Uematsuya

Uematsuya is a ryokan in Bessho Onsen, one of Nagano's oldest hot spring towns, known locally as the "Kamakura of Shinshu" for its many temples. Guests rotate through six baths, indoor and open-air, swapped between genders through the day: a hinoki cypress bath that looks over the onsen town, a stone-lined outdoor bath, and a reservable private bath, Takenoyu, bookable after check-in. The water runs clear with a faint sulfur scent, kept flowing fresh from the source, and locals say it leaves skin smooth. The inn leans into solo travel, with a themed single room tied to the warlord Sanada clan, who local lore says once used the Bessho spring as a hidden bath.