🗺️ Sour Soup Hot Spring酸ヶ湯温泉

Suan Tang Onsen is an ancient hot spring that opened approximately 340 years ago. It was named "Deer Hot Spring" due to a legend about an injured deer healing its wounds in the hot spring. The name "Suan Tang" arose from a misinterpretation, as the Japanese pronunciation of "deer" (鹿, shika) is similar to "suan" (酸). Although it is located deep in the mountains, it has been a well-known hot spring resort since the Edo period and was registered as the first national health hot spring by the Japanese government in 1954. The spring water is acidic sulfuric water, which is said to improve blood circulation and treat neuralgia. The most famous feature in the Suan Tang Onsen area is the all-cypress mixed bathing bathhouse, "Hinoki Sen'nin Yoku." The large bathhouse is made from cypress wood sourced from Aomori and covers an area of about 160 tatami mats (approximately 260 square meters). Inside, there are five hot spring pools: hot water, cold water, a mix of hot and cold water, and a waterfall bath. A unique aspect of Suan Tang Onsen is that it retains the now-rare culture of mixed bathing for both men and women. However, it is not entirely mixed; there is a partition in the center of the bath that separates the male and female areas. In addition to selling swimwear suitable for bathing, the facility designates specific hours from 8:00 to 9:00 AM and 8:00 to 9:00 PM as women-only times. Women who wish to avoid mixed bathing can choose to soak during these hours. Additionally, there are smaller separate bathing pools for men and women, known as "Tamano Yu."

A large bathhouse where you can feel the warm and smooth texture of cypress wood. When enjoying mixed bathing, be sure to adhere to the relevant etiquette and rules. The hotel building is right next to the hot spring building, making it very suitable for hot spring therapy. The bathing hours for day-use guests are from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last admission at 5:30 PM). In winter, transportation may be restricted due to snow accumulation on the roads, so please be cautious.