12 Best Onsen in Nagano | Onsen Towns to Visit in the Mountains

Nagano Prefecture is an area of Japan that overflows (no pun intended) with hot springs. Next to Hokkaido, Nagano has the second most onsen in the country at over 200.

Nagano Prefecture is easily accessible from both Tokyo and Osaka, making it a popular tourist spot for those coming from the big cities.

From stone streets and old-style townscapes to natural onsen where wild monkeys roam, Nagano has many spots to explore.

In this article, we will be introducing some of the best locations for onsen in Nagano. We hope that it comes in handy for your trip.

Table of Contents

1. Kanbayashi Onsen
2. Shibu Onsen
3. Yudanaka Onsen
4. Nozawa Onsen
5. Bessho Onsen
6. Hirugami Onsen
7. Shirahone Onsen
8. Togura Kamiyamada Onsen
9. Hakuba Happo Onsen
10. Asama Onsen
11. Kamisuwa Onsen
12. Jigokudani Onsen
13. Conclusion

Kanbayashi Onsen (上林温泉)

Kanbayashi Onsen is a small area in the northern area of Nagano that is home to only five different ryokan. This is the perfect destination if you are looking to relax in an onsen somewhere quiet.

If you are up for a nature walk, the famous Jigokudani Onsen where the wild monkeys bathe is approximately a 30-minute walk from Kanbayashi Onsen. Other wild animals that are native to Japan live around this area, so you are bound to see creatures in their natural habitats.

A festival held yearly in February to welcome in the spring called the “Sendayaki” is the biggest event in this area, so we recommend visiting around this time if you can.

Next to the onsen town, you will find the Kanbayashi Snowboard Park which was one of the venues for the 1998 Winter Olympics. Until 2007 the facility was open to use but is unfortunately closed.

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Shibu Onsen (渋温泉)

Shibu Onsen is a larger-scale onsen town boasting an old-fashioned townscape, giving you a taste of traditional Japan.

Shibu Onsen is so abundant with onsen that it is said that if you dig a hole anywhere in town you will hit a hot spring. The area actually does have a grand total of 37 hot springs and 35 lodges.

Shibu Onsen is highly recommended to those who are looking to try out lots of onsen. Only available to those staying in a hotel or ryokan at Shibu Onsen is the “9 Yu Meguri,” which gives you a chance to visit nine different public baths around town.

All the onsen included in the nine baths have different effects so it is a great opportunity to get the most out of the onsen while also exploring the town. You can collect stamps at each public bath and receive a small completion prize as well.

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Yudanaka Onsen (湯田中温泉)

Yudanaka Onsen is a hot spring said to be discovered 1,350 years ago, giving it a rich history. It is located close to Shibu Onsen, but the town gives off more of a hole-in-the-wall sort of atmosphere.

Immediately after getting off at the train station, you will find “Kaede no Yu,” a public onsen. At this proximity, you could potentially start your trip by getting in the bath immediately.

There are many other public baths dotted around town that are available to only those who are staying at a ryokan in the area. On the 26th of every month, however, the baths are opened up to everyone.

If you are interested in temples and staying in the Yudanaka Onsen area, you should most definitely check out the “Sekai Heiwa Kannon,” which is a 25-meter-tall world peace buddha statue. It is located at the top of a long staircase at the end of the onsen town.

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Nozawa Onsen (野沢温泉)

Nozawa Onsen is surrounded by nature and is a great spot to visit to view the changing of the seasons. You can visit temples and nearby lakes, along with the multitude of local shops and public baths all filled with natural hot spring water.

This area is also home to the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort; Nagano Prefecture is also known for being a great spot for skiing, so if you are a skier, staying at Nozawa Onsen might be killing two birds with one stone.

There is a large festival held in January called the “Sae no Kami Festival” where large structures are built the day before and then burned on the night of the festival. As this area is covered in snow during the winter, watching the spectacle of large flames in contrast to the white snow is a sight that is most definitely worth visiting Nozawa Onsen for.

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Bessho Onsen (別所温泉)

If you are interested in temples and shrines, Bessho Onsen is the place for you to stay during your trip to Nagano. There are around 10 different spots where you can find ancient Japanese structures, some dating back to the 800s.

Bessho Onsen has also been featured in old Japanese movies and dramas. If you are a fan, it would be a treat to walk around the areas where these pieces were filmed while stopping at some of the local shops and restaurants.

Bessho Onsen has some of the richest histories around, and the hot springs specifically in the town are not an exception. It is said that women in ancient times would visit Bessho Onsen to get ready before they were to be married because of the positive effects of the water on the skin. You can try this out for yourself by visiting any of the public baths (which cost only 150 JPY) or staying at a ryokan directly in town.

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Hirugami Onsen (昼神温泉)

As the birthplace of the god of wisdom in Japanese mythology, Hirugami Onsen has been written about in ancient texts for hundreds of years but was “rediscovered” in 1973. Since then, travelers have continued to visit for its plentiful nature and high-quality hot spring water.

Hirugami Onsen has been named the best location for stargazing in the whole country. You can add a night tour to your hotel plan, giving you a trip up a lift into the mountains to enjoy the stars. The constellations that appear will vary by the season, so you can experience different scenery all year round.

