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Oyu Hot Spring

野沢温泉 外湯 大湯のざわおんせん そとゆ おおゆ

Public Bathhouse
Chubu·Nagano

Day Use

Yes
06:00–23:00
¥0

Free entry, there is a donation box at the entrance

Bathing & Water

Natural onsen water

Uses natural hot spring water

Outdoor BathNo

Open-air outdoor bath

Indoor BathYes

Enclosed indoor bathing area

SaunaNo

Sauna room of any kind

Bathing Arrangements

Private BathNo

Private bath available for day-use visitors or hotel guests to reserve

Mixed BathingNo

Shared bathing area for all genders

Policies & Services

WashingNo

Shower, wash stations, soap and shampoo provided

TowelsNo

Towels available to rent or borrow

Rest AreaNo

Relaxation space for after bathing

ParkingNo

On-site or nearby parking available

大湯

Oyu Spring

Operated by · 一般財団法人 野沢会

Sulfur
Color
colorless and clear
Taste
sulfurous
Odor
moderate hydrogen sulfide

Sodium-Calcium Sulfate-Chloride spring

Sulfur-richHigh silica
Composition fingerprint0.8 g/kg dissolved · Hypotonic
Na⁺72
Ca²⁺27
SO₄²⁻58
Cl⁻23
CationsAnions
Sodium Na⁺
salt's cation — pairs with chloride to make the water salty.
Sulfate SO₄²⁻
"gypsum / Glauber's salt" — vessels and wound healing.
Known good for
  • Skin conditionsatopic skin, eczema
  • Circulationtired legs
  • Aches & jointsstiff shoulders
  • Sensitive-skin cautionbroken or dry skin

A simple sulfur spring: colorless and clear, yet carrying a mid-strength rotten-egg note of hydrogen sulfide and a distinct sulfurous taste. Hydrogen sulfide ion reaches 31 mg/kg — many times the threshold that earns a spring its sulfur designation — with a little more arriving as free H₂S. The water is weakly alkaline and soft on the skin, and at 0.77 g/kg of dissolved solids it stays light rather than assertive; 98.5 mg/kg of metasilicic acid leaves the thin silica film that puts it in Japan's beauty-water family. The sample was drawn not at the wellhead but at the distribution box that splits the water out toward the baths.

Sampled at delivery pipe·Analyzed Jun 28, 2016·環境未来株式会社 総合検査センター·Cert no. 1601934-001

Explore the water

Highlights

Drinking Spring

About

Oyu (大湯) is the largest and best-known of the 13 communal sotoyu (外湯) in Nozawa Onsen village, and is widely considered the symbol of the village. The bath has been maintained by a local community system called yu-nakama (湯仲間) since the Edo period. Inside are two sulfur-water tubs side by side: atsu-yu (あつ湯), genuinely very hot, and nuru-yu (ぬる湯), somewhat cooler. No rotenburo, no sauna. There is also a drinking spring on the premises. Entry is free, with a donation box at the entrance to support upkeep. Bring your own towel and soap.

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5.0

1 review

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Sergey M
7 months ago

824. Oyu Hot Spring, Nozawa Onsen, Nagano ★★★ The main old-school onsen in Nozawa, they even print it on T-shirts. Free of charge. Hours are listed as 06:00 to 23:00. They stamp the Nozawa Onsen Shuin Meguri stamp. No staff, no showers. Indoor area. It is easy to breathe inside. You can use the bucket shelf as a stick for stirring the water. 1. Near bath. The water is clear with a slight green tint, with some fine white mineral deposits. Temperature 44.5. 2. Far bath. The water is clear with a slight green tint, with more fine white mineral deposits. Temperature 48. It is great both outside and inside. A truly top-tier old-school onsen in Nozawa. 17.01.2026

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Last updated August 10, 2026