Day trip bathing travel journals to hot springs where we visited by train and bus

Echigo-yuzawa Onsen Komakonoyu

Echigo-yuzawa Onsen Komakonoyu

148, Yuzawa, Yuzawa Town, Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata Pref.

The most popular communal bath for skiers, named after the heroine Komako of the novel "Snow Country" by KAWABATA Yasunari.

Echigo-yuzawa Onsen Komakonoyu exterior
Echigo-yuzawa Onsen Komakonoyu bathtub Echigo-yuzawa Onsen Komakonoyu Yukiguni exhibition section Echigo-yuzawa Onsen Komakonoyu break room

Among the communal baths in Echigo-yuzawa Onsen, this is a hot spring facility that is the most popular among skiers. They are devising easy to use such as each washing area has its own partition.

A Japanese-style and clean facility with plenty of wood. The spacious bathing room has large bathtub and windows that allow you to stretch out in the hot water while watching the snowy mountains.

A hot spring named after the heroine Komako of the novel "Snow Country" by KAWABATA Yasunari. The facility has also a "Snow Country" exhibition section in the hall.

Location

Rating of access

1.0 pt(from Ueno)

2.0 pt(from Niigata)

→ How to rate access

Area / Railway

Koshinetsu Region
Niigata Pref.

JR Joetsu Line

onsen

Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
  • Ueno Sta.JR: 3 hrs 50 min Takasaki Line etc. - Joetsu Line ¥ 3,410
  • Echigo-yuzawa Sta. (East exit) Walk: 15 min 1.2 km (0.7 mi) Max difference in elevation: 20 m (66 ft)
  • Komakonoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
  • Ueno Sta. Joetsu Shinkansen: 1 hr 25 min Toki etc. Non-reserved seat¥ 6,050
  • Echigo-yuzawa Sta. (West exit) Walk: 18 min 1.4 km (0.9 mi) Max difference in elevation: 30 m (99 ft)
  • Komakonoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
  • Ueno Sta. Joetsu Shinkansen: 1 hr 30 min Tanigawa etc. Non-reserved seat¥ 6,480
  • GALA Yuzawa Sta. Walk: 15 min 1.2 km (0.7 mi)
  • Komakonoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ikebukuro)
  • Ikebukuro Sta. (East exit) Walk: 3 min
  • Seibu Bus Bus StopExpressway bus: 2 hrs 56 min Nagaoka Niigata Line ¥ 2,600 - ¥ 6,000
  • Yuzawa Expressway Bus Stop Walk: 22 min1.7 km (1.1 mi) Difference in elevation: -21 m (-69 ft)
  • Echigo-yuzawa Sta. (East exit) Minami-Echigo Kanko Bus: 3 min Yuzawa - Shiozawa - Muikamachi Line ¥ 270
  • Shimonaka-iriguchi Bus Stop Walk: 7 min0.5 km (0.3 mi) Difference in elevation: 11 m (36 ft)
  • Komakonoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ikebukuro)
  • Ikebukuro Sta. (East exit) Walk: 3 min
  • Seibu Bus Bus StopExpressway bus: 2 hrs 56 min Nagaoka Niigata Line ¥ 2,600 - ¥ 6,000
  • Yuzawa Expressway Bus Stop Walk: 2 min
  • Miyabayashi Bus Stop Minami-Echigo Kanko Bus: 6 min Tsuchitaru / Yomogibashi Line or Asahibara (Daigenta) Line ¥ 160
  • Echigo-yuzawa Sta.(The rest is the same as above)
Route from Niigata
  • Niigata Sta.JR: 2 hrs 50 min Shinetsu Line - Joetsu Line ¥ 2,310
  • Echigo-yuzawa Sta.(The rest is the same as above)
Route from Niigata
  • Niigata Sta.JR express: 50 min Shirayuki Non-reserved seat¥ 3,510
  •  (Transfer at Nagaoka Sta.) JR: 1 hr 20 min Joetsu Line ¥ -
  • Echigo-yuzawa Sta.(The rest is the same as above)
Route from Niigata
  • Niigata Sta. Joetsu Shinkansen: 50 min Toki etc. Non-reserved seat¥ 4,950
  • Echigo-yuzawa Sta.(The rest is the same as above)
Routes from Tokyo
  • Ueno
  • JR
  • Echigo-yuzawa
  • Walk
  • hot spring
  • 4 hrs 05 min ¥ 3,410

