Akashi Onsen

545. 赤石温泉, Fujikawa, Yamanashi ★★★ Visited for higaeri at 800. Higaeri hours are listed as 09:30 to 16:00 (no info on specific days online, but they said by phone that higaeri is weekends only — yet they let me in on Monday for the indoor bath). They stamp the Yamanashi 100 Onsen book. Listed among the Hitou ("secret hot springs"). There's an amazing rotenburo and an unusual indoor bath. During my visit, only the indoor bath was available for higaeri. Unusual indoor bath. Inside is really cool and atmospheric. According to the schedule, it alternates between men and women in short time slots. The changing rooms are separate but both lead to the same bathing area. It may have been mixed bathing before. One bath with clear slightly murky brown water, temperature around 40. Breathing inside is good. The rotenburo is located separately from the ryokan building and looks amazing. They didn't let me use it (it was either being cleaned or something else — I couldn't understand due to the language barrier). But the owner gave me a very detailed tour of the men's rotenburo, and then the women's one too. The women's one turned out to be about three times smaller and simpler-looking. Great place. With its old-school vibes, friendly Japanese staff, and interesting onsens — I immediately wanted to stay overnight here. I'd recommend considering it for both accommodation and higaeri. But getting there won't be very convenient without a car. 12.05.2025