The view from the hot spring—the warm water soothes my tired body after a long walk♨️ It’s the best~😭 All my fatigue and stress just melt away😊 Just soaking quietly in the hot spring in the middle of the mountains, where there’s nothing but nature, spending peaceful time chatting with others about the mountains—the way time passes so slowly is such a luxury. Plus, the staff’s kind and thoughtful service, and the hash browns for dinner were absolutely delicious 😋. I took it easy in the morning, and going back for another soak in the hot spring was the best 🙆‍♂️. Thank you so much for everything 😊

It’s such a magnificent building—you’d never guess it’s prefab (a truly comfortable living environment)—and, above all, the natural open-air hot spring that’s available anytime really added to the enjoyment of our hike. Also, dinner was unforgettable: the homemade hamburger steak and the beef stew served over rice were absolutely delicious (I was happy I could have seconds), and the miso soup was great, too. The staff were all friendly and easy to talk to. My son (a high school freshman), who stayed with me, said, “I’d like to come back here with my friends,” so I think we really had a great time.

On the day of the group booking for Hakuba-kan, I couldn’t get through at all, and just when I thought my dream of taking six friends to that stunning hot spring had been dashed, I checked the website again two or three days later—hoping a cancellation might have come up—and to my surprise, there were still openings! ❗️ That’s how this trip to Yari Onsen began! It was also a lot of fun planning our gear—making sure everyone had lightweight crampons, earplugs, bear bells, and whistles. My friends gave me lots of heartwarming feedback, like “I want to go back!” and “I want to climb other mountains, too.” One of my friends, who took a bath after 9 p.m. in pitch darkness, told me, “I’ll never forget bathing under the stars—even if the sky wasn’t completely clear!” It almost brought tears to my eyes! Deciding on our plan by asking everyone on the second day—whether to head out early for Mt. Yari and Hanabata or go to the ski jump—was also a great memory. Since the next time the whole group will be together won’t be until October or November, I don’t think we’ll be able to come back this season, but it looks like this will be a mountain we’ll want to visit again next year. By the way, it was my first time at Yarigatake Onsen in over 40 years 🤗

There were five people in our section, but there were only three in the same section across from us. If they had split us into two groups of four, we would have been able to sleep comfortably. Also, there were other sections that weren’t filled to capacity.

I’d heard that the building was taken down and rebuilt every season, so I was curious what kind of cabin it would be, but it felt very solidly built. The mattress laid on top of the straw mat was surprisingly comfortable to sleep on. It gets colder at night than at a mountain lodge, but wearing an extra layer solved the problem. The meals were delicious, and the staff were all friendly and approachable, creating a welcoming atmosphere that allowed us to have a wonderful time.

It was a shame there wasn't a drying room. I also felt the place was a bit cramped overall. Compared to other cabins in the Hakuba-kan Group, it seemed a bit pricey.

It was a wonderful hot spring that really helped me unwind. The open-air bath was, of course, delightful, and—though I didn’t know this until I got there—there was also a semi-open-air bath with a screened-in area. Even though it didn’t have a view, I appreciated that women could relax and bathe there without a swimsuit. The staff at the lodge all had lovely smiles, too.