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Hot spring · Semboku, Akita
Nyuto Onsen
A group of seven secluded hot-spring inns in the forest of Mount Komagatake, each with its own source, including Tsurunoyu, with thatched-roof buildings and an outdoor bath of milky white water.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
A look at the place
Nyuto Onsen in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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Discover
About Nyuto Onsen
Nyuto Onsen, the “nipple spring,” is a cluster of seven hot-spring inns scattered through a beech-forest valley on the slopes of Mount Nyuto and Komagatake, about 15 km from Lake Tazawa. Each inn has its own springs, with differing water composition and color, from milky white to clear and dark. The area lies within Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
The best-known inn is Tsurunoyu, the oldest, traditionally linked to the bathing of local feudal lords of the Satake clan. It features wooden thatched-roof buildings, a lined approach and an outdoor bath of milky white water, with a stone floor where the water wells up. The main outdoor bath is mixed, with set times for women and also gender-separated bath times.
The other inns—Taenoyu, Kuroyu, Magoroku, Ganiba, Ogama and the national park lodge—are a few kilometers apart, connected by road and trails. Some have old wooden buildings and baths beside streams. Guests at any inn can buy a pass to use the baths at all seven, and a bus circulates between them.
The inns are simple, serving mountain food for dinner, such as kiritanpo (pounded rice on a skewer) and yamanoimo. Rooms are limited and often sell out months in advance, especially in winter when snow covers roofs and the valley. Day-trippers can use the baths at set times specified by each inn.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half a day for two or three day baths; ideally, one night at one of the inns.
Best time
December to March, when the outdoor baths are surrounded by snow; October for valley foliage. In summer the forest is cool. In winter the road requires snow tires. Confirm day-bath times, which vary by inn.
How to get there
From Tazawako Station, buses climb to Nyuto Onsen in about 50 minutes, passing along Lake Tazawa’s shore. Tsurunoyu is about 3 km from the final stop and often provides its own shuttle for guests from the bus point. By car, it’s about 25 km from the station.
Tip
Book accommodation months in advance and buy the bath pass if you want to visit multiple inns. Bring a small towel for day baths and observe the rules: wash before entering the water and do not dip the towel in the bath.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Nyuto Onsen
How many ryokan are there in Nyuto Onsen?
Seven: Tsurunoyu, Taenoyu, Kuroyu, Magoroku, Ganiba, Ogama and the national park’s ryokan. Each has its own hot springs.
Is the bath at Tsurunoyu mixed?
The main outdoor bath is mixed, with times reserved for women; there are also gender-separated baths. Rules can change; confirm with the ryokan.
Can you visit Nyuto Onsen as a day trip?
Yes, by bus from Tazawako Station in about 50 minutes, to use the day-bathing facilities. Ryokan set their own visiting hours.
How does the Nyuto bathing pass work?
It’s sold to ryokan guests and allows use of the baths at the seven houses, with a bus that circulates among them. Check conditions at your accommodation.
Beyond the guide
