nozawaonsen

Nozawa Onsen refers to the hot springs of Nozawa Onsen Village in northern Nagano Prefecture—the only village in Japan with “Onsen” in its place name. There are legends that the monk Gyoki discovered it, and it has long been protected as a precious community asset. Rather than being just a single facility, the whole village is treated as the “Nozawa Onsen” destination, and many visitors come specifically to enjoy touring the public bathhouses (soto-yu). For onsen lovers, it’s a dream spot. Interestingly, Taro Okamoto (known for the Tower of the Sun at the Osaka Expo) became the village’s first honorary citizen. The village also has 27 stamp-collection points; if you collect 10 or more, you can receive a “Yu Towel” featuring Okamoto’s design—try it as a fun walking challenge. Food options are plentiful too, so you can eat while strolling and pop into a bath on a whim. Note that the water is generally quite hot, so ease in carefully.