nyuto onsen: japan’s most hidden hot spring

glorious baths in the village

we will have a few hours on the train today, with a stop in a major station to get lunch boxes to eat on the train once again. today we will ride two different bullet trains, a local train and a charter bus!  our first destination is tazawaka-ko station in akita prefecture. at tazawako, we will transfer to a local country bus for a 45-minute ride to nyuto onsen.

link :http://www.nyuto-onsenkyo.com/english/index.html 
great story in NYTIMES: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/travel/tmagazine/14well-fashion-t.html

nyuto onsen: one of japan’s most unspoiled and rural hot springs villages. we will arrive in the later afternoon in time to stretch our legs in the countryside, take a few baths, and settle into the rhythm. we will be spending these nighst in one of our favorite ryokans, tae no yu. the water in this valley is milky white and makes one’s skin super soft, so enjoy! also don’t miss the bath with high iron content and orange water with a view of the waterfall.

in the evenings we will be treated to a dinner feast of local country specialties. we will have two whole days here to wander around the tiny rustic village of nyuto, going from bath to bath. we will give each of you a map of the village, which consists of just 5 inns with baths. you have all day to wander from bath to bath, past waterfalls through gorgeous forests. 

there are no stores in these parts, but some of the inns sell cold drinks and snacks, and our inn has a small lunch cafe where you can get a simple soba lunch and great coffee and cake in the afternoon. (plus, before arriving we will have time to shop for provisions in tokyo station, and upon arrival in akita some extra time in the local farmer’s market——stock up!)

you can wear the yukata robes from the inn and bring your small tenugui towel with you as you wander the village. walking the valley between our inn and the village’s other inns is also an option.