Nyuto Onsenkyo: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

On the northern slopes of Mount Akita-Komagatake, scattered within the beech forests of Towada-Hachimantai National Park, lies Nyuto Onsenkyo. Its seven baths, spread around the foot of Mount Nyuto, each have their own source, and according to the Nyuto Onsen Association there are more than ten springs within the district. It is also a National Health Resort Hot Spring designated by the Ministry of the Environment, and the greatest fascination of this hot spring village is that the character of the water — from milky white to perfectly clear — differs completely from inn to inn.

Highlights

The seven baths are Tsurunoyu, Taenoyu, Kuroyu Onsen, Ganiba Onsen, Magoroku Onsen, Ogama Onsen, and Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo. The one with the longest history is Tsurunoyu, where the thatched-roof "Honjin" and the milky-white open-air baths create an emblematic scene. Ganiba Onsen's open-air bath stands within virgin forest about 50 meters from the lodgings, and Magoroku Onsen's bathhouse is down by the river from its lodgings. The very time spent walking to the water is part of the experience here. Many baths welcome day visitors, and with the Yumeguri-cho pass available to overnight guests you can make a circuit of all seven. The appeal lies in each inn's distinct waters, from sulfur and sulfate springs to simple springs.

The Edo-Period Records Preserved at Tsurunoyu

Tsurunoyu Onsen keeps a remarkably specific record of its own history. It is said that in 1638 (Kan'ei 15) Satake Yoshitaka, the second lord of the Akita domain, came for a cure, and in 1661 (Kanbun 1) Iwaki Genba of the Kameda domain did the same; records of the inn serving ordinary guests as a bathing lodge survive from the Genroku era (1688–1704).

The name "Tsurunoyu" — "the crane's bath" — is said to derive from a local hunter named Kansuke, who in the middle of a hunt found a wounded crane healing its injuries in the water. The emblematic thatched-roof Honjin is the building where guards were stationed when Satake Yoshitaka came to take the waters. Thatch needs to be replaced every few decades: silver grass is cut in the Shimotakano district of Obonai, left over one winter, and then rethatched by craftsmen called "kayade" from the Jindai Umezawa district using time-honored procedures. The building survives in its present form because this handwork continues.

One more thing worth noting is the springs. At Tsurunoyu, within a radius of 50 meters, four springs of different quality well up: Shiroyu, Kuroyu, Naka-no-yu, and Taki-no-yu. Even where the water looks the same in color, the inn explains that the benefits and the feel on the skin differ.

Understanding How Bath-Hopping Works

The mechanism for walking between the seven baths is the "Yumeguri-cho" pass. It allows bathing at all seven members of the Nyuto Onsen Association and costs 2,500 yen (children 1,000 yen). A "Yumeguri Map," which lets you ride the circulating bus without bathing, is 1,000 yen. Both can be bought only by people staying at an inn within the district, at the front desk of each facility, and payment is cash only. The pass or map also lets you ride the "Yumeguri-go" circulating bus that links the seven baths.

Each of the association's facilities has staff who hold the "hot spring bathing instructor" qualification certified by the Japan Health Promotion Foundation. Because this is a village of strongly mineralized waters, the association itself urges caution against "yuatari" — bathing fatigue.

Enjoying the Seasons

Fresh greenery and autumn foliage wrap the baths in spring and autumn, while winter, with its signature snow-viewing open-air baths, is exceptional too. Time spent warming in a bath buried in deep snow is unforgettable. Note that Kuroyu Onsen closes in winter, so check operating status if visiting then.

Access and Basic Information

About 50 minutes by Ugo Kotsu bus bound for "Nyuto Onsen" from JR Tazawako Station, or about 30 minutes by taxi. By car it is reachable from the Morioka direction in about an hour; check road conditions in winter. Each inn offers day bathing, with fees from 700 yen to around 1,000 yen, though some limit the hours, so check ahead.

