Nozawa Onsen's 13 Public Baths: A Complete Soto-yu Guide

Nozawa Onsen, a hot spring village in Nagano Prefecture, is home to 13 public bathhouses known as soto-yu — and every one of them is free to use. They are run not by the village or a company but by "yu-nakama," neighborhood associations of local residents, a system that has continued since the Edo period. It's one reason Nozawa Onsen, for all its fame as a resort town, still feels like hot springs woven into everyday life rather than a tourist attraction.

All 13 baths are free-flowing (kake-nagashi): naturally occurring spring water runs from the source into the tub. That's true of every one of them, but the water quality, source temperature, and layout of the bathhouse differ from bath to bath, so the character of the water changes as you move from one to the next, even within this one small town.

This guide introduces all 13 public baths by area, with a table of water quality, source temperature, and hours for each, suggested half-day and full-day routes, and the etiquette expected at these baths. As of September 2026, Akiha no Yu is closed for demolition work, so 12 of the 13 baths are currently open to bathe in.

What you'll find in this guide

• The location, water quality, and opening hours of all 13 public baths in Nozawa Onsen
• An efficient route through the baths, grouped into three areas
• Etiquette and things to know before using a public bath
• Cultural spots worth visiting alongside your bath tour

What is Nozawa Onsen's yu-meguri? 1,200 years of history and the yu-nakama system

1,200 years of history, and the only village named for its hot springs

Nozawa Onsen is said to have been discovered by the monk Gyōki during the Nara period (724-748), giving it more than 1,200 years of history. During the Edo period, the lords of the Iiyama domain, the Matsudaira clan, are said to have encouraged bathing here for its therapeutic value, and word of the springs spread well beyond the region — farmers from northern Shinano and Echigo would come to soak during the agricultural off-season. Today Nozawa Onsen remains the only village in Japan with "onsen" (hot spring) in its official name, and hot springs still sit at the center of daily life here.

The yu-nakama system — community management since the Edo period

What sets Nozawa Onsen's public baths apart is yu-nakama, a management system that has run continuously since the Edo period. Residents living around each bath form a yu-nakama association and take on the electricity and water bills, daily cleaning, and repairs themselves. The reason admission is free is exactly this: these aren't commercial facilities, they're communal baths that residents maintain on their own.

More than 30 sources, all naturally flowing

The village draws on more than 30 hot spring sources, each rising naturally at roughly 40°C to 90°C. This is 100% natural, free-flowing hot spring water, and most of it runs weakly alkaline. A hot spring town with this many naturally flowing sources — all of them free to use — is unusual anywhere.

The Ogama, woven into daily life

The Ogama, a source in the middle of the hot spring town where water emerges at close to 100°C, is still used by residents today to rinse nozawana, the local leaf vegetable, and to boil vegetables and eggs. A washing basin nearby is also still part of the yu-nakama's daily routine.

Yakushi Sanzon and the Twelve Divine Generals — hot springs and faith

According to the Nozawa Onsen Tourist Association, Ohyu enshrines Yakushi Sanzon (the Medicine Buddha triad), and the other baths each enshrine one of the Twelve Divine Generals as their guardian deity. It's not unusual to see a resident press their hands together before stepping in — these baths are places of quiet faith as much as they are places to bathe.

Walking the 13 baths — three areas

The 13 baths fall naturally into three areas: the town center, the Ogama area and hillside to the north, and the south side of the village toward the ski slopes. Below, they're introduced area by area, numbered 1 through 13. Photos, access details, and visitor reviews for each bath are on its individual page, linked below.

The town center — Ohyu, Kawarayu, Matsuba no Yu, Yokochi no Yu

Ohyu, the symbol of Nozawa Onsen, anchors this area, with Kawarayu, Matsuba no Yu, and Yokochi no Yu all within a few minutes' walk of it. This is the most densely packed cluster of baths in the village and a natural place to start a bath tour.

