As the origin of the name Shirahone Onsen, the hot water of Shirahone Onsen contains a large amount of lime carbonate, which causes precipitated calcium carbonate (lime flower) to adhere around the Onsen spout.
A fumarole is a hill-like formation that gradually rises as the limestone deposits continue to accumulate. It is said that there are more than 100 fumarole hills in Shirahone.
Here at Shirahone Onsen, limestone deposits are spread over the entire area, and the amount of deposits is said to be the largest in Japan.
The amount of limestone deposits here is said to be the largest in Japan, and some of them are very rare spherical limestone formations, which are designated as special natural monuments of Japan.
The Shirahone Onsen Tourist Information Center is about an 8-minute walk away, so you can walk around the area and feel the long history of Shirahone Onsen.
Ryujin no Taki Waterfall is located along Nagano Prefectural Road 300 leading to Shirahone Onsen, about a four-minute walk from the Shirahone Onsen resort area.
Although the waterfall is small in scale, with a drop of only a few meters, it is beautiful and graceful, with countless white threads of water gliding over the green moss. It is very mysterious to see water constantly gushing out of the limestone bedrock with countless holes.
The mysterious appearance of the waterfall can be enjoyed throughout the year: in early spring when the contrast of fresh green leaves and melting snow is wonderful, in autumn when the ground surface is brightly colored after the autumn leaves have fallen, and in winter when the waterfall becomes an ice pillar.
There is also a natural tunnel called "Tsuidoshi," which was formed by the rapid flow of the nearby Yugawa River eroding limestone, and a scenic spot called "Kansuikei" near the tunnel's exit.
It is recommended that visitors stroll through all three places to experience the " five-colorful and splendid view”
Located in the central part of the Northern Alps, within the Chubu-Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi is one of Japan's representative mountain scenic spots at an altitude of 1,500 meters. It is designated as a national cultural asset (special scenic beauty spot and special natural monument).
The mountains of the Northern Alps (such as the Hotaka mountain range and Mt. Yarigatake) have long been the object of mountain worship, and Kamikochi is a pioneer mountain resort area in Japan.
Kamikochi is only an hour's bus ride from Shirahone Onsen , and is not accessible by private vehicles in order to protect and preserve its precious nature throughout the year. It is such a naturally beautiful and special place.
There are many things to see and do in Kamikochi. The magnificent mountains, beautiful ponds and wetlands, clear streams, and other spectacular sights will captivate your eyes. The beauty of the area has made it a popular destination for many repeat visitors.
Like Kamikochi, Norikura Kogen is located in the Chubu-Sangaku National Park in the central part of the Northern Alps, at the foot of Norikura-dake, which rises 3,026 meters above sea level (elevation: 1200 to 1,800 meters).
Norikura Plateau is a mountainous area, but it is also known as the "living Alps" where people have lived since ancient times.
Various outdoor sports can be enjoyed throughout the year, and many lodging facilities are available, so it is also used as a work vacation.
Of course, you can also enjoy trekking, mountain hiking, and mountain climbing to feel the magnificent nature.
Shirahone Onsen is about 20 minutes away by car, so it is possible to visit while taking a drive for a stroll.
In winter, the area is covered with powder snow, making it a popular snow resort and a popular destination for many visitors.
Shirahone Onsen is a Onsen resort located almost in the center of Japan, on the west side of Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture, surrounded by the peaks of the Northern Alps (also known as the Hida Mountains) that stretch to the border with Toyama Prefecture, at the eastern foot of the sacred mountain Norikura-dake.
Surrounded by deep wilderness at an altitude of 1,400 m and surrounded by forests and valleys, it has long been a place where visitors to the Onsens have come to enjoy the quality and efficacy of its springs. In the Taisho era (1912-1926), this hidden Onsen appeared in a famous novel, and its existence became more widely known throughout Japan
As the name suggests, this milky white Onsen is not highly acidic and does not irritate the skin, making it a Onsen that can be enjoyed by everyone from young children to the elderly.
Shirahone Onsen is located so deep in the mountains that it is called a "hidden Onsen." The quality of the Onsen water is, of course, excellent, but the best part is that you can enjoy a panoramic view of nature and take a relaxing bath while experiencing the natural beauty of the area.
This is a Onsen where you can be truly healed by the grandeur of nature felt not only visually but also through all five senses.
There are many sightseeing spots nearby that offer a sense of nature and history, and walking trails through the mountains and forests are well maintained, so you can truly relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city while enjoying the Onsen baths.
If you go a little further, you can access Norikura Plateau, Kamikochi, and downtown Matsumoto, so you can enjoy sightseeing in the Northern Alps and historical sightseeing in Matsumoto City from Shirahone Onsen.
Get to know Shirahone Onsen
Area guide
This Onsen resort is located in the western urban area of Matsumoto City, a popular tourist destination in Nagano Prefecture, almost in the center of Japan.
Surrounded by the peaks of the Northern Alps (also known as the Hida Mountains), which stretch to the border with Toyama Prefecture, it is a mountain Onsen located at an elevation of 1,400 meters above sea level, halfway up the eastern foot of the sacred mountain Norikura-dake.
