Kurokawaso

429. Kurokawaso, Kurokawa Onsen (pt.4 - private baths) 3. Private baths in the ryokan, available by reservation at check-in. 3.1. Private indoor bath #1. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish (but paler), temperature 42. The air inside is pleasant. 3.2. Private indoor bath #2, round shaped. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish, temperature 40. The air inside is pleasant. The most comfortable of the three. 3.3. Private indoor bath #3. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish, temperature 44, but you can cool it down — there's a cold water tap. Inside the bath there's a reclining zone. The air inside is pleasant. 4. Private baths in the room. 4.1. Outdoor square bath on the balcony. If you stand up in the bath, you get a forest view. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish. The temperature is layered — about 43 on top and about 40 at the bottom. 4.2. Indoor bath. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish, temperature 40.

429. Kurokawaso, Kurokawa Onsen (pt.3 - guest-only baths) 2. Bath zones available only for overnight guests. 2.1. First set, available by male/female rotation. 2.1.1. Large outdoor stone bath with a big rock inside and a steam vent zone that looks like an Alien egg, but with a little turtle next to it. View of trees and a rock face through a low fence. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish, temperature 40-41. 2.1.2. Indoor bath. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish, temperature 43. The air inside is pleasant. There's a sauna and a cold bath. 2.2. Second set, available by male/female rotation. 2.2.1. Outdoor stone bath with a view of rocks and trees through a low fence. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish (but paler), temperature 40. 2.2.2. Indoor bath. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish (but paler), temperature 43. The air inside is pleasant. There's a sauna and a cold bath.

429. Kurokawaso, Kurokawa Onsen (pt.2 - higaeri baths) 1. Bath zones available for higaeri. 1.1. First set, available by male/female rotation. 1.1.1. Outdoor bath with a view of a rock with a cave and trees through a low fence. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish, temperature 43. 1.1.2. Indoor bath. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish, temperature 42. The air inside is comfortable. 1.2. Second set, available by male/female rotation. 1.2.1. Outdoor stone bath with a view of trees through a low fence. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish, temperature 40-41. 1.2.2. Indoor bath. Water is clear, slightly murky greenish, temperature 42-43. The air inside is pleasant.

429. Kurokawaso, Kurokawa Onsen (pt.1 - general info and conclusion) Stayed overnight. Located 10 minutes west of central Kurokawa; along the way there's an additional lantern zone by the river beyond the central one during the season. Booked with dinner and breakfast for two, served in a separate room at regular chairs with a view of bamboo. I had a standard room booked, but it was snowing that day and many people couldn't make it to Kurokawa. So they gave me a free upgrade to a room in a separate cottage with two private baths. Each guest can reserve one of three private baths, but at my request they reserved all three for me at no extra charge. On top of the free bonuses, the service was excellent — everything was explained clearly, my requests were understood in English and acted on immediately. The upgraded room was in a cottage. Spacious, lots of room. The beds were standard doubles (same as my original booking, so they upgraded to an equivalent). The ryokan has two bath blocks: one for guests only and one available for higaeri. Each block has rotating male/female zones, and each zone has indoor and outdoor baths. So just the main indoor and outdoor baths total 8 (if staying overnight), plus 3 private baths in the ryokan, plus 2 private baths in the room (if you get that type). That's up to 13 baths during a ryokan stay. The higaeri bath block is usually available from 10:30 to 21:00, with occasional days off during the week. Included in the Kurokawa tegata. This is the most powerful ryokan in terms of number of available baths in one establishment in Kurokawa — 13. It makes perfect sense to stay here, since it's easier to track the male/female rotation in one place, plus there's a unique bath set exclusively for guests. An amazing place, and multiplied by the bonuses and service they provided me — beyond all praise.

For higaeri they only let you into one rotenburo and the Family Bath. Judging by photos, they also have a large, impressive rotenburo but only for overnight guests. The higaeri rotenburo has a large wooden bath in the changing area. Shower available. From the rotenburo itself you see rocks (visible in photos) and trees. There's a river behind the fence, but you can't see it. Overall nothing special. Located a bit away from the main village. If you're going to Sanga or Konoyu, you can grab this one along the way; otherwise, you can skip it.