1. Ohyu (大湯)

Source 66°C · simple sulfur spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–23:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–23:00

2. Kawarayu (河原湯)

Source approx. 60°C · simple sulfur spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–23:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–23:00

3. Matsuba no Yu (松葉の湯)

Source approx. 90°C · simple sulfur spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–23:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–23:00 · onsen-tamago pot on site

4. Yokochi no Yu (横落の湯)

Source approx. 90°C · sulfur-containing sodium-calcium sulfate spring / year-round 6:00–23:00

Around the Ogama and the hillside to the north — Asagama no Yu, Kumanotearaiyu, Kamiterayu, Taki no Yu, Shinyu

Five baths are scattered from around the Ogama toward Tsutsuji-yama Park. Pairing this route with a stop at the Ogama itself is a good way to see how hot springs and daily life overlap here.

5. Asagama no Yu (麻釜の湯)

Source approx. 90°C · sulfur-containing sodium-calcium sulfate spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–23:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–23:00

6. Kumanotearaiyu (熊の手洗湯)

Source approx. 40°C · simple sulfur spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–23:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–23:00 · onsen-tamago pot on site

7. Kamiterayu (上寺湯)

Source approx. 90°C · sulfur-containing sodium-calcium sulfate spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–23:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–23:00 · onsen-tamago pot on site

8. Taki no Yu (滝の湯)

Source approx. 78°C · sulfur-containing sodium-calcium sulfate spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–21:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–22:00

9. Shinyu (真湯)

Source approx. 55°C · simple sulfur spring / year-round 6:00–22:00

The south side and the village entrance — Juodo no Yu, Shinden no Yu, Akiha no Yu, Nakao no Yu

Toward the south of the village and the ski area stand four larger baths. They sit a little further from the town center, so it's worth saving them for the second half of a bath tour.

10. Juodo no Yu (十王堂の湯)

Source approx. 90°C · simple sulfur spring / year-round 6:00–22:00 · onsen-tamago pot on site

11. Shinden no Yu (新田の湯)

Source approx. 90°C · sulfur-containing sodium-calcium sulfate spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–23:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–23:00

12. Akiha no Yu (秋葉の湯)

Closed for demolition work, currently scheduled to reopen after 30 October 2026 (the stamp station has been temporarily relocated to the Nozawa Onsen Tourist Information Center).

Source approx. 90°C · simple sulfur spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–23:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–23:00

13. Nakao no Yu (中尾の湯)

Source approx. 90°C · sulfur-containing sodium-calcium sulfate spring / Apr–Nov 5:00–23:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–23:00

Water quality and hours at a glance

Opening hours vary by bath. Shinyu, Yokochi no Yu, and Juodo no Yu keep the same hours year-round, while Taki no Yu's opening and closing times both change by season (Apr–Nov 5:00–21:00, Dec–Mar 6:00–22:00). The rest are open 5:00–23:00 from April to November and 6:00–23:00 from December to March.

Suggested routes

Half-day route (3 hours, 4 baths)

This route covers the four town-center baths — Ohyu, Kawarayu, Matsuba no Yu, and Yokochi no Yu. The village is compact, and baths within an area are only a few minutes apart, so within this one area you'll barely spend any time in transit. Starting at Ohyu, the loop fits comfortably into about three hours.

Full-day route (all 13 baths)

Walking outward from the town center — first to the Ogama area, then south — keeps the route efficient. Start at Ohyu and work through the four town-center baths, then head north along Ogama-dori for the five baths around the Ogama (Asagama no Yu, Kumanotearaiyu, Kamiterayu, Taki no Yu, Shinyu), and finish by heading south to the four baths on that side of the village (Juodo no Yu, Shinden no Yu, Akiha no Yu, Nakao no Yu). As a rough guide, budget 5-7 hours to cover all 13. Note that Akiha no Yu is closed for demolition work, currently scheduled to reopen after 30 October 2026, so only 12 baths are currently open.

Etiquette and things to know

• Wash yourself thoroughly before getting into the tub
• Don't put your towel in the tub
• If you add water to cool the tub down, turn it off once it reaches a comfortable temperature
• Be considerate of other bathers and follow basic bathing etiquette
• No late-night bathing is allowed, for security reasons
• Donations left in the box at each bath are a voluntary contribution to the yu-nakama who maintain it
• Source temperatures range from about 40°C to 90°C depending on the bath, so avoid staying too long in the hotter ones
• No towels or soap are provided, so bring your own
• A bath may be closed while it is being cleaned

A few things that often catch first-time visitors from overseas off guard. Bathing is done completely nude — swimwear isn't worn, and none of the 13 baths has a swimwear-friendly option. Baths are separated by sex, each with its own entrance. No reservation is needed; you can simply walk in during opening hours. Bring your own towel and soap, and carry a little cash in coins for the donation box. Some of the baths run quite hot, so ease in gradually. We could not confirm any posted policy on tattoos; if in doubt, ask at the tourist information center before visiting.