  • Ueno
  • Shinkansen
  • Echigo-yuzawa
  • Walk
  • hot spring
  • 1 hr 43 min ¥ 6,050

  • Ueno
  • Shinkansen
  • GALA Yuzawa
  • Walk
  • hot spring
  • 1 hr 45 min ¥ 6,480

  • Ikebukuro
  • Expressway bus
  • Yuzawa
  • Walk
  • Echigo-yuzawa
  • Bus
  • hot spring
  • 3 hrs 31 min ¥ 2,870 - ¥ 6,270

  • Ikebukuro
  • Expressway bus
  • Yuzawa
  • Bus
  • Echigo-yuzawa
  • (The rest is the same as above)
  • 3 hrs 07 min+ ¥ 2,760 - ¥ 6,160+

Routes from Niigata
  • Niigata
  • JR
  • Echigo-yuzawa
  • (The rest is the same as above)
  • 2 hrs 50 min+ ¥ 2,310+

  • Niigata
  • JR express
  • Nagaoka
  • JR
  • Echigo-yuzawa
  • (The rest is the same as above)
  • 2 hrs 10 min+ ¥ 3,510+

  • Niigata
  • Shinkansen
  • Echigo-yuzawa
  • (The rest is the same as above)
  • 50 min+ ¥ 4,950+

  • The price of JR Express and normal Shinkansen is "Basic fare" plus "(Super) express charge". (These are determined according to the distance.) "(Super) express charge" has two types: Reserved seat and Non-reserved seat. Reserved seat charge adds ¥930 (during the busiest season), ¥730 (during the busy season), ¥530 (during the normal season) or ¥330 (during the off season) to Non-reserved seat charge. (For details, please refer to JR East_Ticketing and Busiest / Busy / Normal / Off season calendar.)
  • When going from Echigo-yuzawa Station, from the West exit, the distance is far, but there is almost no uphill.
  • GALA Yuzawa Station is available only in winter.
  • Expressway Bus Yuzawa Bus Stop is located at the Yuzawa Interchange on the expressway. To get to JR Echigo-yuzawa Station from there, you can take a local bus from Miyabayashi Bus Stop or Kobara Bus Stop. (To go to Kobara Bus Stop, you will go up the stairs to the Mikuni Road.)
  • If there is snowfall or snow, it may take longer than the above required time.
  • The above fares are based on cash. When using an IC card, the fares may differ slightly.
  • The above times and distances are approximate. Does not include transfering or waiting times.

How to get to Komakonoyu

(Directions from Echigo-yuzawa Sta. East exit)
  1. Turn left at the traffic light in front of the station (to the north)
  2. Turn left at the T-junction after the post office
  3. Cross the river and turn left at about 150 m (492 ft). Go up the hill and turn right at the sign
(Directions from Echigo-yuzawa Sta. West exit)
  1. From the station west exit to the right
  2. Straight along the road
  3. Turn right at the sign. Go down the hill and turn left at the sign
Map of Komakonoyu, Echigo-yuzawa Onsen in Niigata Prefecture, Japan

Click the map to open Google Map

Travel journal of day trip bathing to hot spring

Characters

Nishi-san
Nishi-san
He is an orthodox hot springs lover and particular about quality of springs. He loves the hot springs flowing from the source, the hot water with a presence, and the rustic atmosphere.
Kita-san
Kita-san
He doesn't care much about quality of hot springs. He loves the open-air bath, and prefers hot springs that have visible features such as good views.

(→ Continuation from Yamanoyu)
One day at the end of March, Nishi-san and Kita-san have come to Echigo-yuzawa for a day trip bathing hot spring. After enjoying Yamanoyu, they are walking to Komakonoyu.

Komakonoyu exterior

Exterior

Komakonoyu seems to be the most popular for ski travellers.

Gee, so? ... But, you used to go skiing in the past, but now, you don't ski, right?

Well, no, I haven't skied for a long time.

Then, it doesn't really matter ... Oh, looks like we arrived. It didn't take ten minutes.

The exterior is Japanese-style ... The inside is ... Oh, it has a woody taste.

