The Takaragawa Onsen
The Takaragawa Onsen is located all by itself in a small valley near the town of Minakami, and close to several ski areas.
The onsen available included three for mixed gender, and one for women only. In the shared pools, the guys had to wear this wrap around apron thing...
The rooms were large, and there were about 40 total in three buildings. We were in the main building.
The view from our suite.
The yukata and coats were provided, and you could select from a variety of yukata patterns. Yuko is pointing at our room: right in the center!
And here is Yuko modelling the required attire for the women.
The access trail to the onsen required walking across a bridge then along the river.
Further down the river, a second bridge crossed back over the river, and led to the last of the hot pools. The women's pool was past the buildings on the left shore.
The first pool was the hottest, but the further away you got from the hot water source, the more bearable it became!
The second pool was kept cooler, and it was possible to stay in the water for hours. Across the river is the 4th pool, under a change room.
The 4th pool had a very hot inner section and a colder outer area, with water flow controlled by boards.
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