Gunma · Manza Onsen
Manza Prince Hotel 'Above-the-Clouds' open-air bath
万座温泉 万座プリンスホテル 雲上の露天風呂
The flagship hotel of Manza Onsen, which at 1,800 m is among the highest hot-spring resorts in Japan reachable by car all year. Perched on a rise, its famous 'Komakusa-no-yu' open-air bath juts from the mountainside so you soak in milky sulphur water while gazing at a sea of clouds, the Jōshin'etsu ranges and, in winter, unbroken snow — literally a bath above the clouds. Besides separate men's and women's sections there is a mixed zone where a wrap towel is worn, making this one of the few Manza inns where mixed bathing is possible. The sulphur content is among Japan's highest and the scent lingers after. Day bathing: adults ¥1,500, children ¥750, reception 11:00–16:00 (bath entry until 15:00), face towel included (bath towel hire ¥300). Weekdays are far quieter than weekends. About 2 hours by Seibu bus from Karuizawa Station, or about 40 minutes by bus from Manza-Kazawaguchi Station; direct ski-slope access in winter.
- Price (adult)
- ¥1,500
- Hours
- 11:00–16:00 (last entry 15:00)
- Closed
- Open daily (maintenance closures late Nov / late Mar)
- Access
- Seibu bus from JR Manza-Kazawaguchi Station, about 40 min to 'Manza Prince Hotel'; about 2 h by Seibu bus from JR Karuizawa Station; about 1 h 30 min by car from Usui-Karuizawa IC (via the Manza Highway in winter)
- Water type
- Sulfur spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Admission
- Adults ¥1,500 / children (6–11) ¥750. Face towel ¥110 to buy, bath towel hire ¥300. Online-only discount ¥1,300/¥650 (limited period) on the official site. Manza yu-meguri pass accepted. Lunch 11:30–15:30
- Baths
- “Komakusa-no-yu”: gender-separated indoor baths with big picture windows, one or two gender-separated rotenburo each, a women-only rotenburo and one mixed rotenburo in wraps (loincloth or yuyugi compulsory, sold at the shop). The most open-feeling rotenburo in Manza, facing the steaming “Karabuki” fumaroles and mountains, adjoining the ski slopes
- Water
- Acidic sulphur-bearing magnesium-sodium sulphate spring, pH about 2.5, milky white with a strong sulphur smell. Free-flowing from source (diluted because of the heat), no chlorine. Source management recognised as a “Japan Onsen Heritage” site
- Parking
- Free. Direct access to the Manza ski lifts. Day bathing is crowded on weekends and holidays; Route 292 has time restrictions during volcanic activity
- Phone
- 0279-97-1111
- Official site
- princehotels.co.jp ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
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Why go
- 1,800 m up: milky bath over a sea of clouds
- Mixed zone with wrap towel
- ¥1,500 day bathing, entry 11:00–15:00
Manza’s most open rotenburo — Komakusa-no-yu, facing the steaming Karabuki fumaroles
Manza Prince Hotel is a large ski-in resort hotel at 1,800 m, and for day visitors its “Komakusa-no-yu” rotenburo is rated Manza’s finest for sheer openness. Straight ahead lie the endlessly steaming “Karabuki” fumarole field and layered ridges; in winter it is a snow-walled bath, in summer a meadow where the alpine komakusa flower blooms. The baths comprise gender-separated indoor halls with big windows and rotenburo, a women-only rotenburo and a single mixed rotenburo in wraps — mixed bathing is optional, so there is no pressure. The milky acidic sulphur water (pH ~2.5) is free-flowing with dilution only and no chlorine. A free shuttle links it to the sister Manza Kogen Hotel, and the classic plan is “views at the Prince, variety of water at the Kogen”. Day bathing is a short window, 11:00–16:00 (reception until 15:00), and weekends are crowded — arrive in the morning.
Tips & cautions
- Reception until 15:00, out by 16:00. Expect queues on weekends and holidays.
- Wraps compulsory in the mixed rotenburo (sold at the shop); there is a women-only rotenburo, so no need to push yourself.
- pH 2.5: stings cuts and eyes, tarnishes silver; mind contact lenses. High altitude — keep soaks short.
- Maintenance closures around late November and late March — check the official site.
- Volcanic activity brings time restrictions or closures on Route 292 (Shiga–Kusatsu); confirm the Manza Highway route.
- Wild monkeys about — do not feed them.
- Print and show the online discount voucher.
Getting there
Seibu Kanko bus ~40 min from Manza-Kazawaguchi Station (JR Agatsuma line) to “Manza Prince Hotel” (Hoshimata Manza Onsen 2401, Tsumagoi-mura). Manza Highway bus ~1 h 45 min from Karuizawa Shinkansen station (reservation required). By car ~1 h 40 min from Usui-Karuizawa IC (Manza Highway toll); free parking. Free shuttle to Manza Kogen Hotel. Tel. 0279-97-1111.
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- There is a mixed-gender area. Check the description for bathing garments and women-only hours.
- Ryokan day-use hours are limited and may be suspended in peak season — phone the same morning.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Mood & scenery
Price
Amenities
✔ Verified operating: 2026-09 Operating status and rates cross-checked against the official site and onsen guides (full source notes in Japanese on the JA page)
Prices and hours change. Check official sources before visiting.
More in this area
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Otakinoyu
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Gozanoyu
Right in front of the Yubatake, a wooden recreation of the Edo–Meiji communal baths. Wood and stone bath halls alternate between men and women daily, with two sources (Yubatake and Bandaiko). The upstairs hall looks down on the Yubatake.