In the spring from the middle of April until the beginning of May, Hirugami is known for the trees bearing pink blossoms called, “hanamomo,” which line many streets and rivers. Many travelers will visit the area just to see the town covered in a sea of pink.

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Shirahone Onsen (白骨温泉)

It is said that if you bathe in the waters of Shirahone Onsen for three days, you will be free from catching a cold for three years. Although this may just be an old saying, the hot spring water indeed has qualities to help with afflictions such as digestion problems and nerve pain.

The water of Shirahone Onsen is clear but turns white over time from contact with oxygen. It is safe, if not healthy, to drink the hot spring water as well; you might want to try rice porridge made with the water which is a specialty dish at Shirahone Onsen.

Aside from the onsen itself, there are many places to visit at Shirahone Onsen if you are looking for a quiet getaway in nature. Some of the best spots include nature walks where you can observe waterfalls and large forests. This area is especially beautiful in the winter when it is covered with snow.

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Togura Kamiyamada Onsen (戸倉上山田温泉)

Togura Kamiyamada Onsen is located between Nagano City and Karuizawa, a popular resort spot in Nagano. The onsen became well-known because it was a spot used by those traveling to “Zenkouji,” a Buddhist temple in Nagano.

The biggest spots for sightseeing in the area are mostly the temples and parks, but Togura Kamiyamada Onsen also has unique buildings that you would not expect to see like a piggy bank museum and a stained-glass shop.

Although calm during the day, the onsen town becomes much livelier at night when the restaurants and bars come to life. You can try out “shateki,” which is a Japanese shooting game to win small prizes.

You can also participate in many hands-on cultural experiences at Togura Kamiyamada Onsen like tea-making, miso soup-making, and geisha shows. There are in fact around 150 geishas living in the area.

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Hakuba Happo Onsen (白馬八方温泉)

Hakuba Happo Onsen is home to hot springs as well as a popular ski resort called Hakuba Happo-one Snow Resort.

Although the onsen town is most popular during the winter, the water itself is known for its beautifying effects on the skin and is said to even help in anti-aging. The pH level sits at 11.5, which is the highest in Japan.

If you are staying at Hakuba Happo Onsen, we recommend trying the onsen foods that are available at the various local restaurants. This includes udon, ramen, eggs, and gyoza which are all cooked using the hot spring water.

If your main purpose for visiting Hakuba is skiing and the hotel that you are staying at does not have a bath with natural hot spring water, there are multiple public baths that you can find in town. These establishments will let you use the onsen from the afternoon until the early evening for a low price (anywhere from 600 to 800 JPY).

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Asama Onsen (浅間温泉)

Asama Onsen boasts one of the largest amounts of onsen water that flow from the springs, which means that many ryokan can operate their baths all-natural without having to add any extra water or heat.

The onsen town has many local restaurants that you can try out; we recommend going for some handmade soba noodles. At the souvenir shops, you can buy the “onsen manju,” buns steamed in hot spring water with filling (usually red bean). The Asama Onsen manju change fillings depending on the season and if you preorder, you can receive them fresh.

As for sightseeing options, Asama Onsen has beautiful nature spots as well as a few interesting museums such as an art museum that features works by Kusama Yayoi (who was born in Nagano) and a museum for ukiyo-e, a type of Japanese artwork that originates from the 17th century.

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Kamisuwa Onsen (上諏訪温泉)

Kamisuwa Onsen is a five-to-ten-minute walk from JR Kami-Suwa Station, which is a convenient location for anyone who is traveling by train. If you are traveling from Tokyo, it will take you a total of about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

The hot spring water is plentiful in Kamisuwa Onsen, so there are many places for you to dip in an onsen. There is even a bath at a rest stop that overlooks the Suwa area for those traveling by car.

Other tourist spots around Kamisuwa Onsen include temples, various museums, and a tour boat.

A fun activity that you might consider trying in Kamisuwa is sake tasting. Nagano is known for its rice, so the sake is especially delicious. If you find a type that you like you can buy it and take it home.

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Jigokudani Onsen (地獄谷温泉)

Even if you are not familiar with the name at first glance, you will know Jigokudani Onsen for its monkey park, which has been a popular tourist spot for years and continues to attract visitors from all around the world. This is an onsen where wild monkeys bathe and many tourists will come to simply watch them and take pictures.

The name “Jigokudani” literally translates to “valleys of hell” because the area was feared by people in ancient times due to the geysers. The geysers are currently named a natural national monument.

Jigokudani Onsen can be visited at all times of the year but is especially scenic in the winter. Although the monkey park is the biggest selling point of Jigokudani Onsen, you can also enjoy the surrounding area by trying some of the handmade soba, visiting the public baths, or just admiring the old-fashioned townscapes.

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Conclusion

What did you think?

There might have been many more areas for onsen in Nagano than you originally thought.

Although close in proximity, each of these locations has its own unique charms and places to visit and stay.

We hope that this article gave you an idea of what to expect if you were looking for an onsen in Nagano.

Have fun on your trip!

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