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

Naeba Onsen Yukisasanoyu

Naeba Onsen Yukisasanoyu

355, Mikuni, Yuzawa Town, Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata Pref.

Naeba has a famous hot spring. It's an Onsen flowing from the source, its scent of plump rusty iron and presence of cloudy water are overwhelming.

Naeba Onsen Yukisasanoyu indoor bath
Naeba Onsen Yukisasanoyu washing area Naeba Onsen Yukisasanoyu indoor bath Naeba Onsen Yukisasanoyu open-air bath

The source water is transparent, but by contacting with the air, it turns into a reddish-brown ocher-colored cloudy water. You would feel the smell of plump rusty iron as you step into the bathing room. It creates an onsen atmosphere that combined with the beauty of the wooden walls.

The open-air bath has an arbor-like roof and rocks arranged. After skiing in winter, the snow view open-air bath is popular.

Don't make light of it, just as "on the way to ski" or "while enjoying Fuji Rock". It is worth visiting Naeba just to get into this hot water.

Location

Rating of access

0.0 pt(from Ueno)

1.0 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) Minami-Echigo Kanko Bus: 37 min to Seibu Crystal (Asakai Line) ¥ 670
  • Asakai-shimo or Asakai Bus StopWalk: 2 min 0.2 km (0.1 mi)
  • Yukisasanoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
  • Ueno Sta. Joetsu Shinkansen: 1 hr 25 min Toki etc. Non-reserved seat¥ 6,050
  • Echigo-yuzawa Sta.Taxi: 50 min 23.7 km (14.7 mi) about ¥ 7,800
  • Yukisasanoyu
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: 5 min0.4 km (0.2 mi)
  • Kobara Bus Stop Minami-Echigo Kanko Bus: 33 min to Seibu Crystal (Asakai Line) ¥ 670
  • Asakai-shimo or Asakai Bus StopWalk: 2 min 0.2 km (0.1 mi)
  • Yukisasanoyu
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
  • Bus
  • hot spring
  • 4 hrs 29 min ¥ 4,080

  • Ueno
  • Shinkansen
  • Echigo-yuzawa
  • Taxi
  • hot spring
  • 2 hrs 15 min ¥ 13,850

  • Ikebukuro
  • Expressway bus
  • Yuzawa
  • Bus
  • hot spring
  • 3 hrs 39 min ¥ 3,270 - ¥ 6,670

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.)
  • The number of operating buses, that Minami-Echigo Kanko Bus bound for Naeba, will greatly change depending on the season.
  • 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 get for Naeba, you get on from 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 Yukisasanoyu

(Directions from Asakai-shimo Bus Stop or Asakai Bus Stop)
  • From Asakai-shimo Bus Stop, proceed in the direction of the bus.
  • From Asakai Bus Stop, go back a little on the way you came by bus.
  • Look for the yellow sign.

bus stop: bus stop

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.

It's in April. Nishi-san and Kita-san have visited to Naeba, where the ski season is about to end. The purpose is of course not a ski but a hot spring. They got off the train at Echigo-yuzawa Station, and got on the bus to reach for "Yukisasanoyu". Under the clear sky, the bus runs between the remaining snow where the sun shimmers. Actually, it's Kita-san who suggested going to Yukisasanoyu. He said to Nishi-san that there is a nice onsen, and brought him. Apparently, Kita-san has been to this hot spring before ...

Well, I guess it should be along this road ... Oh, here, here is.

Yukisasanoyu exterior

Exterior

Ah, We've finally arrived ... Huh? An apartment?

Well, it doesn't look like a hot spring.

Is it really a good hot spring?

Hmmm, it was good ... impression I have ...

Yukisasanoyu was once named "Bijinnoyu", but was renewed in 2005 to become Yukisasanoyu.

Yellow signboard signboard of Yukisasanoyu

The time is 10:00 in the morning. Apparently, nobody has come to Yukisasanoyu that has just opened. Nishi-san and Kita-san pass in front of the play equipment of Triceratops and head for the bathing room.

Yukisasanoyu indoor bath

Indoor bath

Oh! The rusty iron smell is good!

Oh, I reminded. Yeah, it was like this.

Wow, cloudy water! And, that's so thick!

Yes, right, it was so.

The cloudy hot water is reddish-brown ocher. At once, Nishi-san and Kita-san soak in the bathtub.

Yukisasanoyu Hot water spout in indoor bath

Hot water spout in indoor bath

The transparency is about 20 centimeters ... It has no color around the spout, though. It's amazing. Hmm ... Exactly ... this is nice ...

See? So good, as I said.

Surprisingly you have known such a good hot spring. Even though you don't ski.

Well, I came here when I had been to Fuji Rock last year.

