Niigata: 10 Recommended Day Trip Hot Springs
10 Recommended Day Trip Hot Springs in Niigata! From Natural Hot Springs to Private Open-Air Baths
Niigata has many attractive day-trip hot springs!
Niigata Prefecture is known as a hot spring powerhouse, boasting the third largest number of hot springs in Japan. Hot springs gush forth in all 30 cities, towns, and villages within the prefecture, offering a diverse range of spring qualities and benefits. From magnificent open-air baths overlooking the Sea of Japan, to secluded hot springs surrounded by mountains, and famous hot springs popular for their skin-beautifying effects, a variety of hot springs are scattered throughout the region. Many facilities offer free-flowing hot springs directly from the source and drinkable hot springs, allowing visitors to refresh their mind and body with delicious local ingredients. Niigata's day-trip hot springs, where the beauty of nature throughout the four seasons and hot spring culture merge, are the perfect healing spot to soothe the fatigue of daily life.
10 Recommended Day Trip Hot Springs in Niigata
A Healing Moment at a Secluded Hot Spring with Free-Flowing Source Water: "Yama no Yu"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
If you're enjoying a day trip to a hot spring in Niigata, you can't miss "Yama no Yu" in Echigo Yuzawa Onsen. Known locally as "Yamanbocha," this hot spring is a historic secluded hot spring that even appeared in Yasunari Kawabata's novel "Snow Country." It's a colorless, transparent simple sulfur spring with a faint hydrogen sulfide scent, known for making the skin smooth. It has long been popular as a therapeutic hot spring, and no showers are installed to encourage visitors to fully enjoy the hot spring itself. It is also expected to be effective for neuralgia, sensitivity to cold, and digestive problems, making it a popular hot spring for enthusiasts from outside the prefecture. The price is affordable at 500 yen for adults and 250 yen for children (ages 4 to elementary school), allowing you to easily enjoy the free-flowing hot spring from the source.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 930 Yuzawa, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata |
| Access | Approx. 20-minute walk from JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station, approx. 10-minute drive from Kanetsu Expressway Yuzawa IC |
| Parking | 10 spaces (free) |
| Business Hours | 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM (last reception 8:30 PM), Closed: Tuesdays (Holidays, New Year's, Obon period are rescheduled later) |
| Price | Adults 500 yen, Children 250 yen (ages 4 to elementary school), Under 3 free, Disabled 180 yen |
Rejuvenate Your Mind and Body at One of Japan's Three Great Medicinal Hot Springs: "Naste View Yunoyama"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
For a day trip hot spring in Niigata, Naste View Yunoyama in Matsunoyama Onsen, one of Japan's three great medicinal hot springs, is highly recommended. The hot spring source is highly concentrated saline water from fossil seawater approximately 12 million years old, characterized by its salty taste. Rich in boric acid, it is expected to have sterilizing effects and efficacy against skin diseases, as well as plenty of metasilicic acid for beautiful skin. It also has a high thermal effect, warming the body from the core. With a pH of 7.7, it's a mild alkaline hot spring gentle on the skin. The facility uses a heat exchange system to maintain the concentration of the source water, allowing visitors to enjoy it at an optimal temperature.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1252-1 Matsunoyama Yunoyama, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Access | Approx. 23 minutes by Kubiki Bus bound for Matsunoyama Onsen from Hokuhoku Line Matsudai Station (Hokuriku Express), immediately after alighting at Naste View Yunoyama. Approx. 70 minutes by car from Kanetsu Expressway Shiozawaishiuchi IC. |
| Parking | 150 spaces (free) |
| Business Hours | 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM *Last admission 30 minutes before closing |
| Price | – |
"Matsunoyama Onsen Center Taka no Yu" with high salt concentration, making it difficult to cool down after bathing.
