Public bathhouse · Seasonal
Shinhotaka-no-yu
- Day-use bathing
- Yes
- Fee
- ¥300checked 2026-10-09
- Hours
- 8:00–18:00checked 2026-10-09
Photo information
Save to passport
Official classification
Spring type (therapeutic classes)
Official spring-type name (as recorded)Simple and chloride springs (Shinhotaka district); simple and bicarbonate springs in Gamata; simple, sulfur and bicarbonate springs in Nakao (varies by source)
- Source temperature
- Unconfirmed
- pH
- Unconfirmed
- Flow rate
- Unconfirmed
- Radon
- Unconfirmed
Appearance & feel
Water colour · Feel
Unconfirmed
Colour and feel are listed only where a source states them. They vary by day and by bath.
What makes it special
Look up at 3,000-metre peaks from a riverside open-air bath, then ride a double-deck gondola from the same spot to 2,156 metres.
Why?
The Shinhotaka tourism association lists the public open-air bath Shinhotaka-no-yu beside the Gamata River; the Shinhotaka Ropeway, Japan's only double-deck gondola, rises to Nishi-Hotakaguchi Station at 2,156 m. The Okuhida association describes Shinhotaka as the trailhead for Mt Yari and Mt Hotaka.[2][5][4]
Facilities in this area
Facilities come from the register (Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, official sites). Those marked "natural spring unconfirmed" are listed on the basis of their name only.
Day-use bath · Open
Nakazaki Sanso Okuhida-no-yu
- Day-use bathing
- Yes
- Fee
- ¥1,000checked 2026-10-09
- Hours
- 9:00–18:00checked 2026-10-09
Day-use bath · Open
Higaku-no-yu and the climbers' canteen
- Day-use bathing
- Yes
- Fee
- ¥950checked 2026-10-09
- Hours
- 9:00–20:00checked 2026-10-09
Getting there
Reachable by public transport
From Takayama Nohi Bus Centre outside JR Takayama Station, the Nohi bus to Shinhotaka Ropeway takes about 1 h 45 min, 2,200 yen, about 15 a day. From Matsumoto, Alpico express buses reach Hirayu Onsen in about 1 h 40 min; change there.
- Getting there
- Takayama Station (Nohi Bus Centre) · 105
- Getting there
- About 15 buses a day from Takayama toward Shinhotaka
- Through the year
- Shinhotaka-no-yu opens late April–30 October only; Higaku-no-yu limits winter days. The ropeway runs all year but stops in bad weather and for maintenance
- Checked
- 2026-10-09
About the water
Shinhotaka is three districts, Shinhotaka, Gamata and Nakao, each with its own sources. The Okuhida association lists simple and chloride springs for Shinhotaka; Wikipedia adds bicarbonate water in Gamata and sulfur springs up in Nakao. Across the Okuhida group, heat from the active volcano Yakedake feeds more than 100 sources with a combined flow of about 37,000 litres a minute, said to be Japan's third largest. The water is hot: Nakazaki Sanso cools it behind bamboo screens rather than diluting it, while the riverside Shinhotaka-no-yu runs cool because river water seeps in. Temperatures, pH and analysis sheets for individual sources could not be read on official pages.
Three things not to miss
Photo information
Shinhotaka-no-yu public open-air bath
On the Gamata riverbank near the Shinhotaka Onsen bus stop An open-air pool with the river rushing past its edge. Late April to 30 October, 8:00–18:00, open daily except when the river is high. Cleaning donation about 300 yen; swimwear is required. River water seeps in, so expect a lukewarm bath. Bathing wraps are sold for 350 yen at Higaku-no-yu and Nakazaki Sanso.
The simplest way to experience what the Okuhida association calls an 'open-air bath paradise' where hot water rises from the riverbed. Its status changes often, so check the latest notice on the association's site first.[2][4][1]
Photo information
Shinhotaka Ropeway
From Shinhotaka Onsen Station at the end of the bus line Two ropeways in sequence climb to Nishi-Hotakaguchi Station (2,156 m). Through fares: 3,800 yen return adults, 1,900 children; one way 2,400/1,200. Runs all year, the first ropeway at :00 and :30, the second at :15 and :45; suspended in bad weather and for maintenance.
Japan's only double-deck gondola. The morning after your bath you can be at ridge height in the Northern Alps without a step of climbing.[5][6]
Nakazaki Sanso Okuhida-no-yu and Higaku-no-yu
Near the ropeway station, and toward the Nakao / Gamata side Nakazaki Sanso uses 100% source water, cooling it behind bamboo screens instead of adding cold water: 1,000 yen adults, 500 children, 9:00–18:00, irregular closures. Higaku-no-yu is open-air only (with washing stations), 950 yen (1,000 on holidays, Obon and autumn), 9:00–20:00, limited winter opening, with a 'climbers' canteen'.
