Kuzu Onsen

Kuzu Onsen lies in the scenic Takase Valley gorge of Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, where simple alkaline thermal waters emerge within one of the Japanese Alps' most dramatic river gorge landscapes—a deep canyon through volcanic and metamorphic rock carved by the high-gradient Takase River above the reservoir formed by the massive Takase Dam in the Northern Alps. The spring serves as a base and trailhead for climbers approaching Mt. Eboshi (Ubuyama, 烏帽子岳) in the North Alps—a demanding alpine objective whose summit rewards with panoramic views across the Cathedral range of the Northern Japanese Alps. Simple waters and high alpine surroundings create the combination that defines Japan's best mountain onsen experiences: physical exhaustion from demanding terrain answered by the restorative warmth of volcanic mineral waters in a deep valley setting.