Join us this week as we visit various hidden hot springs with scenic views. We first travel around Joshu in search of scenic hot springs. Begin your adventure at Takasaki Station in Gunma. Travel by JR Agatsuma Line for about 35 minutes to Ubashima Station. From the station, walk for about 25 minutes to a secret hot spring called Nekoyajo Onsen (cat house). You will have to walk through a mountain trail deep into the mountains. Nekoyajo Onsen is located at the remains of Nekoya Castle. The rustic hot spring, which was dug out in 1993, charges a fee of 400 yen (S$6.21) per adult for the bath. It features a superb view of Agatsuma River and famous mountains in Joshu such as Mt. Akagi. This sodium chloride hot spring is believed to have healing properties and many people come here to treat pain-related ailments. After your bath, head to a resting and dining room and enjoy a meal of Nekoyajo's mountain vegetables and grated yam ramen, topped with giant butterbur tempura.
Resume your journey on JR Agatsuma Line and travel from Ubashima to Nakanojo-machi. Take a route bus to Ozuka Onsen, which is famous for its nuruyu (lukewarm hot spring). A fee of 300 yen (S$4.66) lets you soak in this bath – which has a temperature of 34.2 degrees - for two hours. Opened about 600 years ago, the water here is said to stimulate the excretion of toxins. The hot spring gushes out 800L of spring water per minute. After this therapeutic bath, ride on the Agatsuma Line from Nakanojo and stay the night at a lodge in Fukurogura, Tsumagoimura. Located in Handeki Onsen, the Tokiwaso spa inn was established in 1977 and has 11 guest rooms. It costs 8,000 yen (S$124.23) per night, including two meals. It boasts a relaxing ambience and guests will feel right at home here. Try the mixed open-air bath which is rustic and cosy. Then, feast on a delicious dinner around a hearth. The meal comprises char grilled with salt, stewed self-cultivated pesticide-free vegetables, cubed pork and mushroom suiton hot pot with shiitake and Japanese hackberry.
Our search for more hidden hot springs takes us to Saitama next. They are called arigatai (blessed) hot springs. From Omiya Station, take the Tohoku Main Line to Kuki-shi, the north of Saitama. Go to Hyakkannon Onsen, a day trip natural hot spring. The spring water here has been authorised by the Japan Spa Association and the spa is highly ranked in Japan. The spring water gushes out at a speed of 1,000L per minute. Try the tachiyu (standing bath), which is very popular among regular customers. The water here is said to be good for relieving muscular pain. Meanwhile, its open-air bath gushes out directly from 1,500m underground. The premises used to be Shiraishi’s Kannon Hall, which was burned down during the Meiji era. It is said the hot spring here was discovered in 1998, with the help of Kannon (Guanyin). Kannon Hall was also subsequently rebuilt. So it is no wonder that the spa here is called an arigatai hot spring, as it was found with the power of Kannon.
Another interesting hot spring is actually located in a ham shop. Travel from Hagashi Washinomiya to Kasahata Station via Omiya and Kawagoe. From the station, you will have to walk along a path by the riverside for about 25 minutes before you reach Kawagoe-shi, where Saiboku Ham is located. At the meat shop, you will find a hot spring advisor who introduces its history to customers. The hot spring site was previously a ranch, which was moved to Tohoku and Yamanashi a few years ago. The hot spring was discovered when the site of the ranch was dug. This day trip hot spring was opened in 2004. People say that the hot spring here is actually a parting gift by pigs, hence it is also known as an arigatai hot spring. After soaking in the cave-like bath, you can have lunch at the ham shop itself. Try the Megaton set, which costs 1,500 yen (S$ 23.29).
Next, travel by train to Musashi Takahagi at Kasahata Station. Then, hop on a bus heading to Hanno. Alight at Miyazawako Onsen in Hanno-shi. Commanding the view of Lake Miyazawa, Kirari Bettei is a hidden hot spring in Miyazawa. Opened in May 2009, it is specifically targeted at day trippers. Its hot spring features a panoramic view of the lake and the surrounding mountains. After this, head by train from Lake Miyazawa to JR Hachiko Line's Myokaku Station. Take a route bus to Tokigawa-machi, at the east of Chichibu Mountains. The hot spring at Ryokan Tokigawa is limited to four groups per day, with each group allowed to stay for up to four hours. The inn features a Japanese-style ambience and has only two guest rooms. The inn’s day trip package costs 7,800 yen (S$121) and includes room charges, a hot spring bath and a meal. Although the inn is used for day trips, it provides yukatas for its guests. Over 80% of its guests are women. Discovered in 1996, the hot spring here is one of the top alkaline spas in Japan. After your bath, tuck into a healthy meal of yuzu tofu, Japanese yam manju, rape blossom shiraae, yuzu-flavoured vegetables and fern, giant butterbur tempura, rice and soup.
Our next adventure takes us to scenic hidden hot springs in Tokyo. Take a train to Musashi Itsukaichi Station, after which you will need to travel by bus to Kazuma. A rural area, Kazuma features houses which are over 200 years old and located deep in the mountains. Some of the residents here specialise in making helmets. Visit the village of Hinohana-mura. There is a 300-year-old spa inn here which serves day trippers. Ja no Yu Onsen is named after a snake as it is believed that in the past, an injured snake got healed at the hot spring here. There are about 10 inns in the area but only this inn has hot spring facilities. Enjoy the gorgeous view of the ravine and listen to the murmur of the stream as you soak in the warm and cosy bath here.
