Takamagahara Onsen
Hot Spring Overview
Kōtengahara Onsen is a hot spring situated at about 2,100 m elevation in Kurobedaniwari, Arimine, Toyama City—north of the Kōtengahara Wetland at the foot of Mt. Suishō in the Northern Alps. Nicknamed “Japan’s most remote onsen,” its name conjures a mythic realm, inspired by the breathtaking scenery.
The spring is a simple sulfur spring (hydrogen sulfide type), and its milky-blue water is opaque and beautiful. There are three open‐air baths—men’s, women’s, and mixed—and the water temperature is around 42 °C. Guests staying at Kōtengahara Sansō may bathe free of charge; day‐trippers pay ¥300.
About Secluded Rating
Access (Difficulty to Reach)
Over 1 hour walk
Scenery & Atmosphere
Hidden wilderness
Onsen Value
Unique spring
Called “Japan’s most distant onsen” for its extremely challenging access (1 night/2 days for veterans, 3 nights/4 days for most), at an altitude of about 2,100 m and reachable only by mountaineering, it perfectly meets a Level 5 secrecy rating. Immersed in the grandeur of the Northern Alps and under a canopy of stars, it offers an adventure unlike any other.
Hot Spring Details
Practical Info
Visit Log
Bath Types
Facilities
Access Information
From Toyama Chihō Railway’s Arimine-guchi Station, take the summer‐season bus to Oritate (about 1 hour). Even from this nearest trailhead, it’s roughly a 13-hour trek. The only way to reach the onsen is on foot: from Toyama Prefecture’s Oritate trailhead via Tarōdaira Hut and Yakushisawa Hut, or from Gifu Prefecture’s Shin-Hotaka Onsen via Kagami-daira Mountain Hut and Suga-rokugoya Hut. Even experienced hikers need 1 night and 2 days; for most, it’s a 3-night, 4-day expedition.
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