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Enjoy Nasu with Kaori. Welcome to "Santogoya Onsen", a hidden hot spring reached after a two-hour mountain hike.

Santogoya Onsen

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Hello, this is Kaori.
Santogoya Onsen is a remote hot spring. You cannot go there by car or ropeway, only on foot.
Because you hike for more than two hours, you feel a strong sense of achievement when you arrive, and the hot spring feels especially relaxing.
This time, I did a day-trip hike and bath using the route from Numappara Marsh.
▼ Virtual View (Surroundings)

You can see the mountain scenery around the hot spring with Google Street View.

▼ Kaori's Report

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To reach Santogoya Onsen by the shortest walking route, you either ride the ropeway and hike from Chausu-dake, or drive to Numappara Marsh and start there.
This time, I chose the route from Numappara Marsh.

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If you start from Numappara, you can leave before 8:30 a.m., when the ropeway opens.
The trail goes through green forest, so you walk in cool, soft sunlight under the trees.
The difference in elevation is not very large.

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Even at my pace, it took about two and a half hours to reach Santogoya Onsen.
As a trek, it feels long enough to be satisfying.
I started to feel tired, but I could keep going because I knew the hot spring was near.

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I finally arrived at Santogoya Onsen.
For day-use bathing, you use Tabakoya Ryokan.
There is no normal electricity and almost no phone signal. Even the emergency phone often does not connect.
Staff carry fresh food on their backs, and heavy supplies are brought once a year by helicopter.
It is a very good place to take a digital detox.

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This is the famous outdoor open-air bath.
Sometimes there are women-only bathing hours, but basically it is a mixed bath.
Do not worry, there are also indoor baths inside the ryokan.

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After washing away my sweat in the hot spring, I walked back down the trail.
The return is mostly downhill, so it feels easier.
I enjoyed trekking and forest bathing with all my senses in the tunnel of green trees.


(Kaori’s Highlights)

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The route from Numappara to Santogoya Onsen does not have big climbs, but the walking distance is long.
However, most of the path is inside a tunnel of trees, so it feels very pleasant.

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If you leave Numappara early in the morning, this route is possible as a day trip.
However, you walk for about two and a half hours each way, so please be prepared.
The round trip takes about five hours, so start early. If you return after dark, there is a risk of getting lost.
There are signboards along the way, and bears sometimes appear. If you hear strange sounds, such as rustling or heavy steps, please move away at once.
I once felt that a bear was close while I was walking on the trail, and I quietly left that place.

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Even a long trail is easier when you know you can enter a hot spring at the end.
For a while, day-use bathing was not allowed, but it has now started again.
I am very happy about that.

▼ Contact Information


[Phone] +81-90-8589-2048 (onsite public phone during the operating season from late April to late November)
    +81-287-73-4567 (Tabakoya information desk for inquiries during winter closure and on closed days)


[Address] Santogoya Onsen, Nasushiobara-shi, Tochigi


[More Info.] info Opening hours and details

▼ Map


You can see the exact location of the mountain hot spring on the map below.

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