A small onsen in a secluded area on Aokimurra village near Ueda shi. One can enter onsen with a very minimal fee of ¥200. Be aware there are no shampoo or soap provided inside the bath and one has to bring their own. When I visited there was guy with large body tattoo, so apparent it is tattoo friendly. There is small car parking in front of entrance but reserved for people with disabilities. There is a bigger car parking for 7-8 cars on a upper level just behind it connected with a stairway that connects to side of Tazawa onsen.
I had previously seen this hot spring listed as a must-visit in Nagano Prefecture, and this was my first visit.
It's a refreshing, simple sulfur spring.
The showers and faucets also have the strongest sulfurous smell of any hot spring.
Enter the building → put your shoes in the shoe lockers on either side → purchase a ticket from the vending machine to the right of the reception → proceed to the reception.
Those with valuables should put them in the valuables locker in front of the changing room before entering.
The valuables locker is a 100 yen returnable type.
There are only baskets on the shelves in the changing room!
And there are no hair dryers, no body soap, and of course, no sauna!
There are only about 5 washing areas, so if you go at a bad time, you may have to wait for one to become available, and the changing room can get crowded.
There is only one indoor bath, and ideally, it would fit about 6 people comfortably.
Don't forget to keep your valuables locker key with you before entering the bathroom! The water quality is good, and I'd say the temperature is around 39-40 degrees Celsius.
The area around the building and the turn into the parking lot is narrow, so larger cars and inexperienced drivers should be especially careful.
If your car is extremely low to the ground, be prepared to scrape your aero kit.
I was able to get through easily in a 50 Prius with lowered suspension and a full factory aero kit.
The towels for sale have your name on them!
I'm so envious of the locals who can bathe here almost every day for just 300 yen (lol).
I'd love to stop by again if I have the chance!
July 21, 2025
Outside temperature: 36°C
@300/person
Parking is
Ample, like terraced fields
The hot spring water here is also amazing!
・Colorless and transparent
・Slight sulfur smell
・Slippery
・Frequent flow from the source
・Strong shower pressure
・Ludicrous water in the faucets
・You can stay in the bath for hours
・Bring your own hot spring kit is a must
The bath water temperature is around 38°C!
I arrived around 4pm on a weekday. The parking lot could accommodate about six cars. The exterior of the building had a nice, shrine-like feel. There was a ticket machine right in front of me as I entered the entrance. I bought a ¥500 adult ticket and handed it over to the receptionist next door. There was a sink in the changing room, but no hair dryer. Contrary to the exterior, the bathing area had a single tiled bathtub with two other guests. There was no shampoo or body soap in the washing area. I headed to the bathtub. It looked clear and had a slight sulfur smell. It was lukewarm to me, maybe around 36 degrees. I think? If you like long baths, this is definitely worth it.
It's a 30-minute bus ride from Ueda Station in Nagano to Aoki Village, then a 30-minute walk from Aoki Bus Terminal.
Here in the mountains of Nagano, you'll find Japan's top-class hot spring, the public bathhouse "Arichiyu." Having traveled to hot springs all over Japan for many years, this one has top-class spring quality and an undeniable quantity. It's well worth the trip from so far away.
The water is characterized by its warm temperature of around 40°C. Arichiyu is the source of Tazawa Onsen. There is also a foot bath.
The water gushing out from the spout clings to the skin like a thin, soft gel, creating a mysterious sensation, like wearing a feather robe. It's no exaggeration to say that this is a miraculous hot spring.
*To get there, take the Chikuma Bus from Ueda Station Bus Exit 1 for about 30 minutes. However, there is only one bus per hour during the day. Get off at the last stop, Aoki Bus Terminal. It's a 30-minute walk from Aoki Bus Terminal. Or take a taxi. There is only one Aoki Village bus to Tazawa Onsen at 3pm, so public transportation is quite inconvenient.
You can stay at a hot spring inn in Tazawa Onsen and use the shuttle service, or use a car or rental car.
Free parking is also available, and is used by locals.
In winter, to liven up the hot spring town, several inns are illuminated with beautiful bamboo lantern designs, and events start along the Yukawa River. It is also charming to stroll from each inn to Arichyuyu, and enjoy nature in the wild bird forest. I want to support this lovely mountain village hot spring resort.
I highly recommend taking a leisurely bath along with your stay. It sounds great (^^)
