Shukuba no yu

This small communal bathhouse in the hills above Yuzawa has a single indoor tub of onsen water that's soft and gentle on the skin, plus a sauna and a small cold plunge, but no outdoor bath. The men's side has a big window that keeps it bright and open anyway, and the two sides are kept separate. A counter by the entrance sells basics like instant noodles, ice cream and towels, and there's a tatami room to rest in afterward. It sits in a quiet spot near the Tashiro ropeway and the Tairappyo-yama trailhead, with little else around, so hikers and skiers often stop in on their way through. A small display of illustrations by the children's book artist Kawakami Shiro (川上四郎) sits near the entrance.