Hottarakashi Onsen, Kofu
Hottarakashi Onsen is one of the more famous Hot Springs in Japan and offers outstanding mountain views from sunrise to late at night at a reasonable price, if you can figure out how to get there in the notoriously public transport deficient Yamanashi Prefecture.
Over here or over there?
There are two hot spring baths, one called “The bath over here” and the other called “The bath over there” (it sounds punchier in Japanese). Both are open from sunset to late in the night and there is a separate entrance fee for each one. If you want to see photos from inside check their twitter account or their homepage because taking your own photos of naked Japanese people is generally frowned upon so “When Japan” has none to share with you.
How to get there
“When Japan” recommends a car for travel about Kofu city and Yamanashi Prefecture in general. The road up to Hottarakashi Onsen is fairly long and windy but has amazing scenery during the summer growing season for peaches and grapes (Yamanashi’s famous exports). Everywhere in this part of Japan has a large car-park so getting there is no problem.
THERE IS NO BUS. TAKE A TAXI IF YOU DON’T HAVE A CAR
That will add an extra ¥2500 yen to the price one-way, so better to hire a car if you can. You won’t regret the decision while in the Japanese countryside.
There is a place to eat between the baths which serves the standard dishes that are easy to cook such as Curry Rice. On a hot day the vending machines are a must to cool down after a dip in the water.
There is also the nearby Puku-Puku Onsen which has basically the same views at the same price.
