of the 800-meter tall Mt. Myoko in Niigata Prefecture and draws its sulfate water from this mountain - one of the hundred famous mountains of Japan with a height of 2454 meters. The spring has two types of water quality and has a good reputation for making the skin beautiful while also curing wounds. The water is renown for its rejuvenating properties, so some Japanese names for it translate as “water for beautiful women” and “natural skin toner”. Taki no Yu (pictured at right) gets about 3000 litres per minute of gensen kakinagashi (pure onsen in and out). It is closed in winter

Location	Myokokogen, Myoko City
Benefits	Effective against chills, nervous disorders, fatigue, rheumatism, chronic women’s diseases
Description	The source spring is located halfway up Mt. Myoko. This area has many hot springs, but Myoko Onsen is the only place where you can enjoy a full view of the beautiful mountain. This hot spring, shared with Ikenotaira Onsen, provides a soft, gentle stimulation to the skin—perfect for those who like a long, lingering soak.

Location	Myoko Onsen, Sekigawa, Myoko-shi, Niigata-ken
Benefits	Skin disease, women's diseases
Description	The spring water for Sekigawa Kyodo Yokujo is drawn through a pipe buried in the ground that extends approximately ten kilometres from the Minamijigokudani Valley in the Myoko mountain range. Although the temperature of the water at the source is 72℃, it cools down to approximately 50℃ by the time it arrives in Sekigawa. The water is known to feel smooth and gentle, warming up the body from inside. Approximately five minutes drive from Myokokogen Station

Location	Tsubame Onsen, Myoko City (燕温泉 - 黄金の湯)
Benefits	Effective against rheumatism, neuralgia, gynecological problems and minor burns
Description	Set on a spectacular cliff-side setting, Tsubame Onsen has long been a destination for those desiring the road less traveled. The spring boasts white yubana (flower shaped crystals) in its mineral rich waters. The atmosphere here is nostalgic - reflecting a Japan of ages past. Some Tsubame Onsen hotels and facilities close here in the wintertime due to the famous heavy snows but others offer a unique wintertime experience - some only with access by snow cat. Ougon no Yu (pictured above) is one of the two free onsen that can be reached by hiking out on one of the trails leading up to Mt. Myoko from the village area. One of these is konyoku rotemburo onsen (mixed gender outdoor). The other has pools separated by bamboo mats, For the konyoku onsen you have to take a side road about a ten minute walk along a ravine, cross over a small babbling brook, then it's there.

Location	Iizuna-kogen, Nagano (turn right near Iizuna Resort night skiing area, then just past the golf club)
Benefits	Unknown
Description	Large indoor bathing area, small rotemburo with great mountain views, TV lounge, children's game area, as well as a restaurant with frosty mugs of beer.

Unohama Onsen

Location	Kudohama, Ogata-ku, Joetsu City
Benefits	Effective against cuts, burns, nervous disorders, rheumatism, skin diseases, chronic women’s diseases
Description	Unohama Onsen is a small hot springs town with many inns. Enjoy a superb view of distant Sado Island as the sun sinks into the sea on the horizon.

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More coming soon - email us with details and/or reviews of your favourite Onsen / Hot Springs in Myokokogen, Myoko, Lake Nojiri, Joetsu, Iiyama, Nagano and Niigata

Japan Monkey Onsen Park

A visit to the area would not be complete without seeing the Jigokudani Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑 Jigokudani Yaen Kōen) in Yamanouchi Town, Nagano Prefecture. See here for more details

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Exactly what is an onsen?

Onsen (温泉) is the Japanese word for hot springs; quite literally, at that, since 温 on is "warm" and 泉 sen is "spring". Japan is a very volcanically active country, resulting not only in frequent earthquakes, but also an abundance of hot springs throughout the archipelago. Traditionally, onsen were located outdoors, although a large number of inns have now built indoor bathing facilities as well. Onsen by definition use naturally hot water from geothermally heated springs. Onsen should be differentiated from sentō, indoor public bath houses where the baths are filled with heated tap water. Major onsen resort hotels often feature a wide variety of themed spa baths and artificial waterfalls in the bathing area (打たせ湯).

