Shichimi Onsen Hotel Valley

It was my first onsen experience, and I had a great time. I arrived at 3:15pm; the place was nearly empty, with just two patrons finishing up. The manager spoke little English and I spoke little Japanese, but I managed to get in without trouble. There were signs mentioning spa services, though all I saw were baths and no other services. Men and women had separate baths, each with a small outdoor rock pool. The indoor water was so hot I could only stay in for a minute, and the outdoor pool was even hotter. I ended up staying about an hour.

The surroundings are lovely, and there’s a beautiful waterfall that opens in May and stays open until October. It’s worth seeing if you’re interested in waterfalls. This is a gorgeous area any time of year. The green leaves are just beginning to sprout now, and the different Pines should look beautiful soon. The Onsen is very hot, with a beautiful outdoor bath and murky White water that’s supposed to be good for your skin.

The sulfur smell is addictive! There are three facilities with the same spa name. I’ll come back in the fall to try the other two.

The open-air bath has a wonderful view, and the men's and women's baths switch each day. The water left me feeling refreshed, with no slimy feel. On the day I visited it was a lovely greenish-white, though the color apparently changes from day to day. Fine mineral deposits floated in the water, and I liked the sulfur smell. It’s a great hot spring, tucked deep in the mountains but well worth the trip.