We stayed overnight at the ryokan and we had such a lovely time. We stayed in a taisho era room (100 years old) with an amazing view. The hotel staff immediately greeted us upon arrival and showed us our room. All the staff were so kind and helpful. The food for dinner and breakfast was delicious and plentiful. The outdoor bath is lukewarm, so you can stay in it for a long time (good for us gaikokujin) and enjoy the incredible view. The two indoor baths were hot and my skin felt amazing after.
The buildings are very old, so there are some things to consider if you’re unfamiliar with old buildings in Japan. One thing is the room doors don’t lock. They are just sliding Japanese doors. We didn’t mind that at all, but if that is something that would make you uncomfortable, don’t stay in that room. Maybe the newer rooms have locks, I don’t know. Another thing is because it’s autumn and in the mountains, there were many kame mushi (stink bugs). But the staff provide tools to deal with them if you want.
Overall, I really recommend this ryokan! It was truly a great experience and I can’t wait to go back one day.
This inn is located very remote mountain area. So you must enjoy great scenery. More over, you can enjoy very good old day's Japanese style building. Also, you have a great time with their nice meal and local brewery which makes great sake!
This hot springs resort is located in the mountains of Otari Village, Kitaazumi District, in the northernmost part of Nagano Prefecture.
This inn has two major features.
First, the building's history is very long. The three-story wooden main building was constructed around 1850 (Kaei 3), towards the end of the Edo period. The extension was also built in 1884 (Meiji 17), giving the inn a long history of welcoming many hot spring visitors for at least 140 years. The new building, also a three-story wooden structure, was constructed in 1914 (Taisho 3). The following year, in 1915 (Taisho 4), a bathing building (indoor bath with hot spring water) was built between the main and new buildings. This group of buildings, along with the adjacent storehouse and other structures, are registered as tangible cultural properties of Japan.
The second feature is that the inn's hot springs are effective in treating hysteria, a rare condition nationwide. Previously, the hot spring ingredient analysis report listed "hysteria" as the first effect (see attached photo), but when the effect display board was updated during the bathroom building renovation in 2021 (Reiwa 3), the "hysteria" effect was somehow removed. It's unclear whether the spring quality or effects have changed, so if anyone out there has hysteria, please let us know if it's an effect you've experienced.
Now, let's briefly discuss how to get to this inn. It's a hassle-free 10km drive from the Otani Onsenguchi intersection on National Route 148 on well-maintained Prefectural Route 114. It's also conveniently a 35-minute bus ride from Minami-Otari Station on the JR Oito Line.
However, if you're planning to visit this hot spring by car, we recommend approaching from the Niigata side (towards Myoko Kogen) via Prefectural Route 39 and the Myoko-Otari Line Forest Road. The section up to Otomiyama Pass is a narrow, unpaved mountain road that requires extreme caution and can be nerve-wracking, but the moment you exit the Otomi Tunnel at an altitude of 1,500m, an indescribable view of the Northern Alps unfolds before your eyes, instantly releasing all the tension you've been feeling and making your hard work worthwhile. Once you've crossed the pass, Otari Onsen is just a stone's throw away. Once you arrive at your accommodation, head straight for the baths to soothe your nerves.
*Please note that the Myoko-Otari Line Forest Road is closed in winter.
I used the day-use bathing facilities.
The reception closes at 2:30 PM, and you can bathe until 3:00 PM, but they limit the number of people when it's crowded, so they may close the reception earlier.
Because they limit the number of people in the bath at one time, I was able to relax and enjoy my bath.
The semi-open-air bath with a great view had lukewarm water, allowing me to soak for a long time.
The indoor bath was pleasantly hot and very comfortable.
Both baths had a smooth, soft feel to the water.
The building had a charming atmosphere and I could feel its history.
