Yunokoya Onsen Ryudo

Ryudo is a secluded single-inn hot spring set deep in the Okutone mountains of Fujiwara, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, at an elevation of about 800 meters. Known as the "Ryudo Hot Spring Theme Park of Free-Flowing Springs," it sits beyond Lake Fujiwara along the Yunokoya River, embraced by dense forest. The surroundings offer fresh greenery in spring, fireflies in summer, autumn foliage, and snow-viewing in winter.

The spring is a simple thermal spring (weakly alkaline, hypotonic, high-temperature), with a pH of roughly 8.0 to 8.5. The water is notably gentle on the skin, and 100 percent of it comes from the inn's own source, supplied as free-flowing (kakenagashi) water to every bath on the property. It is said to be good for beautiful skin as well as neuralgia, muscle pain, and joint pain.

The inn's greatest draw is its 18 private open-air baths, all of which can be reserved for private use around the clock, without time limit or extra charge. They range from riverside baths to a tourmaline bath and a sauna-equipped bath. Day-use bathing costs 2,500 yen for adults and 1,500 yen for elementary-school children and younger, with up to four hours from check-in. Overnight stays are available with mountain-inn cuisine.