Zao Astraea Hotel

A hotel up on the Zao ski slopes, with a rock-lined open-air bath that looks out toward the Asahi mountain range. The water there is sulfur spring water, run kakenagashi (fresh, not recirculated). Inside there are separate men's and women's large baths, but those use artificial hot-spring-style water rather than the natural spring, so the open-air bath is the reason to come. Washing areas are stocked with shampoo, conditioner and body soap, and there is parking on the ground floor. Non-guests can do higaeri nyuyoku (日帰り入浴) as a plan that pairs the open-air bath with a drink break.