Niigata · Tsubame Onsen, Myōkō
Tsubame Onsen Hotel Iwatoya
燕温泉 ホテル岩戸屋
A lodge-style inn at Tsubame Onsen in Myoko, Niigata, about 1,100 m up in the mountains. Known as a hidden bath of the warlord Uesugi Kenshin, its spring is nicknamed 'triple beauty water' because it blends the three classic beauty-spring types - bicarbonate, sulfate and sulfur - in a milky-white flow. The signature open-air stone-mill bath looks out over the Otogiri Gorge.
- Price (adult)
- ¥800
- Hours
- 13:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30)
- Closed
- Irregular (call ahead)
- Access
- 6087 Sekiyama, Myoko, Niigata. About 25 minutes on the Tsubame Onsen bus from Sekiyama Station on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway, then a one-minute walk from the Tsubame Onsen bus stop. About 20 minutes by car from Myoko-Kogen IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway. Free parking available.
- Water type
- Sulfur spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Phone
- 0255-82-3133
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
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Why go
- 'Triple beauty water' blending the bicarbonate, sulfate and sulfur spring types in a milky-white sulfur flow
- Open-air stone-mill bath and guest rooms overlooking the Otogiri Gorge
- Day bathing 800 yen for adults; 13:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30)
About this onsen
Tsubame Onsen is a mountain hot spring about 1,100 m up in the Myoko highlands of Niigata, said to have been found by the warlord Uesugi Kenshin. Hotel Iwatoya is an 18-room lodge in the middle of the little onsen village. Its spring blends the three classic beauty-spring types - bicarbonate, sulfate and sulfur - earning the nickname 'triple beauty water', and the milky sulfur water fills the signature open-air bath lined with stone milling stones from the Otogiri Gorge, whose beauty is framed right in front of you. The free open-air baths Kogane-no-Yu and Kawara-no-Yu are within walking distance.
Good to know
Day bathing is 13:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30) for 800 yen (600 yen for elementary students, 500 yen for ages 3 and up). Face towels cost 200 yen to buy and bath towels rent for 300 yen. Tsubame Onsen is also known for the free open-air baths Kogane-no-Yu and Kawara-no-Yu, so bath-hopping around the village is easy. It is a mountain area - check road conditions in winter, and call ahead if unsure about closing days.
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- 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
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.
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Tsukioka Onsen Furinya
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