Pension Grindelwald

In front of this small pension in Norikura Kogen is a free footbath, open to anyone walking by and not just guests staying here. The bath itself is indoors and private, a hinoki (檜) walled room with kiso sawara (木曽サワラ) wood tubs, plus a sauna. It runs as a family bath (kashikiri, 貸切) unless the pension is fully booked, in which case it splits by gender. The water comes from Norikura Suzuran Onsen (乗鞍すずらん温泉) and is kept flowing fresh, kakenagashi (掛け流し). It's a mild, neutral spring, gentle on the skin, and the warmth from a soak lingers well after you get out. The pension takes its name from the Swiss village of Grindelwald, a sister town of Matsumoto, and keeps an alpine, homey feel throughout. It's a short walk from the Norikura Kogen ski slopes, and guests often mention a friendly owner and good home-cooked dinners.