Why private saunas in Nagano are drawing attention
A space of your own, where you answer to no one, and where mind and body come back into order — that is what a private sauna makes possible.
Inns and facilities with private saunas are increasing across Nagano right now. Couples, groups of friends and solo travellers alike value the ease of knowing that no stranger will be sharing the room.
Why Nagano suits a sauna trip
- Under about two hours from Tokyo, by shinkansen plus the shuttle
- A natural setting of mountains, forests and clear streams
- Many hot spring areas, so sauna and onsen come as a luxurious pair
- A quiet that has not been turned into a tourist attraction
The TOJI.ba MATSUKAWAKAN — one of Nagano’s finest private-sauna inns
MATSUKAWAKAN stands in Takayama Village, Nagano: a hidden hot spring inn where you can enjoy water that has flowed for 700 years, and two kinds of private sauna.
Tenku Sauna
The ultimate private experience, wrapped in sunset and starlight.
- Fully private, one group at a time
- A deck for cooling off in the open air, with a wide view while you reach totonoi — the settled calm
- Two unhurried hours of nothing but sauna, with no one to disturb you
- On days when the sunset or a sky full of stars comes out, it becomes a memory you will not forget
“Our first sauna stay as a couple. The night sky and the quiet settled us both.” Reviews like this keep arriving.
About the Tenku Sauna
Forest Sauna
A space like a secret base in the woods, surrounded by trees.
- Open for public use, and private use can be arranged for an additional charge
- A sauna filled with the scent of wood, and cooling off in the open air of the forest
- A pizza oven, for pizza straight from the fire
- An atmosphere that is kind to first-time sauna users
“The Forest Sauna by day, the Tenku Sauna by night — we settled twice. Baking the pizza was quietly the best part.” Reviews like this keep arriving.
About the Forest Sauna
A model course: a private sauna trip over one night and two days
Day 1
- 15:00 Check-in, then a wander around the inn (change into a yukata first)
- 16:00 One round in the Forest Sauna, then cooling off in the open air
- 18:00 A creative Japanese course of gibier, eaten at the irori hearth
- 20:00 The Tenku Sauna, privately yours for two hours — settling under a sky full of stars
- 22:30 A moon-viewing drink in the private open-air bath
Day 2
- 7:30 A morning bath, then a breakfast of zosui rice porridge in the manner of a toji retreat
- 9:30 A walk to Urami Falls (a fine view from the path that runs behind the water)
- 13:00 The free shuttle bus back to Nagano Station
If you are looking for a private sauna in Nagano
“Crowded places are not for me.” “I want to settle, but I cannot relax.” If that is your trouble, a private sauna is a very sensible answer.
At The TOJI.ba MATSUKAWAKAN:
- Two kinds of private sauna (Tenku and Forest)
- The onsen, the open-air bath and the moon-viewing drink are all private too
- Meals at the irori hearth, and a bonfire at night
- Ideal for couples, for trips with friends, and for solo travellers
Private sauna plans, with a booking bonus
Book the special plan on the official site and you receive the private sauna, the private open-air bath, and a moon-viewing drink as a gift.
What the recommended plan includes
- The Tenku Sauna, privately yours for two hours
- The private open-air bath, with chilled local sake (the moon-viewing drink)
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
I have never used a sauna before. Will I be all right?
Yes. Our staff will explain how everything works, so you can use it comfortably.
Does the private sauna have to be reserved in advance?
If you book through an official plan, we can guarantee that the sauna will be private for you.
Are amenities provided?
Sauna mats, towels and drinks for rehydration are all provided.
Access
- Address: 3507-1 Yamada Onsen, Takayama Village, Kamitakai District, Nagano, Japan
- Getting here: a shuttle bus runs from Nagano Station (about 40 minutes; reservation required in advance)
- Parking: free, on site
- Check-in: from 15:00 / Check-out: 10:00
Full access details here
In summary: for a private sauna in Nagano, come to MATSUKAWAKAN
Your totonoi does not have to be shared with strangers.
Private, under the stars, by the fire. There is a place in Nagano where the two of you can have all of it to yourselves.
Why not spend time settling at The TOJI.ba MATSUKAWAKAN — time for the two of you, or for you alone?
YAMADA ONSEN · NAGANO