Ookama Onsen - Nyuto Onsenkyo

Nyuto Onsenkyo Ogama Onsen is one of the seven hot springs of the Nyuto Onsenkyo, surrounded by beech forest. In 1977, the ryokan that once stood here burned down. To rebuild, the onsen acquired the dismantled materials of Koyoshi Elementary School in Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, which was scheduled for reconstruction, and it was reborn as a hot spring facility with a nostalgic wooden schoolhouse atmosphere. Ogama Onsen continues to preserve the image of a wooden school building, and a relaxed, somehow nostalgic mood flows throughout the property. It is also known for its free-flowing open-air bath that you can enjoy year-round, as well as the only footbath in the Nyuto Onsenkyo (summer season only). Dinner features rustic mountain-village cuisine centered on items like overnight-dried ayu and kiritanpo, while breakfast is a light Japanese meal—simple rather than extravagant, yet comforting and reminiscent of home. There are also sightseeing spots nearby. One notable option is Tazawako Ski Resort, about a 13-minute drive from the onsen. From every course you can look down over Lake Tazawa, and it is popular with families. The area is also well suited for visiting Lake Tazawa itself, famous as Japan’s deepest lake. The lake’s vast area—ranked as the 19th largest in Japan—is designated as part of the Tazawako Dakikaeri Prefectural Natural Park and is also included among Japan’s 100 Scenic Views.