Man - otoko

Woman - onna

Onsen water is believed to have healing powers derived from its mineral content. A particular onsen may feature several different baths, each with water with a different mineral composition. The outdoor bath tubs are most often made from Japanese cypress, marble or granite, while indoor tubs may be made with tile, acrylic glass or stainless steel. Many bathers come for only an hour or so to soak in the waters. Food also plays an important part in the attraction of a particular inn. While other services like massages may be offered, the main reason most people visit the onsen is to enjoy the baths.

Traditionally, men (top kanji) and women (bottom kanji) bathed together at the onsen, as they did at the sentō, but single-sex bathing has steadily become the established custom since the opening of Japan to the West during the Meiji period. Mixed-sex bathing persists at some onsen in the rural areas of Japan, which usually also provide the option of separate "women-only" baths or different hours for the two sexes, although young children of either sex may be seen in both the men's and the women's baths. People often travel to onsen with work colleagues, as the relaxed and open atmospherehelps to break down some of the hierarchical stiffness inherent in Japanese work life. However, most visitors to onsen are not work groups but friends, couples and families.

Onsen Etiquette and Instructions

Onsen are usually divided into separate male and female baths with separate changing rooms, though you may find the odd exception. Identify your bath by using the handy kanji key (above right) on the noren curtains hanging in front of the door. Men's baths are also usually colorcoded blue, while women are red. Guests remove their clothes and leave them in either a locker or baskets (as per photo). If there are only baskets, you may want to leave your valuables with the management. Upon entering the onsen guests are expected to wash their bodies and rinse themselves thoroughly before entering the hot water. The indoor baths have faucets with removable shower heads and stools to sit on, for showering and shampooing. Entering the onsen while still dirty or with traces of soap on the body is considered unacceptable. Guests are not normally allowed to wear swimsuits in the baths. However, some modern onsen having more of a waterpark atmosphere require their guests to wear a swimming suit in their mixed baths.

Get slowly into the bath so as not to disturb fellow bathers. It may be very hot, so it’s wise to test the water first. If it’s very hot, ease yourself in slowly and keep as still as possible once immersed, this way you don’t feel the heat so much. Onsen guests generally bring a small towel with them to use as a wash cloth. The towel can also provide a modicum of modesty when walking between the washing area and the baths. Some onsen allow one to wear the towel into the baths, while others have posted signs prohibiting this, saying that it makes it harder to clean the bath. In this latter case, people normally set their towels off to the side of the water when enjoying the baths, or place their folded towels on top of their heads. Onsen are generally considered a respite from the hectic pace of life and consequently they are usually fairly quiet. However, sometimes bathers will engage in quiet conversation in this relaxed situation.

Don’t stay in too long if you feel a little light headed, get out and relax for a few minutes before getting back in. After the onsen there is usually no need to shower as the mineral content is good for the skin. However one may still shower if wanted. You can nearly always find a relaxation lounge (休憩室 kyûkeishitsu), inevitably equipped with a beer vending machine, nearby. Sprawl out in your yukata, sip beer, talk with friends, take a nap. That's what it's there for!

Onsen Warnings & Hassles

If you have tattoos there may be a problem gaining entrance. As with many aspects the locals will often take an easier line with foreigners and allow you in if the tattoos are not terribly obvious. However, that will not always be the case. Onsen that are municipally owned should not present a problem as they have a duty to let all tax-paying citizens in. The original reason for this ban was to keep out ヤクザ (yakuza), or members of other 暴力団体 (violence groups). Bottom line: some places will make accommodation for you, others won't. Be prepared to be denied and please don't get offended if you do. Example of tattoos banned signs (taken elsewhere in Japan) are as follows. The text on the left says 入れ墨禁止 (irezumi kinshi, or tattoos forbidden).

A special note for women: it's regrettable and annoying, but if you happen to be on your period, don't bother even going into an onsen bathing area. Blood plays a significant role in what is considered taboo in Japan, so it's simply it will just not your time for an onsen experience.

Also, in very rare cases elsewhere in Japan, some onsen just deny entry to foreigners full stop. This is actually illegal - but one must decide whether it's worth the hassle of arguing or simply moving onto the next place instead. Note: no cases of such discrimination are known of in Myoko, Nojiri, Togakushi, etc. so please enjoy the local onsen.