Sugatani Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

Tucked into a quiet valley hamlet at the southeastern foot of Mount Odani, Sugatani Onsen is a spring of deep history, said to have been visited for healing by the Sengoku-era lord Azai Nagamasa, his wife Oichi, and their retainers. The present facility opened in 1971 and is loved as a long-known spa of the northern lakeshore.

Highlights

Officially classed as a bicarbonate spring, the iron-bearing water is clear when it emerges, then turns a reddish brown as it oxidizes on contact with air. A rare free-flowing source spring for Shiga, it is said to ease anemia, poor circulation, and fatigue. Soaking in the amber-tinged water in the quiet of the valley is a charm unique to this spring.

Enjoying the Seasons

Fresh green covers Mount Odani in spring and crimson leaves fill the valley in autumn, letting you soak in peaceful surroundings. The area is blessed with nature and offers a calm setting where you can feel the passing seasons.

Access and Basic Information

About six minutes by taxi from Kawake Station on the JR Hokuriku Line, or roughly 20 minutes from the Nagahama exit of the Hokuriku Expressway. Public transport is limited, so a car is convenient. Day-use bathing is available, so you can sample this fine spring without staying over. The quiet valley setting suits a leisurely stay.

Practical Travel Notes

History lovers should pair a visit with the nearby ruins of Odani Castle. Known as the tragic stage of Azai Nagamasa and Oichi, the castle is reached by a walk of about 25 minutes from Kawake Station to the trailhead, then a mountain path of about 25 minutes to the main enclosure (beware of bears). At the foot stands the Odani Castle Sengoku History Museum, where you can learn about the Azai clan. Touring the ruins and bathing take half a day to a full day. Budget around a thousand yen for a day bath, or from the low tens of thousands per night with meals for a stay. Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk the mountain path.

A Quick Tip

History lovers should pair a visit with the nearby ruins of Odani Castle to feel the past more vividly. In the reddish-brown cloudy water, slowly ease the tiredness of your walk.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality: Hydrogen carbonate iron spring (iron-bearing spring). There are 2 sources, and the main one is this iron-bearing spring
• How the water is used: Free-flowing from the source. The indoor bathing area has two free-flowing tubs kept at different temperatures
• Color of the water: It is clear and colorless as it wells up, then turns a reddish brown on contact with the air
• Benefits: Neuralgia, muscle pain, sensitivity to cold, gastrointestinal complaints, recovery from fatigue and atopic dermatitis
• Open-air baths: Yes. Both the men's and women's sides have an indoor bath and an open-air bath
• Day-use bathing: Ended on December 27, 2025. It is now available to overnight guests only
• Bathing hours: 15:00-23:00 and 6:00-9:00 the following morning (bathing is not possible outside these hours)
• Tattoos: People with tattoos may not use the shared bathing areas such as the large communal bath. They are asked to use the bath in their guest room
• Hairdryers: ReFa hairdryers are installed in the changing rooms of the large communal bath
• Guest room baths: The tubs in the rooms with semi-open-air baths do not use hot spring water; medicinal herb bath salts are provided
• Parking: 40 ordinary cars and space for several large vehicles (buses). No reservation needed, free of charge
• Access (by car): About 20 minutes from Nagahama IC on the Hokuriku Expressway, or about 5 minutes from the Odanijo Smart Interchange (ETC only)
• Access (by rail): About 8 minutes by car from Kawake Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line. Overnight guests can be picked up from and dropped off at Kawake Station free of charge; if you would like this, contact the inn by the day before
• Shuttle bus: With the end of day-use bathing, the free shuttle bus service has also ended
• Pets: Some rooms are set aside for guests with pets. For dogs you must submit certificates for the rabies vaccine and the 5-in-1 vaccine at the front desk, and for cats a certificate for the 3-in-1 vaccine
• Wi-Fi: Available in the lobby and in every guest room
• Reservations: By telephone on 0749-74-2235. Open year-round, 9:00-20:00
• Location: 36 Sugatani-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture
• If you want a day-use bath: Nagahama Taiko Onsen Hamakogetsu (4-25 Koen-cho, Nagahama City) accepts day visitors from 11:00-14:30 and 15:00-20:00. It costs 1,500 yen for adults, 750 yen for elementary school students and 500 yen for children from age 1 to preschool age (all including a bath towel and a face towel). The private bath must be booked in advance and is available 11:00-20:00, with 1,500 yen for 50 minutes added to the bathing fee. The large communal bath does not admit people with tattoos, and mixed bathing with children is allowed up to the age of 6. When the inn is busy with overnight guests, day visitors may be turned away

Information Sources

The date day-use bathing ended and the situation with the shuttle bus, along with the spring quality, the free-flowing water, the bathing hours, the open-air baths, the policy on tattoos, the conditions for bringing pets, the parking and the access, were confirmed on the official website of YAMATO THE SEASONS Sugatani Onsen (the hot spring, access and FAQ pages, and its notices). The change of operating company and the date of the reopening after renovation come from a press release by Yamato Zaitaku Co., Ltd. and from the blog of that company's president. The day-use bathing hours and fees at Hamakogetsu, its private bath and its policy on tattoos come from the hot spring page of that inn's official website. Details are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.