Kurashita Onsen 倉下の湯 — Attraction in Hakuba

A hotspring bathhouse with a local feel. In winter, it is not your onsen with a panorama or nice gardens etc. It is a very local bathhouse. The "outdoor" bath covered with plastic sheets in winter to shield from the snow and winds as well as keep the cold from cooling the hot spring waters.

However, the lingering aroma of wood from in the bathhouse and when it doesn't get too crowded, offers a nice peaceful setting to soak in the hot spring and let your mind wander.

After you are done, there is a cosy common area to...

The onsen water is very good. Unfortunately it's a very dirty onsen. Walls, ceilings, carpets, all dusty and or moldy. Garbage was overflowing, hair all over the sink. If the customer doesn't have manners to clean up after themselves, maybe the staff should do regular checks. Toilet wasn't great either.

Abysmal manners from customers as well, talking loudly in the onsen.

Staff is friendly but either clueless or lazy. What a shame, it's actually quite a nice building and onsen, of not for...

I love that this onsen has an old time charm to it and they accept tattoos. I also like that the water is clearly mineral rich and from source. What I don’t love is, the temps are lukewarm and the bath surfaces are slimy. I was told that the slimy nature of it is a good thing; the water is straight from source and not continuously circulated. That may be true, but it’s just not what I’m used to. I did feel refreshed after soaking, but I also felt a...