A modern Japanese-style.

The two enter the bathing room at once.

Komakonoyu bathtubi

Bathtub

Oh, it's pretty big.

Ugh, what is this! It smells much chlorine.

Ah, if you say so, that's right. But it's not so much to bother you, you know.

... Really think so?

You can stretch out comfortably in the tub, and the washing area has partitions. It's not a bad onsen.

Komakonoyu washing area

Washing area

But, this chlorine smell is like a pool.

I think you feel more clean when you come back from skiing.

True, it has a feeling of cleanness ... But I’m not sure about that.

Soaking in the hot water while looking at the snowy mountains through the big window, it takes away my tiredness from skiing!

No, you didn't ski.

Echigo-yuzawa Onsen has five communal baths (Yamanoyu, Komakonoyu, Iwanoyu, Kaidonoyu and Shukubanoyu). They offer the "Stopping by hot springs tour ticket" that allows you to enter all of these for 1,500 yen. (→ Yuzawa Onsen stopping by hot springs tour)

Komakonoyu Snow Country exhibition

"Snow Country" exhibition

Nishi-san and Kita-san came out of the bath. Komakonoyu is named after the novel "Snow Country", and it also has an exhibition section on "Snow Country".

There is an exhibition of "Snow Country". Old monochrome photos.

Hmmm, Snow Country ... This is a movie photo ...

"Snow Country" (1935-37)
The author is KAWABATA Yasunari. The story is set here in Yuzawa Town.

Komakonoyu Photograph of Snow Country exhibition

Photos at "Snow Country" exhibition

It's nostalgic and nice, you know.

After all, the actresses in old days are beautiful. Not to say that the current actresses are not beautiful.

Looking at this, I want to read Snow Country again.

Leaving Kita-san who are looking at the photo of "Snow Country", Nishi-san have come to the break room in the back.

Photo above:
Movie "Snow Country" (1957) KISHI Keiko played Komako.
Photo below:
Stage "Snow Country" (1970) WAKAO Fumiko played Komako.

Komakonoyu break room

Break room

Hey, come on. The hanging scroll is Snowy Country too. The famous beginning of Snow Country.

Komakonoyu Hanging scroll in break room

Hanging scroll in the break room

Beginning? How about ... 'I am a cat. As yet I have no name.' ... Right?

No-o-o! Snow Country, really read!

After that, Nishi-san and Kita-san talked about what "Snow Country" was like for a while in the break room.

(March 2013)

The beginning of "Snow Country" is "The train came out of the long tunnel into the snow country."

Impression & rating

Exactly there is a feeling of cleanliness, but the chlorine smell is too strong and I don't feel like entering the hot spring.

0.5 pt

Impression & rating

It's spacious, so when you come back from skiing, it's good for you to stretch out and take your tired away.

1.5 pt

→ How to rate

The Onsen facility

Address
148, Yuzawa, Yuzawa Town, Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata Pref.
Phone
domestic: 025-785-7660
international: +8125-785-7660
Web Site
Yuzawa Town Management Corporation
Bathing hours
10:00 - 21:00(Last entry at 20:30)
Regular holiday
Thursdays
(open on public holidays)
Charge
Adults: ¥ 500 / Elementary school students and under: ¥ 250
Baths
Gender-separated indoor bath

The hot spring data
(According to hot spring analysis report etc.)

(Jul. 18, 2003)

Spring quality
Sodium / Calcium - Chloride spring (Hypotonic Weak alkaline High temperature spring)
Temperature
57.3 ℃ (135.1 ℉)
pH value
8.0
Total ingredients
1.073 g / kg
Perception
Colorless and transparent

Today's Detour

Statue of Komako

Statue of Komako

(at Echigo-yuzawa Station West exit)

A statue of Komako at the West exit of Echigo-yuzawa Station. In front of that, young travelers passed by saying, "Who is Komako?" Certainly, it's a kind of lethargic object. But, thinking of that such a thing is displayed at the station, Komako is probably a famous person in Yuzawa.

  • The descriptions on this page contain personal opinions and are not necessarily objective facts.
  • The information may have changed at present. In particular, the charge and price etc. has often not updated from the time of travel, so check the latest information on the official website.

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