Nyuto Onsen
About This Destination
Nyuto Onsen is a remote hot spring village deep in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, consisting of seven distinct inns each with their own unique spring source. The most famous, Tsurunoyu, dates back over 350 years and features a mixed outdoor bath surrounded by beech forest with milky white water. Each onsen has different mineral compositions producing waters ranging from milky white to clear, with various therapeutic properties. The rustic thatched-roof buildings of Tsurunoyu, where the old honjin rooms come with kerosene lamps, transport visitors back to another era. A shuttle bus links the inns several times a day (in winter it does not reach them all), and guests staying at a Nyuto inn can buy a pass to bathe at each one. In winter, the snow-covered landscape and steaming outdoor baths create unforgettable scenes.
Location
Prefecture: Akita
Address: Senboku, Akita, Japan
Nearest Station: Tazawako Station
Best time to visit: Open all year; autumn colour usually peaks around mid-October, January and February are the season for snow-view baths, and Kuroyu closes from about mid-November to mid-April
Visitor Information
Credit Cards: Unknown
Food Options: Each ryokan serves traditional Japanese kaiseki meals featuring local mountain vegetables, river fish, and Akita specialties like kiritanpo hot pot.
Access
Akita, Japan
Get DirectionsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I visit Nyuto Onsen as a day trip without a car?
Yes. The Ugo Kotsu bus from Tazawako Station runs roughly hourly and takes about 48 minutes; the last bus back leaves Nyuto Ganiba Onsen at 18:15 on the timetable revised April 1, 2026. To hop between inns, buy a Yumeguri Map (1,000 yen) at an inn front desk: it covers the Yumeguri-go shuttle for that day, and you pay each bath fee separately.
How do I get to Tsurunoyu?
Tsurunoyu sits about 3 km down a forest road off the main bus route. Guests should phone the inn (0187-46-2139) from Tazawako Station with the bus they are taking, and the inn's car meets them at the Alpa Komakusa stop. Day visitors can ride the Yumeguri-go shuttle with a Yumeguri Map, or walk about 50 minutes from the Tsurunoyu Onsen Iriguchi stop.
Can I drive to Nyuto Onsen in winter?
Yes, but winter tyres are a must. Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo says the road up is plowed from early morning and stays slippery after plowing, so drive slowly; plowing runs until about 15:00, so try to arrive by 15:00 or 16:00. Kuroyu is closed in winter. If you are not used to snow, take the bus.
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