I was apprehensive that the most famous pool was a mixed gender bath. But it wasn't too bad after all. The female entrance to that rotemburo (outdoor pool) was concealed, and once you are in the milky water, hardly anything can be seen beneath the water surface anyway. If you are going as a day tripper, don't forget to bring... More

This onsen hotel is located far away from major Japanese cities, but is very popular to Japanese people adicted to onsen experience. Reservation starts half year before, and good rooms are soon fully booked. Thus, we were pleased to reserve a fine room for a stay in August by calling them at the begining of February. We stayed two nights,... More

Spent 2 nights here with friends. Getting there was an adventure, though quite easy (and scenic). We arrived via the inn's free shuttle bus and were transported into a winter wonderland, deep in the snow-covered woods. When we finally arrived at the old inn itself (I believe it's 200-300 years old!), we were greeted with charming wooden structures, very Japanese... More

For those looking for a secret onsen experience, there must be better options than this place. The heavily sulfuric water has the worst rotten egg smell - it will cling to your skin and follow you everywhere. The room I had was pretty sad, and the onsen on the whole was rather small and unspectacular. Good food, and the staff... More

This onsen is where the Japanese come to holiday and so, although staff are extremely helpful and friendly, the onsen resort is not really geared up for international visitors (which adds to its charm). Some Japanese language skill is recommended, both to navigate your way here and to get around the onsen accommodation itself without breaching the communal bathing etiquette.... More

our trip to tsurunoyu onsen is probably one of my favorite vacation memories. i'm really glad we made this diversion on the way up to hokkaido. it's pretty spartan and bare bones but it was clean and so charming. the buildings are traditional wooden buildings which look straight from a children's book in the heavy snowfall. we booked a room... More

Tsurunoyu Onsen: Very hidden away, segregated and mixed nude bathing, has sulfurous milky green spa water not too hot or too cool (I could spend hours in the water without overheating, and the snow coming down on us in the outdoor pool -- perfectly heavenly), delicious traditional Japanese food, rustic rooms, mostly Japanese clientele, precious little English spoken but very... More