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All Japan Ubayu Onsen
AO Edited

Ubayu Onsen

Located in a remote mountain valley in Yamagata Prefecture, these hot springs have attracted bathers for over 450 years.

Yonezawa, Japan

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Chiara Terzuolo
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The stream is milky from the hot springs   ChiaraT / Atlas Obscura User
The outdoor baths are a dreamy blue/white color   ChiaraT / Atlas Obscura User
Pure Arcadia in the mountains of Yamagata   ChiaraT / Atlas Obscura User
  Soica2001 / Public Domain
The fall colors are vivid and varied   ChiaraT / Atlas Obscura User
Very remote, there isn’t a powerline in sight   ChiaraT / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In Japan, the culture of visiting hot springs (onsen) for relaxation or health purposes is very much alive and well, and there are many devotees of the practice. But there is an even deeper layer for those in the know, who eschew the well-known onsen resorts, such as Hakone, and go in search of remote 秘湯. Written with the Japanese characters for "secret" and "hot water," these hitou are onsen that are well off the beaten path, usually hidden within the many mountain chains that crisscross Japan. While they often offer accommodations, some of the wildest ones are simply steaming pools among the trees.

Ubayu Onsen, located not far from the city of Yonezawa in Yamagata Prefecture, is one of those best loved by true connoisseurs of "secret onsen." Located above 1,300 meters in a tiny, remote valley, the wooden lodge sits in lofty solitude beneath a rocky crag, surrounded by deciduous forest. The hot springs can only be accessed from late April to early November, before the heavy snows of Yamagata Prefecture make the narrow, winding mountain road impassable. 

The springs here have attracted bathers for over 450 years, and the current owner of the Masugataya ryokan (inn) is the 17th generation to care for this remote gem. The wooden building is simple, but every surface is polished to a high sheen. The three outdoor baths, which include both women-only and traditional mixed-gender bathing pools, are a milky white with a turquoise sheen, surrounded by craggy rocks and maple trees. 

Fall is considered one of the best times to visit, as the brilliant colors of the trees surrounding the dark wooden building bring to mind visions of Arcadia or, for fans of Lord of the Rings, a wilder Lothlórien or Rivendell. As it is over 8km away from the closest station, the only sounds are those of rushing water and the wind, and there are none of the ugly electric lines that so commonly interrupt skylines in Japan. The lack of cellphone reception or wi-fi, along with the wooden suspension bridge you must cross to climb up, further emphasizes the feeling of stepping into a different time and space. 

There are a couple of hiking trails nearby, for those who want to spend an extra night and explore the wild nature of the mountain range. Just watch out for monkeys and bears!

Related Tags

Health Bath House Hot Springs

Know Before You Go

The onsen is 8 kilometers from Toge Station, three stops away from Yonezawa Station, which is on the Yamagata Shinkansen bullet train line. The ryokan offers shuttle services from the station for certain arrival/departure times, and must be requested when booking. It is also possible to hike up to Ubayu, which takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. 

Bookings can only be made in Japanese, and during the peak fall foliage season they do not accept single bookings, only those for two or more people sharing a room. There are only 13 rooms, so snagging a spot early is key.

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ChiaraT

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

November 30, 2022

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Ubayu Onsen
1 大沢姥湯
Yonezawa, 992-1303
Japan
37.760901, 140.222411
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