ONSEN & STAY OAKHILL

Lodging

Zaō Onsen

Tohoku·Yamagata

+81 23-610-9602 zao-oakhill.com

Contact form

Day Use

Yes

07:00–10:00, 13:00–21:00

for guests staying at Takamiya Hotel Group hotels

¥0

This isn't public day-use bathing. It's the free Takamiya tour (湯舎めぐりの旅) exchange: guests staying at any Meito Takamiya (名湯一門高見屋) group hotel, except Shinzanso Takamiya, can use this bath at no charge, arranged the same day, subject to closures or crowding.

Bathing & Water

Natural onsen water

Uses natural hot spring water

Outdoor BathYes

Open-air outdoor bath

Indoor BathYes

Enclosed indoor bathing area

Bathing Arrangements

Room OnsenNo

Private onsen bath in guest rooms, for overnight guests only

The property lists onsen, main bath and outdoor bath as its only bath types; guest rooms have an ordinary ensuite bath, not their own onsen tub.

Mixed BathingNo

Shared bathing area for all genders

Baths are separated by gender, with the men's and women's areas swapped daily at 19:00 to 19:30.

Policies & Services

WashingYes

Shower, wash stations, soap and shampoo provided

高見屋2号源泉

Takamiya No. 2 Spring

Operated by · ONSEN&STAY OAKHILL

酸

Acidic

+ 含硫黄泉 · Sulfate · Chloride

Hot source · 48°CUltra-acidicHigh silicaSulfur-rich

Known good for

Skin conditionsatopic skin, eczema
Circulationtired legs
Aches & jointsstiff shoulders

Sensitive-skin cautionbroken or dry skin

Sharp, prickly acidic water from the Takamiya No. 2 source at Zao Onsen, classified on the certificate as an acidic, sulfur-bearing sulfate-chloride spring. The acidity is strong enough to sting slightly on contact, and free hydrogen sulfide adds the unmistakable rotten-egg note of a sulfur-bearing spring. Moderately mineralized at roughly 2,600 mg/kg of dissolved solids, it has noticeable body without the heaviness of a brine. Metasilicic acid at 204.8 mg/kg leaves the kind of thin silica film that makes skin feel smoother afterwards. The sample behind these figures was drawn at the bath inlet rather than the wellhead.

Sampled at bath inlet·Analyzed Aug 30, 2024·株式会社丹野

Explore the water

Views

Forest

Mountains

About

ONSEN & STAY OAKHILL is a bed-and-breakfast style hotel in Zao Onsen, part of the Meito Takamiya (名湯一門高見屋) inn group. The water is kakenagashi, source-fed rather than recirculated, and runs milky white and strongly acidic, among the most acidic in a hot spring town already known for it; guests who've soaked describe skin left smooth. There's a roofed outdoor bath with separate rock and hinoki cypress tubs for men and women, plus an indoor bath, with the men's and women's sides swapped nightly. Rooms come in Japanese, Japanese-Western and Western styles with mountain views, and the lobby lounge is built around an open fireplace where families roast marshmallows. Guests here can also join the group's free bath exchange, the Takamiya tour (湯舎めぐりの旅), hopping between other Meito Takamiya inns' baths around Zao Onsen; it isn't open to outside visitors.

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4.0

1 review

Sergey M

7 months ago· edited

757. ONSEN & STAY OAKHILL, Zao Onsen, Yamagata ★★ I visited for a day-use bath as a guest staying at a Takamiya Hotel Group property. Day-use hours are listed as 07:00 to 10:00 and 13:00 to 21:00. The baths alternate between men and women, I only used one set. According to different sources, the swap happens either at 19:00-19:30 (official website) or at 13:00 (a printout at the hotel in January). 1. Lower outdoor bath, in stone. In January, there was a very nice view of large icicles hanging down. The water was acidic, cloudy white-gray. Temperature was 42. 2. Upper rectangular outdoor bath. View of the trees through the fence. The water was acidic, cloudy white-gray. Temperature was 43. 3. Indoor bath. The water was acidic, cloudy white-gray. Temperature was 43. It was easy to breathe inside, even though there was a lot of steam. A good set of onsen, especially impressive with the icicles. Recommended for a visit. 09.01.2026

Anastasia

1 year ago

Another sulfur onsen with a scenic rotenburo that let us in for free because we were staying at one of the chain's hotels. Besides four baths at different temperatures (two indoor, two outdoor), the lobby has a free drink bar with coffee, tea, and local souvenir wafers. They also gave us free towels.