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
If you're looking for a day trip hot spring in Niigata, "Matsunoyama Onsen Center Taka no Yu," representing Matsunoyama Onsen, one of Japan's three great medicinal hot springs, is highly recommended. The spring quality is sodium-calcium-chloride spring, with a high salt concentration, keeping you warm long after you leave the bath. The source water, approximately 90℃, gushes out through a rare "geopressure type" mechanism, and its boron content is the highest in Japan. It is expected to have sterilizing effects and efficacy against skin diseases, and is also rich in metasilicic acid, which is good for beautiful skin. There are indoor and open-air baths, where you can enjoy a relaxing time listening to the murmuring of the Kochido River. The admission fee is affordable at 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for elementary school students, making it popular with locals too.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 18-1 Matsunoyama Yumoto, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Access | 25 minutes by Higashi Kubiki Bus bound for Matsunoyama Onsen from Hokuhoku Line Matsudai Station, immediately after alighting at the last stop. Approx. 1 hour by car from Kanetsu Expressway Shiozawaishiuchi IC via National Route 353 towards Matsunoyama. |
| Parking | Available (10-12 spaces, free) |
| Business Hours | 10:00 AM - 8:30 PM (reception closes, 9:00 PM closing time) |
| Price | Adults (junior high school students and older) 600 yen, elementary school students 300 yen, preschoolers free |
Magnificent Open-Air Bath Surrounded by Autumn Foliage: "Tsubame Onsen Kogane no Yu"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
If you're looking to enjoy a secluded hot spring in Niigata, Tsubame Onsen's "Kogane no Yu" is highly recommended. This free open-air bath, located at an altitude of approximately 1100 meters, boasts beautiful white cloudy water with excellent skin-beautifying effects. The spring quality is a "triple beauty hot spring" containing sulfur, bicarbonate, and sulfate, and is expected to be effective for neuralgia, rheumatism, and skin diseases. Located at the trailhead of Mt. Myoko, it's also perfect for relieving fatigue after trekking. In autumn, the autumn foliage is reflected in the water, creating a magnificent golden landscape. Open from early April to early November (varies depending on snow conditions). Be sure to experience this open-air hot spring surrounded by magnificent nature.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 〒949-2235 Tsubame Onsen, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Access | 28 minutes by bus from Toki Railway Myoko Haneuma Line "Sekiyama Station," then 5-20 minutes walk after getting off the bus. Alternatively, 20 minutes by car from Joshinetsu Expressway "Myoko Kogen IC" or "Nakago IC," then 5-20 minutes walk after alighting. |
| Parking | Approx. 50 spaces (free) |
| Business Hours | Sunrise to sunset *Closed in winter |
| Price | Free |
Unique Hot Spring "Seihou no Yu" with Distinctive Scent and Spring Quality
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Seihou no Yu" in Tainai City, Niigata Prefecture, is a niche hot spring boasting a rare spring quality nationwide, making it popular among hot spring enthusiasts. Its most distinctive feature is its highly concentrated salt and iodine water, a sodium-chloride-iodine strong salt spring, and its brown cloudy water emits a strong odor reminiscent of ammonia or burnt rubber. This natural hot spring, free-flowing from the source, is said to be effective for neuralgia, chronic skin diseases, bruises, and cuts, making it popular even among hot spring connoisseurs. Furthermore, the hot spring is located within a religious facility featuring a giant statue of Shinran Shonin. Antiques and calligraphy are displayed inside the building, allowing visitors to enjoy a cultural experience as well. The admission fee is an affordable 500 yen, making it recommended for both enthusiasts and tourists seeking a unique hot spring experience.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-29 Nakamura Hama, Tainai City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Access | – |
| Parking | – |
| Business Hours | 10:30 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Price | Adults 500 yen, Children 300 yen |
A retro-Showa atmosphere hidden gem in the city: "Niitsu Onsen"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Niitsu Onsen" in Akiha Ward, Niigata City, is a unique hot spring that has become a hot topic among hot spring enthusiasts. This facility, opened in 1954, retains a retro Showa-era atmosphere and is characterized by its cloudy white water with a strong petroleum odor. The spring quality is iodine-sodium-chloride/bicarbonate spring, which has high moisturizing effects and is said to be effective for skin diseases, gynecological disorders, and neuralgia. The rare phenomenon of a geyser erupting approximately every 4 months is also a highlight. This hidden gem of a hot spring in Niigata attracts hot spring enthusiasts from all over Japan, offering an experience as if you've time-traveled back to the Showa era. The admission fee is a reasonable 400 yen for adults. Highly recommended for those seeking a unique hot spring experience.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-17-13 Niitsu Honmachi, Akiha-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Access | 10-minute walk from JR Shinetsu Main Line "Niitsu Station," 10-minute drive from Ban-etsu Expressway "Niitsu IC" |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | – |
| Price | – |
Luxurious Hot Spring Hopping with Three Hot Spring Sources: "Taho Onsen Dairo no Yu"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Taho Onsen Dairo no Yu" in Nishikan Ward, Niigata City, is a luxurious day-trip hot spring facility where you can enjoy three different hot spring sources. Source No. 1 is a large garden open-air bath boasting one of the highest sulfur contents in the prefecture, Source No. 2 is an alkaline indoor bath gentle on the skin and softens keratin, and Source No. 3 is an open-air rock bath and waterfall bath with components similar to body fluids, suitable for long soaks. All baths are 100% free-flowing from the source, and a unique feature is that the color of the hot spring changes daily. The admission fee is 990 yen for adults and 500 yen for children (discounts available for weekday evenings after 5 PM). The facility also has a drinking hot spring area and a restaurant, where you can enjoy fresh seafood and dishes made with local Koshihikari rice. Enjoy a supreme relaxing time in the open-air baths with seasonal scenery.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3250 Ishize, Nishikan-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Access | Approx. 10-minute walk after alighting at Iwamuro from a bus bound for Maze from JR Echigo Line "Maki Station." 20 minutes by car from Hokuriku Expressway "Maki-Gatahigashi IC." |
