Nyuto Onsen

Seven secluded onsen inns in beech forest

Nyuto Onsen is a group of seven hot spring inns on the slopes of Mount Nyuto in Semboku, Akita Prefecture, in the hills above Lake Tazawa. The inns are along a single road through beech forest and between them they use more than ten spring sources, so water colour and feel vary from bath to bath. Tsurunoyu, the oldest, has thatched-roof buildings and a milky outdoor bath. Visitors can stay overnight or soak for a few hours as day guests. Lake Tazawa and Kakunodate are both within day-trip range if you'd rather stay in a regular hotel in town.

Add to list Map view

Town in Japan

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 7.8

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	3
Tap water:	9

Read details

1/5

In Semboku Nyuto Onsen, English communication is moderate – many locals speak basic English, especially in tourist spots and hotels, but deeper conversations may require a translator or simple Japanese phrases.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 20 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Nyuto Onsen Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Great at soothing hot‑spring retreats nestled among misty mountains, Semboku Nyuto offers tranquil baths and authentic ryokan stays for serene escape seekers.

Place score

9.2

Best at:

Hot springs

Forests

Secluded

Spotless

Autumn foliage

Personal score

Suited for

👶 5

Families

🧓 4

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

👩 6

Solo

Japan – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A Type A: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Japanese Yen (JPY) £1 ≈ JP¥210
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections.

New Year (January)	One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead.
Golden Week (April-May)	The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transport.
Obon (August)	A time to honour ancestors, many businesses close, and transport can be crowded.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi
Other:	Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transport is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Nyuto Onsen, Japan

🌨️

Jan

🌨️

Feb

🌨️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌥️

Jun

🌧️

Jul

🌧️

Aug

🌥️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌨️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., Oct.
Shoulder season:	March, May, July - Sep., Dec.
Crowdedness:	4 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Heavy snowfall December to March; reach the area by bus, drive only with winter tyres

Popular inns like Tsurunoyu book out months ahead for autumn leaves and winter weekends

Autumn leaves peak mid to late October, earlier than in nearby lowlands

Don't miss

♨️ Soak in the milky-white outdoor bath at Tsurunoyu
🏞️ Hop between Nyuto's hot spring inns with a Yumeguri pass
🥩 Taste yamanoimo nabe, a hearty mountain yam hot pot
🌃 Hike through beech forests on the slopes of Mount Nyuto
🏛️ Take a day trip to Lake Tazawa, Japan's deepest lake

You've been here?

Why travel to Nyuto Onsen?

Nyuto Onsen is a place where the bathing can fill a whole trip. Each of the seven inns has its own spring water, so the baths differ in colour and feel from one inn to the next. Tsurunoyu has the milky outdoor bath seen in most photos of the area, set among thatched-roof buildings that have hosted Akita's feudal lords since the Edo period. Kuroyu is the most old-fashioned, a thatched-roof inn in the style of a traditional healing-stay spa. Taenoyu and Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo are more modern. Ganiba has an outdoor bath in a separate building and Ogama has the look of an old wooden schoolhouse. The setting changes a lot with the season. Autumn colour in the beech forest usually arrives in October while snow piles up by January and February. A soak with snow falling around you is the classic winter experience here, while summer is green and quiet. One or two nights suits the area best. A second night leaves time to visit the other inns with the Yumeguri-cho booklet, which costs less than paying at each door if you go to several. With only a day you can still bathe at a few inns as a day guest but bus times will shape the plan. The area pairs well with Lake Tazawa, Japan's deepest lake at 423.4 m. Kakunodate and its samurai district are also within reach.

🍽️Eat & Drink

1 Taenoyu
Akita regional food at a hot spring inn in Nyuto Onsen. The kitchen simmers kiritanpo, pounded rice sticks, with Hinai chicken in a clear soy broth. Lunch is available to day travellers and dinner courses are for overnight guests.
2 Tsurunoyu
Mountain yam hot pot beside a sunken hearth at a historic hot spring inn. The inn serves this dish, called yamanoimo nabe, to overnight guests. The inn is one of seven independently run inns in the area.

Explore on map

Knowledge before you go

Check the last bus back to Tazawako Station before you start soaking.
Tsurunoyu's famous outdoor bath is usually closed to day visitors on Mondays, so plan around that.
Most inns have a mixed-gender bath plus separate men's and women's baths, so you can choose.
The Yumeguri-cho bath booklet is sold only to overnight guests, while day visitors can buy a shuttle pass instead.

