Shirakone Onsen is a quiet hot spring village located in the valley of Yugawa River at the foot of Mount Norikura in the Northern Alps (about 1,400 meters above sea level).
It is known for its milky white water with a silky feel.
The hot spring is said to have a history of more than 600 years, and is effective for gastrointestinal disorders, nervous disorders, women’s diseases, and chronic fatigue, etc. It was once said, “If you bathe for three days, you will not catch a cold for three years.
The hot spring water is abundant, and all facilities in Shirakone Onsen have 100% free-flowing hot-spring water.
Each inn has its own hot spring, and the quality of the water differs slightly from one inn to another.
Shirakone Onsen is located within the Chubu-Sangaku National Park area, which includes Kamikochi and Norikura Plateau, and is designated as a national recreational hot spring resort.
The milky white water can be drunk and is said to be effective for gastrointestinal disorders, women’s diseases, and nervous stress.
The spring is a simple hydrogen sulfide spring and is clear and colorless when it gushes out, becoming cloudy as time goes by.
There are several inns and public day-trip hot spring facilities in the hot spring resort area.
One-day bathing is also available at the ryokan.
Shirakone Onsen Awakenoyu Ryokan
A long-established onsen ryokan established in 1902, it has a spacious open-air mixed bathing large open-air bath of 70 tsubo (1,860 square meters) with a large volume of hot water pouring in from several meters above the ground.
A day-trip hot spring bath is also available for limited hours. There is also an open-air bath and indoor bath for both women and men.
60 minutes by car from Matsumoto IC [40 km].
55 minutes by bus from Matsumoto Electric Railway Kamikochi Line Niijima Station