NOZAWA / VILLAGE JOURNAL

Nozawa Onsen Soto-yu: Oyu

Start with the village’s wooden bathhouse. Oyu is a window into Nozawa Onsen’s everyday bathing traditions.

On a rainy night, people in yukata walk with umbrellas outside Oyu in Nozawa Onsen.
Image credit
Zacharymccune · CC BY-SA 4.0 Source ↗
Converted to WebP and cropped to the display frame.

01 / TRAVEL NOTES

Let Oyu’s bathhouse guide you into the village

Oyu stands in the centre of the village, its wooden bathhouse an unmistakable Nozawa Onsen landmark even before you step inside. The pools are divided into hotter and cooler water. Check the temperature before entering either one.

Oyu is one of thirteen public baths maintained by local groups known as yu-nakama. A village bath is different from a hotel’s bathing facilities, so take a moment to understand the etiquette before visiting.

02 / TRAVEL NOTES

What to bring and how to bathe

Bring a towel and the toiletries you need, and wash before entering the bath. Keep towels out of the water. If water is added to adjust the temperature, the official advice is to stop it once the bath is comfortable to enter. Share the space considerately; a small contribution in the donation box helps the yu-nakama maintain it.

Bring a towel and a change of clothes before leaving your accommodation.
Check the current bathing hours; do not plan a visit late at night outside those hours.
Test the water before entering and be considerate of other bathers.

Explore the thirteen baths and bathing etiquette ↗

03 / TRAVEL NOTES

For more facilities, compare Furusato-no-yu

If you want showers, supplied toiletries and an open-air bath at a day-use facility, consider Furusato-no-yu as well. You can enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional public bath on one outing and use the more equipped facility on another.