Along the Yugawa River flowing through the Yugawa Valley, there are more than a dozen Onsen bathhouses scattered between mountain forests, and dozens of Onsen sources.
Although the town is not so much a Onsen resort, there are souvenir shops and eateries where visitors can spend a relaxing time.
The greatest attraction of this Onsen resort is that it is located in a deep and magnificent natural environment, and visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of nature spread out below them in the open-air baths at each Onsen bathhouse and public bathing facilities.
Not only visually, but you can feel the blessings of the earth through all five senses: the murmuring of the river, the chirping of birds, the rustling of trees, the scent of Onsens and trees, and Onsens that feel soft and soothing on the skin.
In the neighborhood, there are many spots where you can feel nature and history, such as the "spherical limestone hill," which is a national natural monument and is also the outlet of the Shirahone Onsens, the beautiful "Ryujin no Taki" waterfall with its countless white thread-like water streams, and the "Yakushido (Medicine Hall)" which has been believed in by healers from long ago with the wish to cure illnesses.
There are also many spots where visitors can feel nature and history.
There are also well-maintained walking trails that allow visitors to walk through the mountain forests, so you can truly refresh and relax while visiting such spots, along with the Onsens.
Also, if you go a little further, you can access the famous scenic spots of the Northern Alps, such as Norikura-dake, Norikura-kogen, Kamikochi, and downtown Matsumoto, so we recommend using the hotel as a base for visiting these scenic spots and historical sites.
Access
From Tokyo
<Shinkansen / Train / Bus> Tokyo Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) → Nagano Station (JR Shinetsu Line) → Matsumoto Station (Matsumoto Electric Railway Line) → Niijima Station/Niijima Station bus stop (Alpico Transportation) → Sawando Bus Terminal (Alpico Transportation) → Shirahone Onsen (approximately 4 hours 30 minutes)
< Bus> Shinjuku Station/Basta Shinjuku (Alpico Kotsu) → Matsumoto Station (Matsumoto Electric Railway Line) → Niijima Station/Niijima Station Bus Stop (Alpico Kotsu) → Sawando Bus Terminal (Alpico Kotsu) → Shirahone Onsen (approx. 5 hours)
From Kanazawa
<Train/Bus> Kanazawa Station (IR Ishikawa Railway Line) → Toyama Station (JR Takayama Line Hida) → Takayama Station / Takayama Nobi Bus Terminal (Alpico Transportation) → Sawando Bus Terminal (Alpico Transportation) → Shirahone Onsen (about 5 hours)
From Nagoya
<Train/Bus> Nagoya Station (JR Tokaido Line Hida) → Takayama Station/Takayama Nobi Bus Terminal (Alpico Kotsu) → Sawando Bus Terminal (Alpico Kotsu) → Shirahone Onsen (about 5 hours)
From Osaka
<Shinkansen / Train / Bus> Shin-Osaka Station (Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi) → Nagoya Station (JR Chuo West Line Express) → Matsumoto Station (Matsumoto Electric Railway Line) → Niijima Station/Niijima Station bus stop (Alpico Transportation) → Sawando Bus Terminal (Alpico Transportation) → Shirahone Onsen (approximately 4 hours 50 minutes)
Water quality
Since ancient times, Shirahone Onsen has been said to be so effective that "if you stay in the Onsen for three days, you will not catch a cold for three years.
The spring is a simple hydrogen sulfide spring, which is clear and colorless when it gushes out, but turns milky white when exposed to air. This is because the two components, hydrogen sulfide and calcium, become cloudy when exposed to air.
Normally, milky white Onsens are highly acidic and often cause skin tingling, but Shirahone Onsen is mildly acidic and gentle on the skin. Therefore, everyone from small children to the elderly can enjoy bathing in Shirahone Onsen.
The high sulfur and carbonic acid content dilates blood vessels, warms the body, and is especially effective for gastrointestinal diseases.
It is also highly effective for internal organ diseases and nervous stress. It is also effective for women's diseases, diabetes, liver diseases, nerve diseases, respiratory diseases, atopy, skin diseases, and acne, as well as for beautifying the skin.
Shirahone Onsen is also effective when drunk. It is said to be good for gout because it is diuretic and expels uric acid, and good for diabetes because it expels diabetes and lowers blood sugar levels.
It also improves blood flow to the digestive organs and improves organ function, so it is effective for constipation.
History
Although Shirahone Onsen is located in the mountains at an altitude of 1,400 meters, the water is actually white because it contains a large amount of calcium carbonate, a component of coral reefs.
At the end of the Paleozoic Era, some 200 million years ago, coral reefs formed at the equator slowly migrated over time to the deep underground here in Norikura-dake, and groundwater heated by magma gushed out through them to the surface.
Although it is not known for certain when Shirahone Onsen was first opened, it seems that hot water was already welling up and being used as a Onsen when the Kamakura Ookan, a roadway to Hokuriku, was opened in the Kamakura period (1185-1333).It is estimated to have a history of at least 400 years.