Practical Information

• Spring quality (differs by bath): Tsurunoyu has a sulfur-containing sodium-calcium chloride-bicarbonate spring plus three others; Taenoyu has a calcium-magnesium sulfate spring and a simple spring; Kuroyu Onsen has a simple hydrogen sulfide spring and an acidic sulfur spring; Ganiba Onsen has a simple sulfur spring; Magoroku Onsen has a simple spring; Ogama Onsen has an acidic arsenic-containing sodium chloride-sulfate spring; and Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo has a simple sulfur spring and a sodium bicarbonate spring
• Tsurunoyu's four springs: Shiroyu (the beauty bath, also called the "chill bath") is a sulfur-containing sodium-calcium chloride-bicarbonate spring (hydrogen sulfide type); the Utase-yu cascade bath is a sulfur-containing sodium chloride-bicarbonate spring; the Nugudamari-no-yu and Kodakara-no-yu are sodium chloride-bicarbonate springs; and the Manko-no-yu is a sodium bicarbonate and salt hydrogen sulfide spring
• Tsurunoyu day bathing: 10:00–15:00, adults 700 yen, children 300 yen. Day bathing is closed every Monday for cleaning of the baths (if Monday is a public holiday, the nearest weekday becomes the cleaning day). Towels are sold for 200 yen. Resting is at the entrance of the second building; rooms 6 and 7 of the Honjin are paid rest areas. Put valuables in the coin lockers at the entrance of the second building. Cross the wooden bridge in front of the office to reach the bath building
• Taenoyu: Bathing fee 1,000 yen. Drop-in bathing 10:30–15:00 (reception until 14:00); day bathing is closed on Tuesdays (subject to change on public holidays). Open year-round
• Kuroyu Onsen: Bathing fee 800 yen. Drop-in bathing 9:00–16:30 (reception until 16:00); closed from 11:00 on Wednesdays. The operating season is mid-April to mid-November, closed in winter
• Ganiba Onsen: Bathing fee 800 yen. Drop-in bathing 9:00–16:00; day bathing closed every Wednesday. Open year-round
• Magoroku Onsen: The separate men's and women's indoor baths are 700 yen. Using the bathing-wear zone (mixed sauna, mixed open-air bath, and mixed indoor bath) adds 2,300 yen. Drop-in reception 10:00–14:30, leaving by 15:00; closed Fridays. Open year-round
• Ogama Onsen — overnight stays suspended: Known as an inn converted from a relocated wooden schoolhouse, it has suspended overnight stays for the time being from January 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8) for facility renovation (the reopening date will be announced on the official website). Day bathing is operating, 9:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30), closed Thursdays, adults 700 yen and children 350 yen
• Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo: Bathing fee 800 yen. Drop-in bathing 11:00–15:00, or until 17:00 for holders of the Yumeguri-cho. Open year-round
• Yumeguri-cho and Yumeguri Map: Yumeguri-cho 2,500 yen (children 1,000 yen), Yumeguri Map 1,000 yen. Sold only to guests staying at inns within the district, at the front desk of each facility. Payment is cash only
• Yumeguri-go (circulating bus): The timetable from April 15, 2026 runs five round trips a day. Departures from Tsurunoyu are at 8:40, 10:18, 12:50, 14:38, and 16:11; departures from Magoroku are at 9:24, 11:02, 13:34, 15:22, and 16:55. Until the remaining snow melts, the Magoroku Onsen bus stop is at the Kuroyu Onsen parking lot
• Access (public transport): About 50 minutes from JR Tazawako Station on the Ugo Kotsu bus bound for "Nyuto Onsen," or about 30 minutes by taxi. By Shinkansen, Tazawako Station is 2 hours 55 minutes from Tokyo Station, 1 hour 15 minutes from Sendai Station, 40 minutes from Morioka Station, and 55 minutes from Akita Station. From Akita Airport it is 2 hours 10 minutes on the Akita Airport Liner
• Access (by car): About 1 hour from the Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway, or about 1 hour 30 minutes from Akita City
• Payment: The Yumeguri-cho and map are cash only. As these are inns lined up in a mountain valley, having cash on hand is reassuring
• Underfoot: Ganiba Onsen's open-air bath is in virgin forest about 50 meters from the lodgings, Magoroku Onsen's bathhouse is down by the river from its lodgings, and Tsurunoyu is beyond a wooden bridge. There is a lot of walking outdoors, so wear shoes that are easy to change in and out of. In winter the paths become snowy
• Guarding against yuatari: Because these are strongly mineralized waters, the association urges caution. Do not tour many baths at once, and keep hydrated
• Time to allow: One to one and a half hours for a single bath. Allow at least half a day if you use the Yumeguri-go to visit several
• Address: Tazawako, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture. Tsurunoyu is at 50 Sendatsuzawa National Forest, Tazawa

