Akita · Nyūtō Onsen
Nyūtō Onsen Ganiba Onsen
乳頭温泉郷 蟹場温泉
A single inn at the end of the Nyūtō bus line, wrapped in old-growth beech forest and named for the river crabs once abundant in the nearby stream. Unusually for Nyūtō, the water is clear and colourless — a bicarbonate spring with drifting white flakes and a gentle feel. The signature is Karako-no-yu, a mixed open-air pool some 50 m from the building in the woods, magical in snow season; there are also separate indoor wooden and rock baths. Day use 9:00–16:30, ¥800. Covered by the Yumeguri-chō pass (¥2,500, valid one year) for all seven Nyūtō inns — the classic combo is with Tsuru-no-yu and Taenoyu. About 50 minutes by bus from Tazawako Station to the Nyūtō Onsen stop.
- Price (adult)
- ¥800
- Hours
- 09:00–16:00
- Closed
- Open daily (maintenance closures)
- Access
- About 50 min by Ugo Kōtsū bus (Nyūtō line) from JR Tazawako Station to the Nyūtō Onsen terminus; about 90 min by car from Morioka IC
- Water type
- Bicarbonate spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Admission
- Adults ¥800 (recently raised; older sources quoting ¥600 are outdated); small fees for children. Cash
- Baths
- Indoor “wood bath” and “rock bath” (separate) in the main building, a women-only rotenburo, and the mixed open-air “Karako-no-yu” about 50 m away in a beech forest (separate changing huts; women-only 19:30–20:30 for overnight guests)
- Water
- Open-air “Karako”: bicarbonate spring, ~50 °C, pH 8.1, clear and squeaky. Indoor: simple hydrogen-sulfide spring. Rare in Nyuto for its clear water with white flakes
- Amenities
- Shampoo and soap in the indoor baths; the rotenburo is soak-only. Large car park; terminus of the Yumeguri-go bus
- Yumeguri-cho pass
- Guests staying at one of the seven Nyuto inns (Tsurunoyu, Taenoyu, Ganiba, Ogama, Magoroku, Kuroyu, Kyukamura) can buy the “Yumeguri-cho” (¥2,500, valid one year) for one bath at each inn plus free rides on the Yumeguri-go shuttle. Day trippers pay each inn separately
- Phone
- 0187-46-2021
- Official site
- www.nyuto-onsenkyo.com/ganiba.html ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
Stay in this onsen town
Compare and book stays in Nyūtō Onsen. Day bathing itself needs no booking.
Opens partner booking site (affiliate)
Why go
- Mixed open-air Karako-no-yu in the beech woods
- Rare clear water for Nyūtō, ¥800
- One of the seven on the Yumeguri pass
Karako-no-yu: a mixed bath 50 m into the forest
Ganiba Onsen is the plain inn at the very end of the Nyuto bus route, named for the crabs (kani) that live in the nearby stream. Its treasure is the mixed open-air Karako-no-yu, reached by putting your shoes on and walking about 50 m into a virgin beech forest, where spring water wells up between rocks — one of the most “hidden” baths in Nyuto. Unlike the milky waters typical here, it is a clear bicarbonate spring with drifting white flakes. The main building has cedar-scented wood and rock indoor baths and a women-only rotenburo, so there is plenty even if mixed bathing isn’t for you.
Tips & cautions
- Check the on-site notice about towels/bathing wraps at Karako-no-yu. The women-only hour (19:30–20:30) is for overnight guests.
- The 50 m forest path is snowy in winter and dark at night — mind your footing. Snow here reaches 3 m.
- The water is on the cool side (~40 °C), good for long soaks; the indoor baths are hotter.
- Maintenance closures occur — call 0187-46-2021. The Yumeguri-go bus pauses here 10 min; time your visit if relying on it.
- A good alternative when Tsurunoyu is packed.
Getting there
Ugo Kotsu bus ~50 min from Tazawako Station (Akita Shinkansen) to the terminus “Nyuto Onsen (Ganiba)”. ~30 min by car from Tazawako Station via Route 341 and Pref. Road 194. Free parking.
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.
- Payment is usually by ticket machine in cash — bring coins.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Mood & scenery
Only here
Price
Who with
Convenience
Amenities
✔ Verified operating: 2026-09 more TOHOKU・乳頭温泉郷組合公式
Prices and hours change. Check official sources before visiting.
More in this area
Tsurunoyu Onsen
The oldest inn in the Nyuto Onsen area, a hidden hot spring dating to the Edo period. The thatched 'Honjin' building and the large milky-white mixed rotenburo are its iconic scene. Day bathing 10:00–15:00; on Mondays the rotenburo is closed for cleaning and only indoor baths are open. Rooms sell out months ahead. From Tazawako Station take the bus, then the inn shuttle from Alpa Komakusa.
Kuroyu Onsen (Nyūtō)
The innermost of Nyūtō's seven baths — a cluster of thatched bath huts. Two separate sources feed a mixed open-air pool and gender-separated indoor/outdoor baths of milky sulfur water. Day use 9 am–4 pm, the longest window of the seven; closed mid-November to mid-April.
Nyūtō Onsen Tae-no-yu
The most polished of the seven Nyūtō inns, beside the Sendatsu stream and popular with women. Two sources — rusty 'gold' and clear 'silver' — in open-air baths above the rushing river. Day-use reception is short (10:30 am–2 pm), so come early.