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.

The staff member from Hong Kong helped with communication between Chinese and Japanese; she was very friendly and provided quick assistance. The water supply was plentiful and sweet, and it was truly a treat to be able to relax in a hot spring up in the mountains. Unfortunately, there was no free hot water available. It would be better if they could let us know in advance during meal times that the meat substitutes are vegetarian. It would be a big plus if the dormitory-style rooms had large curtains. Thank you to the mountain lodge staff for all your hard work. Since our group members walk at different paces, it would be helpful if check-in could be arranged for team members who arrive first.

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.

The futon was dry and free of moisture, so it was a pleasure to use.

The staff were polite and easy to understand. I wish they had left the lights on in the room until lights-out. Did the staff forget to turn them off? I wonder.