Two day-use baths where you can soak and eat straight off the mountain, as befits a trailhead spa. They also fill in when Shinhotaka-no-yu is closed in winter or by high water.[7][8]
The story
A hot spring at the trailhead
Shinhotaka is the innermost of the five Okuhida hot-spring villages (Hirayu, Fukuji, Shin-Hirayu, Tochio and Shinhotaka) and the trailhead for Mt Yari and Mt Hotaka; it is also the setting of Yasushi Inoue's mountaineering novel 'Hyoheki' (The Ice Wall). The area splits into the oldest Shinhotaka district at the top, Gamata toward Tochio, and Nakao on the plateau above, with hotels and pensions scattered through birch woods. On 19 November 1968 it was designated a National Health Resort Hot Spring as part of the Okuhida group.[4][9]
Water from the riverbed
The Okuhida association calls Shinhotaka 'an open-air bath paradise where abundant water bubbles up from the riverbed'. Its emblem is Shinhotaka-no-yu, the public pool on the Gamata River, used in swimwear for a cleaning donation of about 300 yen. River water seeps in, so it is lukewarm, and it closes when the river rises; in 2026 alone there were notices in May, a reopening in June, and a closure and reopening in September. Across Okuhida, volcanic heat from Yakedake feeds over 100 sources with a flow of about 37,000 litres a minute.[4][2][1][3]
Mountains straight above the bath
The Shinhotaka Ropeway's two stages end at Nishi-Hotakaguchi Station, 2,156 m up. It is Japan's only double-deck gondola and runs all year; the through fare is 3,800 yen return, with departures at :00/:30 on the first stage and :15/:45 on the second, weather and maintenance permitting. Few places put bath and summit so close together: an open-air soak in the morning, ridge height by noon.[5][6]
Getting to the far end by bus
There is no railway. From the Nohi Bus Centre at Takayama Station the Shinhotaka line runs to its terminus at the ropeway in about 1 h 45 min, 2,200 yen, roughly 15 times a day. From Matsumoto, take the Alpico express to Hirayu Onsen (about 1 h 40 min) and change. By car it is about 70 minutes from the Takayama exit or 80 from Matsumoto via the Abo tunnel; winter tyres are essential.[10][11][3]
Going solo
Solo stay unconfirmedUnconfirmed
Weekend / peak restrictionsUnconfirmed
Where to eat dinnerBoth Nakazaki Sanso and Higaku-no-yu have restaurants; few other eateries in the area
Private bathUnconfirmed
checked 2026-10-09
Through the year
Recommended months
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Months open
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
"Recommended" and "open" are recorded separately. Check the season for seasonal springs.
Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct — Shinhotaka-no-yu season (late April–30 October)
Oct — Autumn colours early–late October; the view from the Kita-Alps Bridge is the association's pick. Nakao Hakusan Shrine festival on 2 October
Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar — Snow season; the ropeway keeps running, Higaku-no-yu opens on limited days
Food, culture & experiences
Shinhotaka Ropeway to Nishi-Hotakaguchi
2,156 m; 3,800 yen return. Nabedaira plateau lies between the two ropeways[5][6][12]
At the bus terminusKita-Alps Bridge
Links the Nakao and Nabedaira plateaus; the association recommends it especially for autumn colour[12]
By car from the village (time not confirmed)Nabedaira walking trail
A boardwalk through larch and alpine flowers inside Chubu-Sangaku National Park[12]
Between the two ropewaysClimbers' canteen at Higaku-no-yu
11:00–20:00, over 80 dishes centred on Hida beef[8]
In ShinhotakaEditors' guide
Take a morning bus from Takayama, get off at Shinhotaka Onsen one stop before the end and soak in Shinhotaka-no-yu (bring swimwear; late April–October). Bathe and eat at Nakazaki Sanso or Higaku-no-yu at midday, and ride the ropeway to Nishi-Hotakaguchi next morning. Check the association's notices for the day's status.
The "editors' guide" above is written by the editors from sources; it is not a visitor's opinion.
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Unconfirmed & notes
- Source temperatures, pH, analysis sheets and water colour could not be read on official pages
- The association page does not state whether Shinhotaka-no-yu is mixed; only that swimwear is required
- Solo-stay terms, seasonal ropeway hours and the Matsumoto–Hirayu fare were not confirmed
- Tattoo policy and disinfection/recirculation notices at the two day spas not confirmed
Sources
- 新穂高温泉観光協会 公式サイト(最新ニュース)新穂高温泉観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 新穂高の湯(新穂高温泉観光協会 施設)新穂高温泉観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 交通・アクセス(新穂高温泉観光協会)新穂高温泉観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 奥飛騨温泉郷観光協会 温泉奥飛騨温泉郷観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 新穂高ロープウェイ 公式サイト奥飛観光開発 · 2026-10-09
- 新穂高ロープウェイ 営業時間・運賃表奥飛観光開発 · 2026-10-09
- 中崎山荘 奥飛騨の湯(新穂高温泉観光協会 施設)新穂高温泉観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- ひがくの湯と登山者食堂(新穂高温泉観光協会 施設)新穂高温泉観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 新穂高温泉 - WikipediaWikipedia · 2026-10-09
- 濃飛バス 新穂高線濃飛乗合自動車 · 2026-10-09
- アルピコ交通 松本〜高山線アルピコ交通 · 2026-10-09
- おすすめSPOT(新穂高温泉観光協会)新穂高温泉観光協会 · 2026-10-09
Register sources
- 新穂高温泉 - Wikipedia(日本語版)Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2026-10-09
- Wikidata Q11503887Wikidata · CC0 · 2026-10-09
Data status
Name & locationPublishedCoordinatesPublishedSpring typePublishedPhotosPublishedFacilitiesPublishedVisiting info (dated)PublishedEditorial articlePublished
Updated 2026-10-09
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