Penke Panke Lodge offers a nightly trip to a different Onsen in Hakuba.

Onsen translates roughly to hot spring in English. Going to the Onsen after a long day is a long lived Japanese tradition and is a way to relax the mind the body and the soul and is a very popular activity after a day skiing in Hakuba.

As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of Onsen (natural thermal hot springs) scattered throughout the country. Hakuba is no exception. Onsen water comes from deep underground, often containing many different minerals, of which, the mineral content of almost every Onsen in Japan is slightly different - each have healing effects, if not just to relax after a big day on the slopes.

A trip to the Onsen is a great way to relax and you will often see people soaking in the nutrient rich water for hours at end and chatting with their friends and family. Before getting in the Onsen, all guests are expected to wash their bodies and rinse themselves thoroughly before entering the hot water. Bathing stations are equipped with stools, faucets, wooden buckets, and toiletries such as soap and shampoo; nearly all Onsens also provide removable shower heads for bathing convenience. Entering the Onsens while still dirty or with traces of soap on the body is socially unacceptable.

After your first trip you will realise getting naked with a bunch of total strangers is perhaps the most quintessentially Japanese thing to do and is surprisingly comfortable and the normal social behaviour in Japan. We have hand-selected five Onsens based on guests' feedback, opening times and ease of access from the lodge.

The Onsens listed below are on our set rotation during the ski season : 

Daiichi Sato no-yu Onsen

Located conveniently near the entrance to Happo as well as close to Happo Information Centre & bus terminal. Operated by Happo Onsens it is one of most popular Onsens in the village.

Operating hours: 12.00 - 21.00

Price: Adults 500yen   Children 250yen

Mimizuku Onsen

Located a short walk 10 minute from Hakuba town centre and train station. Mimizuku Onsen has wonderful views of the Northern Alps. Take an Onsen while contemplating the next day's skiing or boarding.

Operating hours: 10.00 - 21.30

Price: Adults 500yen   Children 250yen

Shobei no-yu Onsen

Located inside the Mominoki hotel in the Wadano area. This Onsen has the strongest alkaline in Japan, which will make your skin smooth and beautiful. Also contains saunas in both men's and women's.

Open Daily: 5:00-9:00, 10:00-24:00 (open until 22:00 for non-hotel guests)

(Monday: 5:00, 10:00-24:00 (open until 22:00 for non-hotel guests)

Price: Adults 800yen   Children 500yen

Kurashita no-yu Onsen

Located near Matsukawa river park, this Onsen is of the most mineralised Onsens in the area, it's open air bath has spectacular views of the mountains and is perfect for healing your tiredness away from a hard day of work or play

Operating hours: 10:00 - 22:00

Price: Adults 600yen   Children 300yen

Garden no-yu

Located in the large Green Valley complex. Also in this complex is the Santa Claus land where you can touch real reindeer. Garden no-yu is probably one of the best places to relax with the large relaxing area with sun loungers.

Operating hours: 10.00 - 21.30

Price: Adults 500yen   Children 250yen

(note the open dates or time restrictions)

Obinata no-yu Onsen

Between Happo and Sarukura you will find a large rock that marks the open-air-spa setting for Obinata No-Yu. While relaxing in the Onsen you can hear mountain torrents and see the beautiful natural scenery of the Northern Alps - it'll make you feel like you're in a different world.

Open from: Beginning of March till the end of September

Operating hours: 10:00-18:00

Price: Adults 500yen   Children 250yen

Grand Spa

Located in the Tokyu Hotel at the bottom of Wadano just before the heated road goes down to the Nagano Olympic sign

A refined spa, this Onsen utilises the Happo Hot Spring. This spring is famous in Japan, and has the country's highest alkaline level. These properties leave bathers with incredibly smooth skin. Known as the Spa of Beauty, this Onsen is a must.

Open all year around

Operating hours: 10:00-16:00 (only hotel guests can enter after 4pm)

Price: Adults 800yen Children 500yen

Private Onsen: OH-TARU-NO-YU

Easy walk from Penke Panke Lodge that can be booked per hour. This out door hot spring bath set amongst the garden and is very private and quiet. The water is renowned for its skin healing qualities. Two large luxurious baths are inside the lodge. One bathroom has a large window that looks out amongst the forest.

Bookings need to be made in advance

Price: 2,200 yen per hour