Yudanaka Onsen

Yudanaka Onsen Review

Photographs of snow-covered white macaques cavorting in open-air thermal pools have made Yudanaka Onsen famous. Northeast of Nagano, nine open-air hot springs are between Yudanaka Onsen and Shibu Spa Resort. The onsen where the monkeys soak is known as Jigoku-dani (Hell Valley), and is just east of Yudanaka and Shibu. Yudanaka is the last stop on the Nagano Dentetsu Line; the trip from Nagano takes 40 minutes and costs ¥1,230. Several spas string out from here. The area is not unlike Yellowstone National Park, with its bubbling, steaming, sulfurous volcanic vents and pools. Considerable development, however, including more than 100 inns and hotels, several streets, and shops, ends the comparison. The spas are the gateway to Shiga Kogen (Shiga Heights), site of Olympic alpine skiing and the snowboarding slalom. There are several inexpensive ryokan in Yudanaka, which makes an overnight trip worthwhile if you have time.