What other travelers are saying about Hottarakashi Onsen
Tattoos OK, opens before sunrise to allow for soaking while watching the sun rise over Mt. Fuji. It has pretty night views of the Kofu basin as well and is much less crowded during the day than the sunrise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Early morning during sunrise offers the clearest views, with November to February providing the highest visibility rates. Mount Fuji is visible year-round on clear days. Arrive before dawn to secure a good position in the bath. Check weather forecasts beforehand as cloud cover and haze significantly reduce visibility.
No. Admission tickets are separate: ¥850 for Kocchi-no-yu and ¥900 for Acchi-no-yu. Each ticket grants access to only one facility. Acchi-no-yu is larger and newer, while Kocchi-no-yu is smaller. Both offer similar Mount Fuji views.
No overnight accommodation is available. A small refreshment stand serves basic meals including noodles, rice bowls, and snacks. For overnight stays, use hotels in Kofu City or Yamanashi City, 20 to 30 minutes away by car.
No wheelchair-accessible routes exist. Visitors must navigate stairs and uneven rocky surfaces to reach the outdoor pools. The natural rock construction and mountain terrain make access difficult for those with significant mobility limitations.
Gorgeous location, great prices (only 900 yen or $6 for a bath), and tattoo friendly, which was the main reason I picked this location. I stayed at the nearby Fruit Park Fujiya hotel and hiked about 35 minutes up to the Onsen. Very rural feel. I wish there’d been less fog for a better view of Fuji, but maybe next time.
The onsen was pretty clean, affordable, and has outdoor area, but very basic. They dont have sauna/steam or other recreational features, only hot pools (1 indoor and some outdoors). The outdoor area is quite big and has many hidden corner for someone who doesn’t really comfortable being naked in front of others.
The water was not too chlorinated and was okay for my skin and hair to get soaked in long period. I went there during night & end of winter, so got only city view and the hot spring was just perfect for the winter cold.
They provided towel (for extra charges) and basic shampoo & shower gel.
It’s recommended if you want to try traditional Japanese onsen.
The onsen with the greatest view in Japan. It's open as early as sunrise, so you can take a bath while watching the beautiful sunrise over the mountain range in Yamanashi. There is two onsens available, one of which has the signature view and newer, which is the one I went for. There is a restaurant at the top which serves the popular fried boiled egg which taste amazing after soaking in the onsen bath.