Cultural spots worth visiting alongside your bath tour

Nozawa Onsen has 27 stamp stations throughout the village, including all 13 public baths, and you can pick up a stamp book and collect them as you make your way around. Collect 10 stamps and you receive a towel; collect 20 and you can choose a towel or a tenugui (a thin Japanese hand towel). Stamp books are available at the Nozawa Onsen Tourist Information Center, the Nozawa Onsen Ryokan Association, Fukiya, Kogane-ya, Marumi-ya, and Nozawa Kogei, among other outlets.

Kenmei-ji Temple is known as the birthplace of nozawana. According to local history, in Hōreki 6 (1756) the temple's head priest brought tennōji turnip seeds back from Kyoto, and nozawana is said to have developed from them. From late April to early May, canola flowers bloom across the temple grounds.

Yuzawa Shrine has long been worshipped as the guardian of the hot springs. Its September festival, the Tōrō Matsuri, includes dances such as one dedicated to the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

Oborozukiyo no Yakata is a memorial hall for Takano Tatsuyuki, who wrote the lyrics to the songs "Oborozukiyo" and "Furusato," and it traces the connection between Nozawa Onsen and Japanese literature.

Every year on January 15, the village holds the Dōsojin Fire Festival, designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Villagers divide into those defending a handmade wooden shrine and those trying to set it alight, in a fire festival held to ward off misfortune and pray for good health.

Fees, access, and basic information

Address: Nozawa Onsen Village, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture

Fees: Admission to the public baths is free (a donation is customary). The day-use bathing facility Furusato no Yu charges a separate admission fee.

By train and bus: From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen "Hakutaka" to Iiyama Station (about 1 hour 50 minutes), then the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus from Iiyama Station (about 25 minutes).

By car: About 25 minutes from the Toyota-Iiyama IC on the Joshin-etsu Expressway, or about 1 hour 15 minutes from the Shiozawa-Ishiuchi IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway.

Parking: None of the public baths has its own dedicated parking; use one of the village-run lots instead. Options include the Shinden multi-story parking lot (¥100/hour year-round), the Yokochi parking lot (free in summer, ¥500/day in winter), the Nakao parking lot (free in summer, closed to general vehicles in winter), and Parking Lot No. 1 (free in summer; free 6:00–18:00 on weekdays, first-snow days, and spring-ski season in winter, ¥1,000/day on weekends, holidays, and the New Year period). The Central Terminal is closed to general vehicles year-round.

Inquiries: Nozawa Onsen Mountain Resort Tourism Bureau (5043-3 Toyosato, Nozawaonsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano 389-2502). Inquiries are accepted through the contact form on the official website.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Why are Nozawa Onsen's public baths free? A: Because of the yu-nakama system, which has run since the Edo period — local residents cover the costs and handle the cleaning and upkeep themselves.

Q: Which bath should I start with? A: If you have no particular preference, start at Ohyu, the symbol of Nozawa Onsen, and continue on to the town-center cluster (Kawarayu, Matsuba no Yu, Yokochi no Yu) for an efficient route.

Q: Can I rent a towel? A: No — none of the public baths rents out towels or soap, so bring your own.

Q: How do I deal with the hottest baths? A: Rinse thoroughly with the bucket before getting in. Baths like Ohyu and Kamiterayu run especially hot, so don't try to stay in too long.

Q: Can I visit in winter? A: Yes, the baths are open year-round, including winter. Roads can ice over during the snowy season, so watch your footing.

More hot springs nearby

Beyond Nozawa Onsen, Nagano Prefecture has many other hot spring areas, each with its own water quality and setting. For an overview of hot springs across the prefecture, see our hub article below.

https://www.tan-ken.com/ja/blog/1asu9knjv5

The information in this article (admission fees, operating hours, water quality data, etc.) is based on research conducted at the time of writing. Details may have changed or contain errors. Please verify the latest information on each facility's official website or through the local tourism association.

Information current as of September 2026.