I see, Fuji Rock ...

In front of the break room, there is a triceratops, which is thought to be for children to ride and play. Yukisasanoyu lobby There was a notice that saying "Adults are not allowed to ride!". So it is presumed that some adults tried to ride this in the past.

20 cm = 7.9 in

Yukisasanoyu indoor bath and washing area

Indoor bath and washing area

I thought it was a good onsen, but so crowded. Around washing area, a dozen people were waiting in the line. You know, just only to wash their body.

Gee, there are about 10 washing booths, but that's not enough ...

A dozen guys lined up around the bathtub, and did nothing but just waiting. Of course they were naked. So they were hanging out with nothing to do.

Well, surely, if naked and nothing to do, they will be hanging out.

Have you ever taken a bath while being watched by a dozen guys' hanging out?

Hahaha. Never.

So, I didn't calm down ... I was tired and sleepy, and I thought it would be enough to come again the next day. So I got out quickly.

Fuji Rock Festival website. Yukisasanoyu is open 24 hours a day during the Fuji Rock period.

There are also washing booths in the open-air bath, so there are actually more than ten.

Yukisasanoyu washing area

Washing area

Then, the next day?

The next day was more crowded, and restricted to enter. So I ended up to give up.

Boy, Fuji Rock gets so many people to come ...

That's why I thought I would come when it's empty.

I got it. Exactly, you should enjoy this water quietly.

Next, Nishi-san and Kita-san, went out to the open-air bath.

Yukisasanoyu open-air bath

Open-air bath

After all, an open-air bath is nice.

Could be. But I wonder if the smell will be weaker than indoor. In this hot spring, the indoor bath may be better.

Anyway, the cloudy hot water is nice. It has even more the feeling of onsen.

Nishi-san and Kita-san enjoyed the hot spring in laid-back, then came out of the bath.

Yukisasanoyu break room

Break room

It was a good hot water.

It was worth coming to this far, wasn't it?

Exactly.

Nishi-san and Kita-san take a rest in the break room. In the meantime, the cloudy hot water make that they still feel like they are on cloud nine. By the way, in the afternoon, they plan to head to the "secret onsen" Kaikake Onsen. (→ Continue to Kaikake-onsenkan)

(April 2013)

It seems that Fuji Rock had a total of 140,000 visitors in 2012.

Impression & rating

The smell of rusty iron and the presence of cloudy water are excellent. This is a fantastic hot spring.

4.0 pt

Impression & rating

A beautiful hot spring with a sense of fulfillment. It is recommended to come when it is not crowded.

3.0 pt

→ How to rate

The Onsen facility

Address
355, Mikuni, Yuzawa Town, Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata Pref.
Phone
domestic: 025-780-9500
international: +8125-780-9500
Web Site
Yukisasanoyu
Bathing hours
[April - late July] 10:00 - 21:00
[Fuji Rock Period] Open 24 hours
[Late July - mid September] 9:00 - 22:00
[Mid September - late November] 10:00 - 21:00
[December to end of March]
(Weekdays) 10:00 - 22:00
(Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays) 9:00 - 22:00
Regular holiday
[April - late July, mid September - late November] Thursdays
[Other than above] Open everyday
Charge
Adults: ¥ 800 (¥ 200 discount with WEB coupon) / Children: ¥ 400
Baths
Gender-separated indoor bath, Gender-separated open-air bath

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

(Survey date: Jun. 21, 2005)

Spring quality
Calcium / Sodium - Chloride / Sulfate spring (Hypotonic Neutral High temperature spring)
Source
371-3, Oaza-Mikuni, Yuzawa Town, Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata Pref.
Temperature
48.0 ℃ (118.4 ℉)
[air temperature: 29 ℃ (84.2 ℉)]
Volume
320 L / min (Pumping)
pH value
7.0
Total ingredients
5.0092 g / kg
Perception
It is almost colorless and clear, exhibiting a slightly salty, bitter, astringent, and slightly earthy odor.

Today's Ekiben

Ikura Tarako Meshi
The appearance of Ikura Tarako Meshi The whole of Ikura Tarako Meshi

Ikura Tarako Meshi
(salmon roe and cod roe rice bowl)

(Purchased at Echigo-yuzawa Station)

In spite of its name "Ikura Tarako Meshi", Tarako was hiding underneath pickled radish and couldn't be seen well. This is an Ekiben that has a beautiful color scheme, such as orange of Ikura, yellow of shredded omelet, black of seaweed and brown of simmered shiitake mushrooms.

As for the taste, salmon roe was so tasty. It was unspectacular except for Ikura, but I was quite satisfied with the goodness of Ikura and rice. (¥ 1,000) ( Sengakuken)

  • 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.

Onsen List

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