Hotel Saginoyu

Hotel Saginoyu sits on the shore of Lake Suwa and draws its own hot spring source. The water runs a light amber-brown today; a century ago it was white with sulfur, and the deposits it left in the tub looked like white bird feathers, so people called the spring Saginoyu (鷺乃湯), heron's bath. It's also said a white heron used to land in the garden's pool to rest. The indoor and open-air baths swap between the men's and women's sides at night, and the garden keeps a small foot bath as well. Thirteen of the guest rooms have their own private open-air bath fed by the same source.