During the Warring States Period, Shingen Takeda, who ruled this area, opened a silver mine at the foot of Mt. Norikura, and the Onsen was mainly used as a "hidden Onsen" to heal those injured or sick in the silver mine. The quality of the Shirahone Onsen hot springs seems to have attracted Shingen Takeda, a famous general of the Warring States period.
In the Edo period (1603-1867), with permission from the Matsumoto clan, the Saito clan, the headman of the area, opened a full-fledged Onsen bathhouse, which was gradually followed by a series of Onsen bathhouses.
Since it was located deep in the mountains, it became a hidden Onsen with high efficacy, and people began to visit it to heal their illnesses and wounds.
It is said that "If you stay in the Onsen for three days, you will not catch a cold for three years," and this saying conveys the feelings of the people who visited the Onsen to the present day.
In the Taisho era (1912-1926), more and more people began to visit the area, and the natural beauty of the area made it a favorite destination for many writers and artists. One of them, Nakazato Kaizan, published a full-length novel "Daibosatsu Touge (The Great Bodhisattva Pass)," in which Shirahone Onsen was the setting for a chapter, and the name became known throughout Japan.
In fact, according to old records, the Onsen was originally called " Shirafune Onsen" (white ship Onsen). It is said that the name was derived from the fact that the components of the Onsen adhered to the bathtub and turned it white.
However, in the Taisho era (1912-1926), the aforementioned Nakazato Kaizan's novel "Shirahone no Maki" was written in which Shirahone Onsen appears, and the name "Shirahone Onsen" became commonplace.
Nakazato Kaizan, who loved Shirahone Onsen, is famous for praising the "five-colorful and splendid view”.
Even today, visitors can enjoy the Onsen baths from 11 inns and public Onsens while viewing the spectacular scenery of unspoiled nature.
I highly recommend that you experience the " five-colorful and splendid view”.
Attractions
Sphalerite and Spherical limestone
As the origin of the name Shirahone Onsen, the hot water of Shirahone Onsen contains a large amount of lime carbonate, which causes precipitated calcium carbonate (lime flower) to adhere around the Onsen spout.
A fumarole is a hill-like formation that gradually rises as the limestone deposits continue to accumulate. It is said that there are more than 100 fumarole hills in Shirahone.
Here at Shirahone Onsen, limestone deposits are spread over the entire area, and the amount of deposits is said to be the largest in Japan.
The amount of limestone deposits here is said to be the largest in Japan, and some of them are very rare spherical limestone formations, which are designated as special natural monuments of Japan.
The Shirahone Onsen Tourist Information Center is about an 8-minute walk away, so you can walk around the area and feel the long history of Shirahone Onsen.
Ryujin-no-taki Falls, Tunnel and Kansui Creek
Ryujin no Taki Waterfall is located along Nagano Prefectural Road 300 leading to Shirahone Onsen, about a four-minute walk from the Shirahone Onsen resort area.
Although the waterfall is small in scale, with a drop of only a few meters, it is beautiful and graceful, with countless white threads of water gliding over the green moss. It is very mysterious to see water constantly gushing out of the limestone bedrock with countless holes.
The mysterious appearance of the waterfall can be enjoyed throughout the year: in early spring when the contrast of fresh green leaves and melting snow is wonderful, in autumn when the ground surface is brightly colored after the autumn leaves have fallen, and in winter when the waterfall becomes an ice pillar.
There is also a natural tunnel called "Tsuidoshi," which was formed by the rapid flow of the nearby Yugawa River eroding limestone, and a scenic spot called "Kansuikei" near the tunnel's exit.
It is recommended that visitors stroll through all three places to experience the " five-colorful and splendid view”
Kamikochi
Located in the central part of the Northern Alps, within the Chubu-Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi is one of Japan's representative mountain scenic spots at an altitude of 1,500 meters. It is designated as a national cultural asset (special scenic beauty spot and special natural monument).
The mountains of the Northern Alps (such as the Hotaka mountain range and Mt. Yarigatake) have long been the object of mountain worship, and Kamikochi is a pioneer mountain resort area in Japan.
Kamikochi is only an hour's bus ride from Shirahone Onsen , and is not accessible by private vehicles in order to protect and preserve its precious nature throughout the year. It is such a naturally beautiful and special place.
There are many things to see and do in Kamikochi. The magnificent mountains, beautiful ponds and wetlands, clear streams, and other spectacular sights will captivate your eyes. The beauty of the area has made it a popular destination for many repeat visitors.
Norikura Plateau
Like Kamikochi, Norikura Kogen is located in the Chubu-Sangaku National Park in the central part of the Northern Alps, at the foot of Norikura-dake, which rises 3,026 meters above sea level (elevation: 1200 to 1,800 meters).
Norikura Plateau is a mountainous area, but it is also known as the "living Alps" where people have lived since ancient times.
Various outdoor sports can be enjoyed throughout the year, and many lodging facilities are available, so it is also used as a work vacation.
Of course, you can also enjoy trekking, mountain hiking, and mountain climbing to feel the magnificent nature.
Shirahone Onsen is about 20 minutes away by car, so it is possible to visit while taking a drive for a stroll.
In winter, the area is covered with powder snow, making it a popular snow resort and a popular destination for many visitors.
