Japanese Forest Hot Springs In a Campground

My last post introduced Kawarageoyu-taki, which is the best hot spring waterfall in Japan. With the blessing of the onsen gods who guided me there, I discovered another excellent bathing environment about thirty minutes away from Kawarageoyu-taki. The Tokotonyama Campground bathing facilities perfectly blend into the woodsy environment of rural Yuzawa, Akita, where a combination of forest and onsen bathing soothes the soul as it melts the body.

Rarely do I stay at Japanese campgrounds because I prefer camping away from others, but the location in the middle of a region chockablock with onsens was perfect. This particular campground offers bungalows, cottages, treehouses, and tent sites. Staying in a treehouse had the most appeal. It was a wooden building on stilts. A spiraling staircase brought us to our room, which was large enough for about five people to sleep on the floor. We used our sleeping bags. A heater was attached, but in late summer, heating was unnecessary. We prepared meals using shared outdoor barbecue facilities and enjoyed our dinner on a picnic table while listening to birds and insects. Due to the pandemic, we were the only occupants of a treehouse. The bungalows, cottages, and tree-houses are separate from the parking lot, so the only sounds we heard were the delightful chatter of the natural residents of the forest.

Reaching the hot spring took just a few minutes on foot. A walking path led from our tree-house through the woods and across a bridge to the communal male and female bathing facilities.

The covered bath is the hottest.

I bathed at night with stars peeking through the foliage and an occasional bat fluttering in and out of the nightlights. In the early morning, mist drifted through the trees from which birds gaily conversed. The campground offers three large outdoor baths and one semi-outdoor bath. A roof covers it. I was happily alone, soaking in the local nature and soothing, clear hot mineral water. Even if there had been other bathers, I could have found enough personal space to relax. Since the baths are on a slope, picturesque greenery is visible from each.

Tree-house near the hot springs

The campground operators maintain comfortable, clean, and reasonably priced facilities. Our simple bungalow cost 5,000 yen ($40.00) after taxes. Visiting in September 2021, during the COVID pandemic, guests were few and far apart. I felt very comfortable. The managers seem to care deeply about maintaining the quality of their accommodations and providing a woodsy atmosphere. For the reasons above, I recommend the Tokotonyama Campground. 

Evening walk to the forest baths

The campground is a ten-minute walk away from Oyasukyo Gorge, which has a fantastic path that wanders through a steamy region where hot water gushes out of cracks in cliffs. That is the topic of my next post. Please sign up to receive notifications of new posts.