Shinyu, Nozawa Onsen, Nagano Pref.

Nozawa Onsen（野沢温泉） in northern Nagano Pref. is attracting skiers and snowboarders from abroad in recent years. If you come to Nozawa Onsen, don't forget to visit some public baths. There are 13 public baths, and all of them accept anybody for free.

My most favorite is Shinyu（真湯）. It's newest among 13 public baths, as it was rebuilt and opened December 2006. It's also one of the smallest. It's a tiny wooden hut, the entrance is very narrow. There is a changing space, not a room. I mean there is no wall between bathroom and changing space.

Small bath is filled with sulfur hot springs. The water was pale green with many black mineral encrustations in it when I visited in June 2008. Looked like crow's feathers in the bath. The contrast of black and pale green was so beautiful. But I heard it's mostly transparent without any color and mineral encrustations are sometimes white.

If the water is too hot for you, you can add water, don't put too much water. Local people love to soak themselves in very hot bath.


◆Shinyu, Nozawa Onsen （野沢温泉　真湯

Type: Gender separated public indoor bath.

Address: Nozawa Onsen-mura, Shimo-takai-gun, Nagano Pref.

Available hour: 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM (From 6:00 AM from November to March)

Holiday: None

Admission fee: Free

Equipment: Changing space with shelves, small rockers for valuables. You have to bring your own towel.

Access: Bus between Nagano Station and Nozawa Onsen serves three times a day in the summer, six times in the winter. As of Dec. 2009, departing east exsit of the Nagano Station at 9:10AM, 10:30AM, 11:15AM, 1:35PM, 3:00PM, 4:10PM everyday taking about an hour and 15 minutes.

Link: Accommodation List of Nozawa Onsen in English

My rating (out of five): 5

If you visit Nozawa Onsen, don't forget to drop in a restaurant named Atarashiya（新屋）near the bas stop and try Yakitori-don (Yakitori on a bowl of rice). It's soooo yammy!