Free open-air bath Tsubame Onsen “Kawara no Yu” revived! (Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture)

First time in two and a half years enjoying the wild!

The free open-air bath “Kawahara no Yu” located in Tsubame Onsen, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture, has been open for use since the first of this month.

Kawahara-no-yu is a free outdoor hot spring located about 15 minutes on foot along a mountain trail from the Tsubame hot spring resort at an altitude of 1100 meters. It features white water and is popular among climbers and other visitors.

In March of last year, the wire supporting the bridge leading to the hot spring on the riverbank was found to be broken by the weight of snow. In June of this year, scaffolding was constructed in place of the bridge to allow passage.

Since then, the Tsubame Hot Springs Association has been fixing the door of the changing room at Kawahara no Yu and cleaning up the area, and as of the first of this month, the bathhouse can be used for the first time in two and a half years. Visitors from inside and outside of the prefecture warmed themselves at the Kawahara no Yu while enjoying the natural scenery.

From Osaka
I heard there was a hidden hot spring, so I came here. It’s great. It smells so good. The smell of sulfur. It was worth the walk.”

From Joetsu
Good! The best! This babbling river…”
Tsubame Onsen also has a free outdoor hot spring, “Golden Hot Spring,” a 10-minute walk from the hot spring resort, so that visitors can finally enjoy two.

Tsubame Hot Springs Association Kenji Uchiki
The place is located in the middle of a canyon. Enjoy the atmosphere. Tsubame Onsen is not exactly the same as Kogane no Yu, Kawahara no Yu, or the hot spring town. Enjoy the subtle differences in the quality of the springs.