Practical Travel Notes

To tour the seven baths efficiently, the Yumeguri-go circulating bus for overnight guests is handy, letting you visit each without an inn car. For quieter day bathing, mid-morning soon after opening tends to be more relaxed. The popular Tsurunoyu fills up especially fast, so an early time slot is best. Worth pairing are the Tazawako highland and lakeshore passed on the bus ride down. Figure a few thousand yen for a day of spring-hopping, or from the low tens of thousands of yen for one night with two meals, depending on the inn.

A Quick Tip

The Yumeguri-go bus lets you tour the seven baths without an inn car. To avoid crowds, bathe early morning or in the morning. In the open-air baths, watch for insects and slippery footing, and in winter confirm each bath's operating status before setting out.

📚 Sources

The spring quality, benefits, bathing fees, and drop-in hours and closing days of the seven baths; the fact that Ogama Onsen has suspended overnight stays for the time being from January 1, Reiwa 8 for facility renovation while day bathing continues; Kuroyu Onsen's operating season; the prices, sales conditions, and cash-only payment of the Yumeguri-cho and Yumeguri Map; the placement of hot spring bathing instructors; and the bus from Tazawako Station and travel times by Shinkansen and from the airport were confirmed on the official website of the Nyuto Onsen Association (top page, spring quality and benefits, the pages for each inn, and access). The Yumeguri-go timetable comes from the schedule published by the same association effective April 15, Reiwa 8. Tsurunoyu's history (Satake Yoshitaka in Kan'ei 15, Iwaki Genba in Kanbun 1, and the Genroku-era records), the origin of the name Tsurunoyu, the rethatching work, the four springs, and the day-bathing fees, cleaning closures, towel sales, rest areas, and coin lockers come from the guidance and hot spring pages of Tsurunoyu Onsen's official website. Details are subject to change, so please check official sources before visiting.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality (different at each bath): Tsuru-no-yu has a sulfur-bearing sodium-calcium chloride and hydrogen carbonate spring plus three other types; Myo-no-yu has a calcium-magnesium sulfate spring and a simple spring; Kuroyu Onsen has a simple hydrogen sulfide spring and an acidic sulfur spring; Ganiba Onsen has a simple sulfur spring; Magoroku Onsen has a simple spring; Okama Onsen has an acidic arsenic-bearing sodium chloride sulfate spring; and Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo has a simple sulfur spring and a sodium hydrogen carbonate spring
• The four springs of Tsuru-no-yu: Shiroyu (the "beauty bath," also known as Hie-no-yu) is a sulfur-bearing sodium-calcium chloride and hydrogen carbonate spring (hydrogen sulfide type); Utase-yu is a sulfur-bearing sodium chloride and hydrogen carbonate spring; Nugudamari-no-yu and Kodakara-no-yu are sodium chloride and hydrogen carbonate springs; and Meokko-no-yu is a sodium bicarbonate and salt hydrogen sulfide spring
• Day-use bathing at Tsuru-no-yu: 10:00 to 15:00, 700 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. Day-use bathing is closed every Monday for cleaning of the baths (when Monday falls on a public holiday, the nearest weekday becomes the cleaning day). Towels are sold for 200 yen. Rest space is at the entrance hall of Building No. 2, and Honjin rooms 6 and 7 are paid rest rooms. Leave valuables in the coin lockers at the entrance of Building No. 2. Cross the wooden bridge in front of the office to reach the bath building
• Myo-no-yu: Bathing fee 1,000 yen. Drop-in bathing 10:30 to 15:00 (reception until 14:00); Tuesday is the regular closing day for day-use bathing (subject to change on public holidays). Open year-round
• Kuroyu Onsen: Bathing fee 800 yen. Drop-in bathing 9:00 to 16:30 (reception until 16:00); closed from 11:00 on Wednesdays. The season runs from mid-April to mid-November, and the inn closes in winter
• Ganiba Onsen: Bathing fee 800 yen. Drop-in bathing 9:00 to 16:00; day-use bathing is closed every Wednesday. Open year-round
