One of the best parts of traveling is visiting local hot springs.
Had a morning soak today.
Park the car and research nearby hot springs.
Found a few that looked nice, but a lot of them hadn’t been updated in a while and their hours were unclear.
I decided to just take a chance and drive up a mountain road and that’s when I spotted an interesting-looking onsen.
Looks like they’d just opened for the day it was around 10 a.m.
Yumotokan @ Minakami, Gunma
Interestingly, there was another hot spring right next door — that one was almost full.
A quick search told me it’s a place called Ryūdō, a hot spring theme park with 18 different private open-air baths you can enjoy if you stay overnight.
They also offer day-use hot springs for about 2,500 yen.
I just wanted a quick soak, so this time I went to Yumotokan (800 yen).
I’d love to come back and stay longer another time.
Apparently, the place is run by a madam owner all by herself, and her relaxed, easygoing way of welcoming guests made the visit really comfortable.
She pointed me in the right direction, saying,
“Just go to the end of this path and turn left— that’s the bath. Enjoy!”
The building has a log cabin vibe, and the smell of wood drifts gently through the air, making it feel warm and cozy.
It’s a small, cozy onsen, but somehow it feels nostalgic and really calming.
By luck, the previous guests had just left, so I had the bath all to myself.
The hot spring water is clear and colorless, flowing directly from the source, and a bit on the hot side — perfect for the slightly chilly weather.
The bath isn’t very large, but thanks to the open view from the windows, it feels surprisingly spacious and refreshing.
They provide shampoo, conditioner, and body soap, and there’s also a hair dryer available.
Of course, the hot spring itself was great, but what really left an impression was the rest area.
Wrapped in the warmth of wood, it felt like stepping into a cozy pension, the perfect place to relax after a soak.
The madam, holding a blue tape, sighed,
“I’ve been battling stink bugs since morning — I’m so over it!”
Apparently, we happened to visit during stink bug season, which explained her struggle.
Looking down from the rest area,
the madam mentioned that you can actually camp right in front of the onsen (for an extra fee), and there’s also an outdoor bath outside.
She said that campers can use the indoor bath I just visited and have access to the outdoor bath anytime.
Now that I think about it, a campground with a nearly private onsen feels pretty luxurious (1 person / 1,500 yen).
It’s right by the river, and there doesn’t seem to be anyone else around — looks perfect for group camping too.
I can only imagine how amazing it must be during autumn foliage season…
All in all, it was a great soak.
Yunokoya Onsen Genryu no Yu Yunomoto-kan
6219 Fujiwara, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Closed: Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Admission: ¥800