| Parking | Regular cars: 260 spaces |
| Business Hours | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM (open all year round) |
| Price | Adults: 990 yen, Children (3-12 years old): 500 yen. Weekdays after 5 PM Adults: 770 yen, Children: 390 yen |
Wild and Open-Air Mixed-Gender Bath along the Valley: "Tsubame Onsen Kawahara no Yu"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
Located at an altitude of approximately 1,100 meters in Myoko City, "Kawahara no Yu" is a free, wild, mixed-gender open-air bath that represents Tsubame Onsen. Tucked away along the Otagiri River valley, about a 15-minute walk from the hot spring town, it is a secluded hot spring with milky white sulfur water and hot spring minerals. It is expected to be effective for skin diseases, gynecological diseases, and diabetes, and allows you to heal your mind and body in nature. Open from early June to early November (closed in winter), available from sunrise to sunset. The access bridge repair was completed in September 2024, and it reopened after two and a half years. It is a famous hot spring in Tsubame Onsen where you can enjoy a superb hot spring experience surrounded by the murmuring of the river and the scenery of the four seasons.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Tsubame Onsen, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Access | 21 minutes by Tsubame Onsen-bound bus from JR Shinetsu Main Line Sekiyama Station, then 15 minutes walk from the last stop. |
| Parking | Approx. 50 spaces (free) |
| Business Hours | Sunrise to sunset *Closed in winter |
| Price | Free |
Enjoy the seasonal scenery surrounded by cherry blossom trees at "Yahiko Sakuragoushi Onsen Sakura no Yu"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Yahiko Sakuragoushi Onsen Sakura no Yu" in Yahiko Village, Nishikanbara-gun, Niigata Prefecture, is a day-trip hot spring facility where you can enjoy seasonal scenery and various hot springs. In spring, you can enjoy a cherry blossom bath while viewing the blooming cherry blossoms from the open-air bath, which is a particular highlight. The spring quality is sulfur-sodium-chloride spring, and skin-beautifying effects can also be expected. In addition to the large open-air bath (free-flowing hot spring from the source), facilities such as pot baths, reclining baths, seated baths, herb baths, and saunas are well-equipped. It also has bedrock bathing, foot baths, a spacious lounge, and a manga corner, making it popular with families and the elderly. The on-site restaurant offers dishes made with local ingredients. The admission fee is 1,150 yen for adults and 650 yen for children, with evening discounts available. Why not spend a relaxing time in the open-air hot spring?
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1970 Omachi Fumoto, Yahiko Village, Nishikanbara-gun, Niigata Prefecture |
| Access | 5 minutes by taxi from JR Yahiko Line Yahiko Station. 35 minutes from Hokuriku Expressway Sanjo-Tsubame IC towards Yahiko. |
| Parking | Available (250 spaces) Free |
| Business Hours | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM (last admission 8:15 PM) |
| Price | – |
Akakura Onsen Noten-buro Taki no Yu: An Open-Air Bath with a Magnificent View of a Waterfall in a Heavy Snowfall Area
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Akakura Onsen Noten-buro Taki no Yu" in Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture, is attractive for its spectacular open-air bath constructed with 3,000 gigantic rocks. The spacious bath can accommodate 50 people at once, offering an invigorating hot spring experience where you can become one with the magnificent surrounding nature. The spring quality is sulfate-bicarbonate spring, which is expected to have skin-beautifying effects, as well as being effective for rheumatism, skin diseases, neuralgia, and obesity. Open from late April to early November (closed in winter), admission is affordable at 500 yen for adults and 350 yen for children. The hot spring, which flows down powerfully like a waterfall, is impressive, and the mixed-gender hot spring pool, where you can enter in swimwear, is popular during the summer. There is also a free 50-tatami mat resting area, allowing you to relax even on a day trip. Why not enjoy the famous hot spring of Akakura Onsen along with the beautiful nature from spring to autumn?
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Akakura Onsen, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Access | 20 minutes by Echigo Tokimeki Railway Myoko Haneuma Line Myoko Kogen Station to Akakura-bound bus, immediately after alighting at Akakura Ashiyu Park. Approx. 10 minutes by car from Joshinetsu Expressway Myoko Kogen IC. |
| Parking | Available (15 spaces) |
| Business Hours | Late April to early November (closed in winter). Mon-Wed, Sun: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Thu: 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM, Fri-Sat: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Price | Adults 500 yen, Children 350 yen |
Enjoy Niigata's Popular Day Trip Hot Springs!
Niigata Prefecture is a region blessed with abundant nature and diverse hot springs. The 10 day-trip hot springs introduced in this article each have their own unique charm. From natural hot springs with free-flowing source water, to sulfur springs with excellent skin-beautifying effects, and even private open-air baths, there are various ways to enjoy them. Niigata's hot springs are not just for warming the body, but also for healing the mind and experiencing the local culture and nature. When you want to soothe the fatigue of daily life or spend time with loved ones, please visit these hot springs. A wonderful experience of refreshing your mind and body awaits you at Niigata's hot springs.