Fukiage open-air Onsen — Attraction in Kamifurano

Yes, it's mixed. Yes, it's open air. Yes, there are no changing rooms or curtains. But people: It IS an Onsen. In Onsen's one would bathe naked. Even I as a foreign Swiss person know: Bathing suits are not part of the Japanese Onsen culture. And what is even more important: They are not very hygienic!

So NO, don't come here as a foreigner and later write comments like: "Swim suits are ok." or "You can just come and take pictures or enjoy the beautiful view.". NO, both things are not ok! And both things were the reason why I didn't feel comfortable. It was worse than actually being naked in public! When was it ever ok of taking pictures of people bathing?

Please respect: It is a bathing place after all. Not a sightseeing spot! A place to soak, chill and relax in nature. And everything else is just disrespectful to the locals who take care of this beautiful place. Thank you, for keeping the baths clean!🫶🏽♥️

So my advise is: Leave your phone where it belongs ➡️ in your pocket! Take a big towel to cover yourself while changing. Wrap it around you while walking in and then: Get over yourself and enjoy the bath naked or don't come at all! 💁🏻‍♀️

PS: It's not only foreigners who wear swim suits. I saw lots of asian people, some even Japanese. I don't get it. We are born naked, we will die naked, where's the problem in being naked while alive?

PPS: We went there three times. The second and third time, we arrived around 8 in the morning. It was a lot better than the first time. No sightseeing tourists, just people who wanted to take a bath and relax. All of them were very friendly. We loved it. Thank you for making us feel more comfortable, than the first time we came. 🙏🏽

PPPS: And don't tell me women can't do this because of the heat. YES, we can! The problem is your mindset, not...

Came for the second time in winter. This is an all natural outdoor Onsen that is maintained voluntary by townsfolk of Kamifurano.

You walk through a short patch of idyllic snow covered forrest to reach the open bath with two tubs. 42 + 46C -pretty hot. you can go skinny dipping or in swim suit. Best part is to jump into the powder snow and back into the water.

Be sure to bring a towel and something to cover your stuff if it is snowing (we used the big snow shovel there)

To get here and back, there is a bus going up to the sourunding Onsen three times a day. If you are lucky there is another guest there who can give you a lift back. If not just go to the 500m nearby Fukiage Onsen Ryokan (awesome Onsen as well) to wait for...

I'm sure I'm just inexperienced with onsen culture, but I felt uncomfortable here. Even as you walk down from the carpark you can see it's a bunch of naked men. I expect that at onsen as I'm also a man who will go naked, but this feels like it excludes females. And it is very small as you can see in photos. Twice I saw women arrive in pairs and quickly leave when they saw what it was, and one Japanese woman just sort of cowering at the sign just above the pools, probably waiting for her young children to finish with dad down below. I wish it were 'swim suit required for all' just so that it doesn't feel like a men's club. Today I quickly refreshed after my 9hr hike and left. I know it's free but staffed places are...