No. 56 · Nagano
Nozawa Onsen
Nozawa Onsen ranked No. 56 in the published 2025 Japan hot-spring destination list. Check bathing options, access and stay details before planning your visit.
Spring information
Water and bathing details for Nozawa Onsen
Facility-level figures; blank town-wide averages are not inferred.
Named facility records for Nozawa Onsen. Figures marked “Not published” are not treated as town-wide averages.
| Facility | Spring | Source data | Supply | Bath type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oyu Public Bath | Simple sulfur spring. Source: Oyu source. | Source temperature: 66°C; the official description also notes weak alkalinity. pH: Not published. | Nozawa Onsen's tourism association describes all 13 public baths as 100% source-flowing. The two pools are identified as hot and cooler, but fixed temperatures and pool-specific flow details are not published. | Day-use bath. The village's best-known wooden bathhouse, with separate hot and cooler pools fed by the Oyu source. The baths are simple and volunteer-maintained, with no showers or hair dryers. |
| Kawahara-yu Public Bath | Simple sulfur spring. Source: Asagama and Kawahara-yu sources. | Source temperature: About 60°C. pH: Not published. | The tourism association describes all 13 Nozawa public baths as 100% source-flowing. Fixed pool temperature, pH and yield are not published. | Day-use bath. A compact wooden bath near Oyu, fed by the Asagama and Kawahara-yu sources. The water is described as hot, so it may be a tough first stop for anyone sensitive to heat. |
| Akiha-no-Yu Public Bath | Simple sulfur spring, according to the former public-bath profile. | Source temperature: About 90°C for the source listed in the previous profile; the bath is currently closed. pH: Not published. | Before closure, the bath was described as using Asagama source water mixed with cooler water from the Spa Arena direction. It is out of service during the project. | Day-use bath. Closed during a scheduled dismantling project through October 30, 2026. Confirm a new notice before visiting after that date; the planned end date is not confirmation of reopening. |
Destination comparison
What this onsen town offers
History
69/100Spring character
73/100Town culture
70/100Seasonal scenery
71/100Access
68/100Local history
How the town developed
Four seasons
Seasonal conditions and travel rhythm
Plan your stay
Nozawa Onsen: day trip or overnight?
Compare travel time, bath access and the time you want to spend in town.
Day trip
Check the first and last transport connections, then confirm which baths accept day visitors and when they stop admitting guests.
One-night stay
Compare the ryokan’s bath access with public day-use options and the journey back to your next stop.
Stay plus a day bath
Choose one bath experience for your stay and use a day facility for a different source or setting, where the published details support it.
Oyu in Nozawa Onsen: Hours, Bathing Rules and What to ExpectNearby destinations
Other places in the same prefecture in the published ranking.
Related guides
Guides to Nozawa Onsen
Filter English guides by the question you need to answer.
Bathing rulesOyu in Nozawa Onsen: Hours, Bathing Rules and What to Expect
Find Oyu’s opening details, visitor contribution and bathing setup in Nozawa Onsen; bring a towel, as showers and hair dryers are not provided.
Read the guide
Destinations & itinerariesNozawa Onsen’s 13 Public Baths: Which One to Choose and How to Use Them
Learn how Nozawa Onsen’s 13 community-run sotoyu work, what to bring and the visitor contribution; check Akiba-no-yu’s current closure notice.
Read the guideOfficial sources
