Niigata · Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen
Echigo-Yuzawa Yamano-yu communal bath
越後湯沢 湯元共同浴場 山の湯
The oldest communal bath in Echigo-Yuzawa, near the inn where Kawabata Yasunari wrote Snow Country — he is said to have bathed here himself. The tub fits only five or six people, but the sulphur-scented free-flowing spring is a rarity in Yuzawa and the star of the town's five-bath 'sotoyu' circuit. Adults pay ¥850 including bathing tax (revised 2026); open 10:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30), closed Tuesdays. Soap and shampoo provided, towels sold for ¥200. It sits up a slope 25 minutes' walk from Echigo-Yuzawa Station, or 10 minutes from Gala-Yuzawa Station; only 10 parking spaces.
- Price (adult)
- ¥850
- Hours
- 10:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30)
- Closed
- Tue (open if a holiday)
- Access
- 25 min on foot from the west exit of JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station, or 10 min from Gala-Yuzawa Station; 5 min by car from Yuzawa IC
- Water type
- Sulfur spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Admission
- Adults ¥850 (incl. ¥150 bathing tax; revised Oct 2025) / age 4 to elementary ¥350. Common price for the five town-run baths (Yamanoyu, Komako-no-yu, Iwa-no-yu, Kaido-no-yu, Shukuba-no-yu); buy a ticket from the machine. Lockers ¥100. No soap or shampoo (sold)
- Baths
- The oldest communal bath in Echigo-Yuzawa. One indoor tub per gender — small enough to fill with 5–6 people, but free-flowing from the source. No rotenburo or sauna; there is a rest room. Near the inn (Takahan) where Kawabata wrote “Snow Country”, and he is said to have bathed here
- Water
- Simple sulphur spring (alkaline) — Yuzawa’s original “Yumoto” source. Clear, with a faint sulphur scent and a slightly slippery, skin-softening feel. Free-flowing, no heating or recirculation
- Parking
- 10 free spaces (steep, narrow lane — mind low-clearance cars). 20–25 min on foot from the west exit of Echigo-Yuzawa Station, or ~10 min from Gala-Yuzawa Station under the Shinkansen viaduct and through the tunnel
- Phone
- 025-784-2246
- Official site
- town.yuzawa.lg.jp ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
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Why go
- Oldest bath, linked to Snow Country
- Sulphur-scented free-flowing spring
- Top of the 5-bath circuit
The source of “Snow Country” — Yuzawa’s oldest communal bath, where Kawabata also soaked
Yamanoyu is a town-run communal bath on the hillside at the far end of the Echigo-Yuzawa spa town, and the oldest onsen facility in Yuzawa. Nearby stands Takahan, the inn where Kawabata Yasunari wrote “Snow Country”; he is said to have used this bath too, and its source is Yuzawa’s original “Yumoto”. There is just one indoor tub per gender, small enough to fill with five or six people, but it holds an alkaline simple sulphur spring flowing straight from the source without heating or recirculation — clear, faintly sulphurous, slightly slippery and skin-softening — which keeps it busy with onsen fans seeking the “real thing” rather than a resort hotel’s big bath hall, and with locals who walk up every day. From October 2025 the town’s five communal baths all went to ¥850 (including bathing tax) with uniform 10:00–21:00 hours, so the old 6 a.m. soak is no longer possible, yet this is still the only place to sit in this water at this price. It’s a 20–25-minute uphill walk from the station (10 minutes from Gala-Yuzawa), so be ready for snow in winter; afterwards, head back down to the spa street for Yuzawa’s famous Ponshukan sake-tasting hall in the station or a tofu shop.
Tips & cautions
- Since October 2025: 10:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30), closed Tuesdays (open on holidays, closed the next day). ¥850 — beware outdated listings (¥400–500, 6 a.m. opening).
- The tub is tiny — full with 5–6 people. Avoid weekend afternoons; go weekday mornings or evenings.
- No soap or shampoo (sold); lockers ¥100.
- Sulphur water tarnishes silver — take jewellery off.
- The lane to the car park is steep and narrow — 4WD/chains in winter, mind low cars. On foot it’s a 25-minute uphill walk in snow.
- A locals’ bath: tattoo policy unconfirmed — check the notice and be considerate.
- Yuzawa’s five town baths — Komako-no-yu (named after the “Snow Country” heroine), Iwa-no-yu, Kaido-no-yu, Shukuba-no-yu — all cost ¥850.
Getting there
20–25 min on foot from the west exit of JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station through the spa street (Yuzawa 930, Yuzawa-machi), or ~10 min from JR Gala-Yuzawa Station (winter season only). By car: 3 km / 5 min from Yuzawa IC (Kan-etsu Expressway) via Route 17 and Pref. Road 462; 10 free spaces. Tel. 025-784-2246.
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- The water runs hot (43–45°C). Don't add cold water; take short repeated dips instead.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Mood & scenery
Price
Who with
Only here
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.
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