I’m a female solo hiker. I wanted to try the open-air bath, but since it’s completely visible from the side and below, I didn’t quite have the courage to go in—even though there are designated times for it. That said, the indoor bath (semi-open-air) was plenty relaxing. The room was mixed-gender, but they left one spot empty between me and the next male guest (though this might have just been a coincidence due to the booking situation), which I really appreciated. It was also reassuring to get advice from the staff stationed at the Summer Mountain Information Center regarding the condition of the snowfield. Plus, dinner was absolutely delicious. This has become a mountain hut I’d definitely like to visit again when I get the chance.

I used the campground. Check-in starts at 11:00 a.m., and you can set up your tent after checking in. The campsites are flat and roughly divided into spaces of moderate size. Since I was there on the first day of a long weekend, it seemed like there were a lot of reservations, but the management didn’t assign me a specific spot this time. Most of the ground seemed to drain well; although there was a sudden downpour, I didn’t experience any flooding or other issues caused by the ground, so it was comfortable. The reservation page states that the water station is a paid service, but this time, it was free for tent campers. However, since it’s shared with the inn’s guests, it gets crowded in the morning when people are brushing their teeth, so be aware of that. Overall, the price is relatively high for tent camping alone, but considering the unlimited access to the open-air baths, it was a bargain for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor baths, but I ended up falling asleep before I could try the indoor baths, so next time I’d like to try the indoor baths during their designated time slots.

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 🤗

I stayed here in a tent. My rating for the “room” reflects my rating of the campground. The campground strictly allocates space for the exact number of reservations. All sites are flat. Each site is assigned a number. This time, I was free to choose any site I liked, but during busy periods, specific sites may be assigned. The baths are fantastic. The indoor bath is women-only, but it becomes men-only from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The water is milky white and has a different mineral composition. If you’re a hot spring enthusiast visiting here, I recommend trying both. Below are some comments for the site administrator. It was mandatory to enter all information for my traveling companion, including their address. The instructions stated to enter only their name, age, and phone number, so that’s all I entered, but it turned out the address was also required. I think it would be best to update the instructions.

I would like both men and women to be required to wear swimsuits in mixed-gender baths. Even though I, as a woman, was in the bath, there were quite a few men bathing completely naked, which made me feel uncomfortable. If anyone thinks, “If it bothers you, just don’t go in,” that’s nothing but male arrogance. In this day and age, that kind of attitude just doesn’t fly. Aren’t there women who feel uncomfortable with the sight of fully naked men and therefore can’t bring themselves to enter? Women want to enjoy that view comfortably, too—it’s not just for men. That mixed-gender bath was the only thing that made me feel like I was experiencing an outdated Japanese custom.