Recommended onsen in Niigata

Murasugi Onsen is said to have been found in 1335, when Araki Masataka, a retainer of the Ashikaga clan fleeing war, dreamed of the Healing Buddha seven nights in a row, giving the spa some 700 years of history. Yakushinoyu No. 3 Well carries that name, gushing from a drilled well in Murasugi and supplying the inns of the spa town. Known since the Taisho era for its rich radon, the clear, mild water seems ordinary, yet soaking and breathing its steam lets a gentle warmth spread from within, suiting anyone seeking an unhurried toji stay among quiet cedar groves.

Nestled in the scenic town of Matsuyama, this spring has long been cherished for relieving traveler fatigue, boasting robust eagle-like properties. The hypertonic chloride waters envelop the skin, smoothly expelling excess fluids and metabolic waste. The lightness after bathing and deep-penetrating warmth soothe the mind and body, freeing you from daily stress. Ideal for those with chronic stiffness or cold extremities, and perfect for weekend rejuvenation.

Named after the warlord Uesugi Kagetora, who met his end at Samegao Castle, the Kagetora no Yu source was drilled in 2017 in the hills of Jinguji, Myoko, below the castle ruins. Piped from the slopes at about 39°C, its dense salty water steeps into the skin and lets warmth linger long after bathing, while iron stains the rocks reddish brown. It suits travelers tracing Sengoku-era history who want to warm up to the core on chilly days.

Nestled in the scenic town of Matsuyama, this spring has long been cherished for relieving traveler fatigue, boasting robust eagle-like properties. The hypertonic chloride waters envelop the skin, smoothly expelling excess fluids and metabolic waste. The lightness after bathing and deep-penetrating warmth soothe the mind and body, freeing you from daily stress. Ideal for those with chronic stiffness or cold extremities, and perfect for weekend rejuvenation.

Tochiomata Onsen, in the mountains of Uonuma, is the oldest healing retreat of the Yunotani hot spring area; said to have been found some 1,200 years ago, it is known for the saying "bathe for a week and you won't catch a cold for a year." Tochiomata No. 1 rises naturally from granite ground at around 35°C and flows, unheated and undiluted, into the three shared "sacred spring" baths, Shita-no-Yu, Ue-no-Yu and Oku-no-Yu. Shita-no-Yu sits directly above the source, and the old custom of soaking quietly for one to two hours lives on.

Nestled in the scenic town of Matsuyama, this spring has long been cherished for relieving traveler fatigue, boasting robust eagle-like properties. The hypertonic chloride waters envelop the skin, smoothly expelling excess fluids and metabolic waste. The lightness after bathing and deep-penetrating warmth soothe the mind and body, freeing you from daily stress. Ideal for those with chronic stiffness or cold extremities, and perfect for weekend rejuvenation.

Yasuda Onsen rises in the farmland of Yasuda, Agano, on the right bank of the Agano River with the Gozu Mountains behind it. Pumped from underground at 19.9°C and 105 liters per minute, the water was found in its 2024 analysis to carry 23,161 mg of dissolved matter per kilogram—a "strong brine" with salinity approaching that of seawater. Sodium makes up about 85% of the cations and chloride more than 90% of the anions. It also contains 34.1 mg of iodide and 84.6 mg of bromide, hinting at ancient seawater trapped in the strata as fossil brine, along with a generous 413.7 mg of free carbon dioxide. Nearly colorless and clear, it tastes strongly salty with a faint metallic edge. Think of it as a taciturn Sea of Japan fisherman: plain at first sight, yet its dense, briny strength wraps the body firmly and leaves a warmth that lingers long after bathing.

Deyu Onsen, said to have been opened by Kobo Daishi some 1,200 years ago, is regarded as Niigata's oldest spa and forms the Gozu hot spring area with Murasugi and Imaita. Seiko-kan has over 300 years of history, and its three-story wooden building from 1928 is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The low-temperature spring of about 30°C flows naturally in modest volume, so the inn heats it with a boiler and feeds it in from the tub floor, free-flowing without recirculation or chlorine, and covers the tubs with lids to keep the precious water warm.