Hotaka Health House (Onsen Kenko-kan) 穂高温泉健康館
Located just a stone’s throw away from the famous foot hot spring, this hot spring has a long history in the Azumino Valley. It is a good place for taking a quick dip after a long day of sightseeing or hiking. It has a convenient location though it is not a place to enjoy a luxurious hot spring experience. Frequented by the locals, it can be a good place to strike up a conversation with residents of the area. Outside the changing rooms, there is a place to relax and has a selection of massage chairs.
| Water | Hot spring beginners beware: This hot spring is HOT, around 42.4C! The spring is alkaline mineral water with a slightly sulfur smell. Amazingly, all of the water is drawn from a hot spring at the base of the Northern Alps, some 19km away! Good for people with diabetes, digestive troubles, and muscle/joint pains |
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| Access | 10 minute taxi ride or 40 minute bike ride from JR Hotaka Station 20-30 minute drive from the Toyoshina Interchange (Japanese Map) |
| Price | Y400. Towels for Y200 |
| Hours | 9:30am-9pm (doors close at 8pm) |
| Closed | The 1st Wednesday of every month |
| Baths | The large indoor pool is quite hot, and best for a quick dip. Also has a small sauna in the changing room. |
| Key Lockers | Located inside the changing rooms |
| History | Over 100 years ago, local residents aspired to have a hot spring near their home, so they built a series of bamboo pipes to carry hot spring water to their valley. Bamboo failed, as did subsequent attempts with both wood and metal. However, the residents did not give up. Today, specially insulated plastic pipes allow the water to be transported approximately 25 minutes and still arrive steaming hot! |