Country
Japan
Reviews
No reviews yet
Family friendly
Yes
Season
Year-round
About Hottarakashi Onsen
Hottarakashi Onsen is a day-use hot spring on a hillside at Yatsubo in Yamanashi City, looking out over the Kofu basin towards Mount Fuji. It is a commercial bathhouse, famous for open-air baths that open about an hour before sunrise so bathers can watch dawn over the mountains. There are two separate bathhouses: Kocchi no Yu, the original and quieter one, and Acchi no Yu, a larger and more open newer bath. Each is divided into men's and women's sides; there is no mixed bathing. As at any Japanese onsen, bathing is nude and swimsuits are not allowed (the only exception the operator mentions is a bath cover for breast-cancer patients). Unusually for Japan, guests with tattoos may bathe. Towels are sold, not rented. Two food stalls serve simple meals, one known for raw-egg rice bowls and curry from sunrise, the other for udon and ramen, and a shop sells local fruit and wine. The baths are open every day of the year, from roughly an hour before sunrise until 22:00.
Legal context & local rules
Nude bathing in gender-separated onsen is normal and lawful in Japan; the baths here are not mixed.
Japan strictly prohibits public nudity under Article 174 of the Penal Code (public indecency). However, onsen (hot springs) and sento (public baths) have a centuries-old tradition of communal nudity that is legally protected as cultural practice. Mixed-gender bathing is increasingly rare. Designated naturist beaches do not exist.
What’s here
Getting there and visiting
By train, take the JR Chuo Line limited express from Shinjuku to Yamanashi-shi Station (about 90 minutes), then a taxi of about 10 minutes (around 2,400 yen one way, per the operator). By car it is about 25 minutes from the Katsunuma or Ichinomiya-Misaka interchanges of the Chuo Expressway; parking is free with 280 spaces. No booking is needed. Entry in 2026 was 900 yen for adults and 400 yen for children up to the end of elementary school, per bath; a small towel costs 200 yen. Last entry is 21:30.
Before you go
- 1 Check the current local rules and access conditions before travelling.
- 2 Bring a towel and sit on it when using shared seating.
- 3 Never take photographs of other people without clear consent.
- 4 Respect the venue’s clothing, privacy, and behaviour rules.
Location
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35.7063, 138.6521
Frequently asked questions
Is Hottarakashi Onsen mixed-gender?
No. Both bathhouses have separate men's and women's sides; mixed bathing is not offered.
Can I wear a swimsuit?
No, swimsuits are not allowed; bathing is nude as at any onsen.
What time does it open?
About one hour before sunrise, which varies from around 4:00 in summer to 6:00 in winter, until 22:00 (last entry 21:30).
How much does it cost?
In 2026 it was 900 yen per adult and 400 yen per child for one bath; towels are sold separately.
Are tattoos allowed?
Yes, the operator states that guests with tattoos may bathe.
Sources
Researched 24 October 2026 .
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