Akita · Sukawa Onsen, Mt Kurikoma
Sukawa Onsen Kurikoma Sanso
須川温泉 栗駒山荘
A hidden-spring inn on the slope of Mt Kurikoma, whose observation bath at 1,100 metres looks down on autumn colour and alpine scenery. The water is a strongly acidic alum-vitriol spring, milky white. Day bathing runs from 10:00 to 16:30, last entry 16:00, at 800 yen from junior high age, 450 yen for elementary pupils and free before school age. It is closed in winter from early November to late April. It is the Akita-side inn paired with Sukawa Kogen Onsen on the Iwate side.
- Price (adult)
- ¥800
- Hours
- 10:00–16:30(last entry 16:00)
- Closed
- Closed in winter (open late Apr–early Nov only)
- Access
- About 90 minutes by bus from Ichinoseki Station, or about 75 minutes (43 km) by car from Ichinoseki IC. From Jumonji Station it is about 60 minutes by car.
- Water type
- Acidic spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Day bathing
- Day bathing runs 10:00 to 16:30, last entry 16:00, at 800 yen from junior high age, 450 yen for elementary pupils and free before school age.
- Baths
- The observation bath at 1,100 metres looks down on autumn colour and alpine scenery, with open-air and indoor baths.
- Spring water
- A strongly acidic alum-vitriol spring, milky white, with one of the largest flows in the country.
- Day bathing
- It is closed in winter from early November to late April; it operates only from late April to early November.
- Tattoos
- No tattoo policy is posted. Checking by phone beforehand is the safe course.
- Phone
- 0182-47-5111
- Official site
- kurikomasanso.com ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
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Why go
- An observation bath at 1,100 metres
- A milky, strongly acidic alum spring
- Closed in winter from November to April
Two Sukawas, Iwate and Akita
Sukawa Onsen sits on a prefectural border, with two inns sharing the same source: Sukawa Kogen Onsen on the Iwate side and Kurikoma Sanso on the Akita side. Kurikoma Sanso, on the Akita side, looks down on Mt Kurikoma and the plateau from its observation bath. Visiting both lets you compare different baths of the same water.
Autumn colour and the winter closure
The autumn colour peaks from late September to mid-October, and the view of the red mountains from the observation bath is superb. From early November, snow piles up and it closes until late April. Visits are limited to early summer through late autumn, so timing matters.
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- Strongly acidic water — rinse off afterwards, avoid long soaks, and remove silver jewellery.
- 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
Price
Who with
Convenience
Amenities
✔ Verified operating: 2026-10 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
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.
