Okutateshina Onsen Town Shibu Gotenyu

Shibu Gotenyu (渋御殿湯) sits at the trailhead for Tengu Peak in the mountains of Oku-Tateshina (奥蓼科), deep in the Nagano highlands. The inn has two baths: the east bath, where spring water rises directly from the floor (a style called ashimoto-yushutsu, 足元湧出), and the west bath with a washing area. Both run on fresh, unrecirculated spring water that leaves a faint tingly sensation on the skin from its acidity. Day visitors use the west bath; the foot-spring east bath is reserved for overnight guests. The building itself has a well-worn wooden charm, the kind of place people come to for a few days of quiet therapeutic soaking rather than a resort experience.