What is Okuhida Onsenkyo?
Oku-Hida Onsenkyo is made up of five hot spring areas: Hirayu Onsen, Fukuji Onsen, Shin-Hirayu Onsen, Tochio Onsen, and Shin-Hotaka Onsen.
Located in the northeastern part of Gifu Prefecture at the foot of the 3,000m-high Northern Alps (Hida Mountains), it is popular with many tourists and alpinists as part of the Chubu Sangaku National Park and a national hot spring resort.
Okuhida Onsenkyo has over 100 hot springs, with an average water temperature of over 60°C. With an abundant 37,000 liters of hot spring water gushing out every minute, it boasts the third largest volume of hot spring water in Japan (according to the Japan Hot Spring Association's "Hot Spring Statistics"). At each hot spring facility, you can enjoy the luxurious "flowing water" to the fullest, allowing you to fully enjoy this blessing.
There are a wide variety of spring qualities and temperatures, with four typical types including "bicarbonate springs (colorless, transparent, skin-beautifying water)" and "chloride springs (high heat retention effect)." The color of the hot springs also varies from colorless and transparent to brownish brown, milky white, and warbler green, so you can enjoy the beauty of the colors as well as the differences in spring quality.
In addition, as it is located on the border with Nagano Prefecture, it has good access to popular tourist destinations such as Kamikochi, Mt. Norikura, and Norikura Highlands, some of Japan's most scenic mountain areas, as well as Shirahone Onsen. In addition to sightseeing in Hida Takayama, you can also enjoy a tour and stay in the Chubu Sangaku National Park.
At Okuhida Onsen, which boasts one of the largest numbers of open-air baths in Japan, you can fully experience the breath of nature as the seasons change.
Northern AlpsThe four seasons at the foot of the mountain
spring
Spring is the season when Oku-Hida Onsen, located at the foot of the Northern Alps, is enveloped in vibrant new greenery. Meltwater flows vigorously as rivers, and soaking in the hot springs in the crisp, clear air gently relaxes both body and mind. This is the season for wild vegetables, and you can fully enjoy spring in Oku-Hida along with the unique flavors of the local area.
summer
In summer, the coolness of the area's altitude of 800-1,300m makes it a pleasant summer resort surrounded by lush green mountains. It is also a popular base for mountain climbing and trekking, and the magnificent views from the Shinhotaka Ropeway and the cool breeze from the open-air baths offer an exceptional sense of refreshment.
autumn
In autumn, the mountains are enveloped in fiery foliage, covering the entire landscape in shades of red, yellow, and orange. Soaking in an open-air bath and gazing at this magnificent view is truly blissful. From mid-October to early November, the Northern Alps are at their most beautiful, and the autumn leaves seen through the steam from the hot springs are a luxurious and unforgettable experience that can only be experienced in Oku-Hida.
winter
In winter, Oku-Hida Onsenkyo offers a beautiful view that could be described as Japan's original landscape, with the Northern Alps covered in deep snow as a backdrop. At high altitudes such as Hirayu and Shinhotaka, temperatures can drop below -10°C, creating a silvery white world that can only be experienced in the bitter cold. Soaking in a hot open-air bath in sub-zero temperatures offers a refreshing feeling and comfort that cannot be experienced in any other season. Bathing while watching the snow fall is a luxurious experience that you would never get in the city.
During the harsh winter months from late December to the end of February, the entire hot spring resort area hosts a variety of winter-themed events titled "Oku-Hida Winter Tales." At Hirayu Otaki, one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls, the Hirayu Otaki Freezing Festival is held, where you can get up close and personal with the magnificent frozen waterfalls that form when the waterfall freezes. Also, at the Nakao Kamakura Festival, the lights of kamakura huts lined up on the snowy fields create a fantastical scene.
In addition, beautiful light-up events are held at each hot spring resort, and the scenery of the hot spring towns lit up by the snow light quietly fills the hearts of visitors.
Walking TogetherMountain Area Circle
Around Okuhida Onsenkyo, there are many people who are promoting the charms of their respective regions and protecting and nurturing this mountainous area. We introduce the tourism associations, DMOs, local organizations, and others who are working to pass on the rich nature and culture of the Northern Alps to the next generation.