How to travel to Nyuto Onsen

The easiest way is by train and bus through Tazawako Station on the Akita Shinkansen. Komachi trains run from Tokyo via Sendai and Morioka and take about 3 hours to reach Tazawako. From there the Ugo Kotsu Nyuto Line bus takes about 45 to 55 minutes to the inns. It runs roughly hourly and usually connects with the Komachi trains, but the last bus back leaves in the early evening so check the timetable before you start soaking. From Akita Airport (AXT) the reservation-based Akita Airport Liner shared taxi runs to Tazawako Station or straight to Nyuto Onsen. That saves the shinkansen leg if you're flying in from elsewhere in Japan. Driving is a realistic option too, with free parking at the inns. Winter tyres are needed from about November to April and snow can limit access to the more remote inns, so check conditions with your inn before setting out.

Access summary

From Sendai Airport (SDJ): Bus to Nyuto Onsen, 2h30 via Naruko.
From Tokyo Haneda (HND): Train to Akita, 4h; bus to Nyuto, 1h.
By car from Sendai: 5h drive via National Route 13.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Nyuto Onsen

Staying overnight is the best way to experience Nyuto Onsen, since you get the baths in the quiet hours after the day visitors leave. All seven inns are ryokan-style or close to it, usually with Japanese rooms and dinner and breakfast included. Tsurunoyu is the most sought after for its thatched-roof rooms and tends to fill far ahead in autumn and winter. Kuroyu is the most rustic and closes for the winter, while Taenoyu and Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo feel more modern. Which inn you pick matters more than which area, because they're all spread along a single road. Rooms at the older inns can be simple with some shared facilities, so check what's included when you book. If the inns are full or you'd rather have a regular hotel, Tazawako and Kakunodate both have hotels and are a bus or train ride away. Tazawako is the closer base for a day of bathing here.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

KAMENOI HOTEL TAZAWAKO

Ryokan Magoroku Onsen

8.3

Hotel Grand Tenku

7.2

Komagatake Grand Hotel

3.0

Yamanoyado

Magoroku Onsen Rokuan

Lake View Highland Rental Villa with Natural Hot Spring, Exclusive for One Group per Day

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Nyuto Onsen

Nyuto Onsen is a string of inns along one mountain road, so getting around mostly means the buses and shuttle that run up it. Several inns are within walking distance of each other while Tsurunoyu is on a side road.

Buses:
The Ugo Kotsu bus from Tazawako Station runs up the main road and stops near most of the inns, so it's the main way up for day visitors.

Shuttle:
A separate Yumeguri-go shuttle links all of the inns roughly every two hours, on a different schedule in winter, so check the timetable for your dates.

Walking:
Tsurunoyu is about 3 km from the nearest bus stop. Staying guests arrange a pickup with the inn beforehand and day visitors can walk it from the Tsurunoyu Onsen Iriguchi stop in about 45 minutes.

Car:
You don't need a car if you plan to bathe at one or two inns and use the buses and shuttle for the rest. A car helps if you want to add Lake Tazawa or other stops on the same trip. Hire cars are available around Tazawako and winter tyres are needed in the cold months.

Food in Nyuto Onsen

Food at Nyuto Onsen is Akita mountain cooking and most meals are eaten at the inns. Overnight stays usually include dinner and breakfast built around mountain vegetables and mushrooms. Local dishes include kiritanpo, which is pounded rice grilled on cedar skewers and often served in a hot pot. Inaniwa udon, a thin hand-stretched wheat noodle from southern Akita, appears on some menus.

Day visitors have fewer options. Some inns serve lunch, including Tsurunoyu and Taenoyu, so check ahead before you rely on it. Shops and restaurants along the road are few and there's no town up here. Stock up on snacks and drinks around Tazawako Station before heading up.

Dinner is usually a set menu. If you're vegetarian or have allergies, tell the inn when you book so the kitchen can plan for it.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-42 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 42% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-20 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to JPY) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Semboku, Japan - 12 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£42	£90	£267
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£21	£49	£120
🍝 Food per day	£17	£34	£110
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£7	£37

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£5
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.10

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£23
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£35
🤧 Cold medication	£8.50
💇 Basic haircut	£13

Safety information overview

General safety

Crime is rarely an issue at Nyuto Onsen, where the inns are small and quiet. Bears live in the surrounding forest, so make noise if you walk the trail to Tsurunoyu. Winter brings deep snow and icy roads.

Health & Medical

Medical care is limited up here. Clinics and pharmacies are down in the Tazawako area so bring any regular medication. Long hot soaks can cause dizziness, especially after drinking alcohol. Heavy winter snow can slow help reaching the inns.

Accessibility

Access is difficult for wheelchair users and anyone with limited mobility. The inns are older wooden buildings with steps and thresholds. Tsurunoyu is a long walk from the nearest bus stop. Newer inns such as Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo are easier.

Tap water

Tap water at the inns is generally fine to drink. The hot spring water is for soaking, so don't drink it unless a sign says so. Shops are few along the Nyuto road, so bring bottled water from Tazawako.