Nagano Matsumoto City
A milky-white private spring free-flowing natural hot spring bubbling up at the foot of Norikura, with a history of more than 280 years
"Shirahone Onsen Yumoto Saito Ryokan" is a long-established hot spring ryokan in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Proud of more than 280 years of history since its founding, it stands amid the rich natural surroundings of Chubu-Sangaku National Park at the foot of Mount Norikura. Its freshly drawn private spring water starts out colorless and clear, then turns into a mystical milky white as it meets the air, and can be luxuriously enjoyed as 100% free-flowing water with no added water or circulation. The famous hot spring, long cherished for the saying, "If you bathe for three days, you will not catch a cold for three years," offers a luxurious bathing experience that delights all five senses, in an indoor bath built with beautiful cypress and sawara wood, as well as a rustic open-air bath that preserves the atmosphere of a therapeutic bathing retreat.
A splendid indoor bath in the large bath area, recreating the beautiful wooden framework of the old days, where cypress log beams interweave gracefully. The fresh water drawn directly from the private spring turns into a rich milky white as it meets the air, evoking the history of Shirahone Onsen. Wrapped in the gentle scent of wood, you can fully enjoy an exquisite cloudy bath.
A luxurious indoor bath made with generous use of cypress and sawara wood, just like Ryujin no Yu. The uniquely mellow cloudy water, containing bicarbonate and sulfur components, is excellent for beautiful skin and long-lasting warmth. It is also said to help with stomach and intestinal ailments and recovery from fatigue, and the famous spring can even be drunk. In this calm space, you can quietly and deeply savor its charm.
A rustic open-air bath that feels as if you are embraced by the great nature of Shirahone itself. Faithfully recreated in the style of a therapeutic bathing retreat, it allows you to bathe while taking in the seasonal scenery of Norikura right before your eyes. Because the source water is about 36 degrees, it is a lukewarm bath, letting you slowly absorb the high-quality hot spring minerals into your body over time.
A pleasant open-air bath where the sound of wind swaying the treetops and the murmuring of the Yugawa stream echo soothingly around you. The bath tub, made of cypress and sawara wood, is filled with free-flowing water from the private spring, allowing you to experience supreme relaxation while feeling the presence of river fish and the breath of the mountains. At night, a breathtaking star-filled sky spreads overhead.
A barrier-free private bath that anyone can use with peace of mind. The private spring water is drawn in generously as it is, allowing you to fully enjoy the milky-white cloudy waters without worrying about other people’s eyes. Ideal for families and couples. (45 minutes, advance reservation required)
[Day-use bathing] Day-use bathing and meals are available at the adjacent affiliated restaurant Sokoan (fresh 100% free-flowing water from the private spring; hours vary by season, so please confirm in advance)
Nagano
A celebrated spot with drinkable North Alps groundwater and the nation’s top electric baths
Nagano
A premium Karuizawa resort where you can totonou in a natural hot spring with water flowing directly from the source and the forest’s spring water
Nagano
A highland hot spring resort standing by Lake Shirakaba
JAPAN'S FINEST ONSEN & SAUNA
The Finest Onsen & Sauna in Japan
64 SELECTIONS
Most of what we surveyed never even made it onto this site. This book is a further cut from what did. Our editor bathed in every onsen and sauna in it, and wrote only what they confirmed on the ground.