• Magoroku Onsen: The separate indoor baths for men and women are 700 yen. Using the bathing-wear zone (mixed-gender sauna, mixed-gender open-air bath and mixed-gender indoor bath) costs an additional 2,300 yen. Drop-in bathing reception is 10:00 to 14:30 with departure by 15:00; closed on Fridays. Open year-round
• Okama Onsen has suspended overnight stays only: Known as an inn created from a relocated wooden schoolhouse, it has suspended overnight accommodation for the time being from January 1, Reiwa 8 (2026) for renovation work (the reopening date will be announced on the official website). Day-use bathing is still operating, from 9:00 to 16:00 (last entry 15:30), closed on Thursdays, 700 yen for adults and 350 yen for children
• Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo: Bathing fee 800 yen. Drop-in bathing 11:00 to 15:00, extended to 17:00 for holders of the Yumeguri-cho bath-hopping pass. Open year-round
• Yumeguri-cho and Yumeguri Map: The Yumeguri-cho bath-hopping pass costs 2,500 yen (1,000 yen for children) and the Yumeguri Map costs 1,000 yen. They are sold only to guests staying at the inns of the hot spring village, at the front desk of each facility. Payment is by cash only
• Yumeguri-go (shuttle bus): The timetable from April 15, 2026 has five round trips a day. Departures from Tsuru-no-yu are at 8:40, 10:18, 12:50, 14:38 and 16:11, and departures from Magoroku are at 9:24, 11:02, 13:34, 15:22 and 16:55. Until the remaining snow melts, the Magoroku Onsen bus stop is moved to the Kuroyu Onsen parking lot
• Access (public transport): About 50 minutes from JR Tazawako Station on the Ugo Kotsu bus bound for "Nyuto Onsen," or about 30 minutes by taxi. By Shinkansen, Tazawako Station is 2 hours 55 minutes from Tokyo Station, 1 hour 15 minutes from Sendai Station, 40 minutes from Morioka Station and 55 minutes from Akita Station. From Akita Airport it takes 2 hours 10 minutes on the Akita Airport Liner
• Access (by car): About 1 hour from the Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway, and about 1 hour 30 minutes from Akita City
• Payment: The Yumeguri-cho and Yumeguri Map are cash only. As the inns stand deep in the mountains, it is reassuring to have cash on hand
• Footwear: The open-air bath at Ganiba Onsen is about 50 meters from the lodge in old-growth forest, the bathhouse at Magoroku Onsen is down by the river below the lodge, and Tsuru-no-yu is reached across a wooden bridge. You will often be walking outdoors, so wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off. In winter the paths are snowy
• Avoiding bathing fatigue: Because the springs here are strong, the association also cautions visitors. Do not visit many baths at once, and keep yourself hydrated
• How long to allow: For a single bath, 1 to 1.5 hours. If you use the Yumeguri-go to visit several, allow at least half a day
• Location: Tazawako, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture. Tsuru-no-yu is at 50 Tazawa Aza Sendatsuzawa Kokuyurin (national forest)

📚 Sources

The spring quality, benefits, bathing fees, drop-in bathing hours and regular closing days of the seven baths; the fact that Okama Onsen has suspended overnight stays for the time being from January 1, Reiwa 8 for renovation work while day-use bathing continues; the operating season of Kuroyu Onsen; the prices, conditions of sale and cash-only payment for the Yumeguri-cho and Yumeguri Map; the presence of certified hot spring bathing instructors; and the bus from Tazawako Station and the travel times by Shinkansen and from the airport were confirmed on the official website of the Nyuto Onsen Association (top page, spring quality and benefits, the pages for each inn, and access). The Yumeguri-go timetable follows the schedule published by the same association effective April 15, Reiwa 8. The history of Tsuru-no-yu (Lord Satake Yoshitaka in the 15th year of Kan'ei, Lord Iwaki Genba in the first year of Kanbun, and the records of the Genroku era), the origin of the name Tsuru-no-yu, the rethatching of the thatched roofs, the four springs, and the day-use bathing fees, cleaning closures, towel sales, rest rooms and coin lockers follow the guide and hot spring pages of the official website of Tsuru-no-yu Onsen. Details are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.