Takizawa Onsen Takizawakan

A single secluded inn set at roughly 900 meters elevation on the southern foot of Mount Akagi, within the Akagi Onsen village. It stands along the ravine of the Kasukawa River, and every guest room overlooks the mountain stream. Founded in 1905 (Meiji 38), this historic ryokan is a member of the Japan Secret Hot Spring Preservation Society and is prized as a hidden hot spring retreat.

The spring is a calcium-sodium-magnesium bicarbonate cold mineral spring, with a source temperature of about 24 degrees Celsius, a pH of 6.2, and a flow of 40 to 50 liters per minute. Freshly drawn water carries a faint iron scent, but on contact with air the iron oxidizes and the water turns a cloudy yellow-brown. The open-air tsubo tub in the garden offers free-flowing source water, while the main pool heats and circulates the cold spring.

The inn has an open-air rock bath along the ravine, a tingling carbonated tsubo bath, and an indoor bath. Day-use bathing runs about 700 yen for adults and 450 yen for children with a 90-minute limit, open 10:30 to 15:00 (fees and hours vary by day, so call ahead; day-use is closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Overnight stays include two meals featuring Joshu regional cuisine. Free parking for 20 to 30 cars.