Jigokudani Onsen

Nagano · 地獄谷温泉

Jigokudani Onsen is a hot spring town in Nagano, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 62.2–75.6°C, hot. Officially the water is classed as chloride spring, sulfate spring and sulfur spring. Its sources put out around 134 litres a minute. 1 inns take visitors here.

Getting there

From Tokyoabout 2½ h

CarNot needed

JR PassNot a JR line

Train to Yudanaka Station
Local bus, about 10 min

Fly into Haneda or Narita. Times are rough estimates worked out from station locations, not a timetable — check the exact route on Google Maps.

Chloride springSulfate springSulfur spring

The water here

Chloride spring 塩化物泉

Salty water. The salt leaves a thin film on the skin, so you stay warm well after leaving the bath.

Sulfate spring 硫酸塩泉

Clear water with a faintly bitter taste. Known for holding heat.

Sulfur spring 硫黄泉

The classic rotten-egg smell and milky white water. It can tarnish silver jewellery, so take it off.

More photographs

From Wikimedia Commons. Tap a photo for the photographer and licence.

Things to see nearby

Takanashi clan fortified residenceCastle · 7.7 km

Mount YakebitaiMountain · 6.2 km

Higashidateyama Ski AreaSki area · 4.7 km

Shiga Kōgen Ski ResortSki area · 4.9 km

Kaminari FallsWaterfall · 8.1 km

Nyohō-ji TempleTemple · 7.1 km

Places from Wikidata, photographs from Wikimedia Commons. Distances are in a straight line from the town.

With tattoos

Many public baths still turn away visible tattoos, and the rule is set by each bath, not by the town. The reliable way round it is to bathe privately: a room with its own open-air bath, or an inn with a private bath you can book for yourselves.

Rooms with an open-air bath — Nagano Inns with a private bath — Nagano