The eight hot springs of Takayama Village,
followed down the gorge by elevation

If you search for onsen in Takayama Village, a long list of names comes up. This guide starts by handing you a map of the whole valley.

The local tourism association counts eight hot spring areas here. They are strung along the Matsukawa Gorge, from the top of the valley down to Yamada Ranch.

This guide follows the springs downhill, starting from Okuyamada at the top. Yamada Onsen sits about halfway down the gorge.

Eight hot spring areas in one village

The tourism association counts eight hot spring areas in Takayama Village. They are scattered along the Matsukawa Gorge, up as far as Yamada Ranch.

Together, the eight are known as the Shinshu Takayama Onsen District. From one area to the next, the colour and make-up of the water changes.

This guide follows them from the top of the valley down. Read it alongside A Takayama Village itinerary to see how a trip fits together.

How the springs line up by elevation

The eight areas run from the top of the river down, in order of height. The highest is Okuyamada Onsen, which sits 1,500m up.

Below it come Shichimi, Goshiki and Matsukawa Gorge. Then Yamada, Warabi, Koyasu and You-yu Land follow the river down the valley.

Hold that order in your head, and it becomes easy to place each spring on the map.

The upper springs: Okuyamada, Shichimi, Goshiki

At the very top, Okuyamada Onsen sits 1,500m up. The tourism association describes its water as a cloudy white simple sulphur spring at pH 6.8.

Just below is Shichimi Onsen. The association says its name comes from the blending of seven separate springs, each with a different make-up.

Lower still is Goshiki Onsen. The association says its name comes from water that changes colour with the weather.

Yamada Onsen: a clear chloride spring

About halfway down the gorge is Yamada Onsen. The tourism association describes it as a colourless sulphur, sodium and calcium chloride spring at pH 7.3.

Its sources run hot: 59.4C at Motoyu and 80.5C at Wanaba. Blended together, the water comes out at 67.3C.

Yamada Onsen has public bathhouses you can walk between. Oyu, the central bath since the Edo period, lets you choose between three water temperatures.

Takinoyu is the local bathhouse, and it runs hot, so it is usual to add cold water. For how to use them, see How to use the public bathhouses and Yamada Onsen and Takayama Village.

Koyasu Onsen: a rare iodine spring

Further down sits Koyasu Onsen. The tourism association says its water contains iodine, and that only two day-use baths in the whole of Nagano Prefecture have water of that kind.

Day use at Koyasu costs 500 yen for adults and 150 yen for children. It is open from 10:00 to 20:00 and closed on Tuesdays. Prices are subject to change; please check before you visit.

Below Koyasu lie Warabi Onsen and You-yu Land. From Okuyamada at the top to these springs at the bottom, eight baths line the gorge.

Touring the springs on a day trip

Several of the eight areas are open for day-use bathing. Some, like Koyasu, have set prices and opening hours.

Yamada Onsen has a free village car park. Leave the car there, and you can walk between Oyu and Takinoyu.

Yamada Onsen also has a place where you can enjoy free-flowing spring water on a day visit. For details, see Day-use onsen (650 yen, no reservation) and The four baths. Prices are subject to change; please check before you visit.

From Nagano Station, the village is about 40 minutes by car.

Frequently asked questions