Tsubame Onsen Karafuto Kan

Karafutokan sits at over 1,000 meters on Mt. Myoko, a small ryokan known for its strong sulfur water running fresh through indoor and outdoor baths. The outdoor bath closes in the heavier snow months, but two public open-air baths, Kogane-no-yu (黄金の湯) and Kawara-no-yu (河原の湯), are a short walk away and are included for guests. The ryokan is a member of Nihon Hitou wo Mamoru Kai (日本秘湯を守る会), the society for preserving remote hot springs. The Showa-era building is well-kept and run by a mother and son; dinner leans on mountain vegetables and comes with an unusually wide selection of local sake.