Onsen (Hot Spring) Addict in Japan: Simple, Countryside, Old Fashioned Japanese Ryokan Bath in Myoko, Niigata

I discovered a simple, pleasant bath with a wide view of mountains and greenery that combined to make me as relaxed as the proverbial wet noodle. After a wonderful day of kayaking, yoga, and hanging out with friends in and around Lake Nojiri, Nagano, I decided to cross the border and soak in an onsen in nearby Myoko, Niigata, that I had not yet visited.

Men's outdoor bath

As shown in the photographs above and below, both the indoor bath and the outdoor bath offer clear, clean, mineral water, along with panoramic vistas. I was in the men's section, from where I saw green fields and rolling low hills. I heard birds chirping and the distinctive rhythmic buzzing of cicada conversations. My wife said that she could see majestic Mt. Kurohime from the women's section.

Men's indoor bath

Myoko Mountain Hamlet Onsen Inn Kofukan is the name of the Japanese ryokan (inn in English), which Google Maps indicated was located near the lake. The pleasant drive along the lake shore, winding mountain roads, and fields of rice, sunflowers, and pumpkins took less than fifteen minutes.

A shrine on an island in Lake Nojiriko

I was at the lake during the Japanese Obon holiday, when the Japanese travel and take vacations en masse, but Lake Nojiri was relatively untouristed compared to many other vacation sites in Japan. After Obon, the environment became even more serene. For most of my drive to the ryokan, I was the only car on the road. The few people I saw on the quiet streets of Myoko were tending their gardens or standing outside a local vegetable store.

Village and rice fields

Located in an underappreciated area, this ryokan offers excellent value for its price. Adults pay 800 yen to enjoy the baths, as well as tranquil indoor and outdoor resting areas. Since I did not stay overnight, I cannot comment on the bedrooms and prices. I noticed as I was leaving that the ryokan offers a kashikiriburu (a private bath for couples, intimate friends, or family).

Outdoor rest area

After my bath, I rested outside while a cool breeze fluttered across my skin and gently shook the flowers near my chair. I observed butterflies and bees collecting nectar from flowers.

One of the indoor rest areas

One of my Japanese friends gravitated toward the indoor resting area on the tatami floor. The small room was stocked with works of visual art.

The Onsen Addict's feet enjoyed the mountain view.

The hotel manager informed me that the source of the mineral water was approximately nine kilometers away, located on the slopes of Mt. Myoko. The natural thermal, piped to his hotel, is about 70 degrees Celsius at the source. The outdoor bath temperature is approximately 40 degrees, while the indoor temperature is around 42 degrees Celsius.