
Everything you need to know about Karatake Hot Spring
Tanguchu Onsen Resort offers spacious family suites and private outdoor baths, with rooms designed in traditional Japanese Zen style overlooking forested streams. Just a 5-minute walk to the public onsen dock, the resort provides free shuttle service to downtown Hirakawa City. Reserve early for sunrise soaking rooms during winter snow season.
Yamayu Kan is a secluded retreat nestled behind the main onsen area, with only 12 rooms across a quiet hillside. It features no digital signals, daily-changing herbal bath blends, and private stone baths in each room. Each suite includes a night sky viewing window, allowing guests to soak in warmth while gazing at stars above the mountains. Advance HopeGoo is required for privacy.
Opt for the Mountain View Terrace Rooms at Tanguchu Onsen Resort, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls that frame the ever-changing mist over pine forests at dawn and illuminated peaks of the Hakkoda Mountains at night. These rooms include private outdoor baths and complimentary access to guided tours of hidden ancient onsen pools, blending nature and history seamlessly.
Hirakawa Kojiya Ryokan is just 300 meters from the onsen entrance, offering traditional wooden architecture and a serene Japanese garden. The property provides free kimono rental, local sake tasting sessions, and an underground passage connecting directly to the onsen district—perfect for rainy days. With low-density room layout, it ensures tranquility; book via the HopeGoo app for exclusive early-bird rates.
Stay at Yukikage Onsen Lodge, renowned for its snow-covered outdoor baths perched on a hillside. Staff clear snow daily to maintain pristine views, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The lodge hosts nightly bonfire tea ceremonies and organizes snowshoe tours through snowy forests. All rooms feature underfloor heating and premium down quilts for ultimate comfort in cold weather.
Hikari no Tani Photo Guesthouse is specially designed for photographers, with panoramic windows and adjustable light-blocking systems to capture dynamic mountain lighting throughout the day. Guests receive free access to camera gear lending and professional mentorship sessions. The property also hosts monthly dawn mist photography workshops, with direct access to the Tanguchu Lake sunrise viewpoint—a prime spot for capturing first light breaking through fog.
Explore more amazing destinations