The Unique Experience of Kiriake Onsen
A Natural Hot Spring Rising Directly from the Riverbed
The most remarkable feature of Kiriake Onsen is the way hot spring water emerges directly from the bed of the Nakatsugawa River. Visitors can dig into the riverbank gravel to create their own natural outdoor bath, then mix the hot spring water with cool river water to adjust the temperature.
This unusual experience allows visitors to enjoy what is essentially a private open-air bath created by their own hands. The combination of hot spring water, flowing river water, and surrounding mountain scenery makes Kiriake a particularly memorable destination for travelers interested in Japan’s lesser-known hot springs.
The spring is a calcium-sodium chloride and sulfate spring, with a source temperature of approximately 54.7°C. It has traditionally been associated with benefits such as relief from neuralgia, sensitivity to cold, and fatigue. More than anything, bathing here offers the pleasure of warming the body while surrounded by the quiet beauty of the mountains.
Accommodation in Kiriake Onsen
Three accommodation facilities currently operate in Kiriake Onsen. Each blends naturally into the surrounding mountain environment and offers bathing facilities that can also be enjoyed by some day visitors.
Kiriake Riverside House
Kiriake Riverside House is a quiet inn located beside the river. It is known for its friendly, homelike hospitality and views that change with the seasons. Guests can also enjoy simple local cuisine prepared with ingredients from the surrounding area.
Hikyo-no-Yado Yukiakari
Hikyo-no-Yado Yukiakari, formerly known as Kiriake-en, lives up to the meaning of its name, which evokes a secluded mountain retreat. Surrounded by tranquil forests and winter snow, the inn offers a peaceful atmosphere, comfortable rooms, and a traditional indoor bath.
Kiriake Onsen Hatago Ogawakaku
Kiriake Onsen Hatago Ogawakaku reopened as a village-operated inn in 1972. In addition to its hot springs, the inn provides an opportunity to experience the culture and history of Akiyama-go.
Guests can enjoy traditional dishes prepared with abundant mountain ingredients while experiencing the atmosphere of this remote region. A stay here combines hot spring relaxation with a deeper appreciation of Akiyama-go’s distinctive way of life.
The Long History of Kiriake Onsen
Records Dating Back to the Edo Period
The history of Kiriake Onsen goes back several centuries. The oldest known record dates to 1722, during the middle of the Edo period. According to local tradition, Shimada Sanzaemon, the headman of Mitsukuri Village, now part of Sakae Village, discovered the hot spring at this location.
By 1792, the area was being developed as a destination for hot spring therapy, and people began traveling here in search of health and recuperation. However, the facilities were later washed away by flooding, and the hot spring remained without a functioning bathing facility for many years.
Revival in the Modern Era
Approximately 250 years after the earliest recorded history of the hot spring, Kiriake Onsen was revived in 1972, when the village-operated Ogawakaku inn opened.
Since then, Kiriake Onsen has continued to preserve the history of this remote hot spring while welcoming visitors seeking peace, relaxation, and a connection with the natural environment of Akiyama-go.
Getting to Kiriake Onsen
Public Transportation
Because Kiriake Onsen lies deep within a remote mountain region, public transportation is limited. From central Tsunan Town in Niigata Prefecture, local buses operated by Minami-Echigo Kanko Bus travel to Mikama, the gateway to Akiyama-go.
From the Mikama bus stop, a reservation-based shared taxi provides a connection to Kiriake settlement. Advance reservations are required, so visitors using public transportation should plan their journey carefully and check the latest schedules and reservation procedures before traveling.
Traveling by Car
Kiriake Onsen can also be reached by car. However, Akiyama-go receives exceptionally heavy snowfall during winter, so winter tires and snow chains are essential during the snowy season.
From spring through autumn, driving through the mountain region becomes a scenic journey in its own right. Fresh green forests in spring and summer and brilliant autumn foliage provide beautiful views along the route to the hot spring.
Four Seasons at Kiriake Onsen
Spring
As the snow melts, wildflowers begin to emerge across the mountains. The landscape gradually awakens from winter, making spring a refreshing time to explore the surrounding forests and river valleys.
Summer
Summer brings lush green mountains and cool mountain air. Visitors can enjoy the river environment, hiking, and the refreshing atmosphere of the valley while escaping the heat of the cities.
Autumn
In autumn, the mountains surrounding Kiriake are transformed by brilliant foliage. The colorful forests reflected around the river create some of the most beautiful scenery of the year.
Winter
Winter covers Akiyama-go in deep snow, creating an exceptionally quiet and mysterious landscape. Bathing in the hot spring while surrounded by snow is one of the most memorable experiences Kiriake Onsen can offer.
A True Mountain Retreat in Japan
Kiriake Onsen is a place where history, nature, and traditional hot spring culture come together in one secluded mountain valley. Its unusual riverside hot spring, where visitors can create their own bath by digging into the riverbed, is an experience unlike that of an ordinary hot spring resort.
The difficulty of reaching Kiriake has helped preserve its peaceful atmosphere and natural surroundings. Rather than a busy tourist destination, it remains a quiet retreat where visitors can slow down and appreciate the mountains, river, seasons, and traditions of Akiyama-go.
For travelers looking for an authentic and unconventional Japanese hot spring experience, Kiriake Onsen offers something truly special: the chance to soak in naturally flowing hot spring water deep in a remote mountain valley, surrounded by the unspoiled landscape of northern Nagano.