Thermal Baths in Takayama

Can anyone recommend any of these 3 locations and can anyone go to these even if you are not staying at the Inns?

Fukuji Onsen
Hirayu
Tochio

Hirayu Onsen is the only one I know. It is a good long way from Takayama city. (To be precise, an hour's ride on the express bus. Info here: https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/highwaybus/matsumoto_en/ There are many baths in onsen hotels in the valley at Hirayu -- there is also a public bath in the bus station, which is open to everyone. (Some of the hotel baths are also likely to offer "day rates" for people to just come in and use the facilities.)

You could easily do a day trip, but Hirayu is one of the gateways to Kamikochi National park and (depending on the time of year) I would strongly recommend taking enough time to stay a night and see the beauty of Kamikochi. (The shuttle buses leave from Hirayu bus station, where the public bath is located.)

The Green Hotel is 10 mins walk from Takayama station, they have a very nice Onsen. It costs ¥1000 if you aren’t staying there, has 2 indoor baths and a rock edged pool outside, towels and all toiletries included.

I took the bus to Hirayu, as per suggestion in LP and found it wonderful. It was the month of April and on the day I went it was raining in Takayama and heavily snowing on the way up to the mountains. The bus ride took one hour, and was very easy and pleasant as a day trip. At first I was confused and went to the one in the bus station, because no one spoke English and I thought it would be obvious where to go. That one is nothing special. But across the parking lot is a Hotel with the onsen mentioned in LP. It was fantastic. Many different baths inside and out and the experience was unforgettable and cheap.

I took the bus to Hirayu, as per suggestion in LP and found it wonderful. It was the month of April and on the day I went it was raining in Takayama and heavily snowing on the way up to the mountains. The bus ride took one hour, and was very easy and pleasant as a day trip. At first I was confused and went to the one in the bus station, because no one spoke English and I thought it would be obvious where to go. That one is nothing special. But across the parking lot is a Hotel with the onsen mentioned in LP. It was fantastic. Many different baths inside and out and the experience was unforgettable and cheap.

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.