On July 8, 2023 (Saturday) at 10:30, I revisited a mountain lodge where you can enjoy the finest hydrogen sulfide hot spring, which has only been open for four months from June to October. It was my third visit since I visited with my family on August 12, 2014. Day bathing is available from 10:30 to 16:00. Of course, I enjoyed the best simple hydrogen sulfide hot spring that can only be found here. The bathhouse was overflowing beautifully, truly embodying everything you would expect from a hidden hot spring. After soaking for an hour, I headed to the dining area. Lunch is served from 11:30 to 13:00. I decided to order the Mountain Lodge Soba (880 yen) without hesitation. I sat at a seat by the window where I was prompted to choose, and I realized it was the same seat I sat in 9 years ago. The soba arrived, topped with mountain blessings in the form of mountain vegetables. I sprinkled seven spice on top. The soup was delicious, with a strong taste of chicken or bonito broth balancing the flavor. The mountain vegetables were fresh and tasty. The main soba noodles were a bit like bagged noodles. "How is it?" "The soup is delicious, and the mountain vegetables are good, but the soba is just okay." Once again, I remembered the conversation I had with my wife and children 9 years ago. It felt strange to be alone but to suddenly feel like I was back with my whole family from 9 years ago. After finishing the meal, I returned to the hot spring. I soaked for another hour before reluctantly heading home. The hot spring here is truly amazing. It's a special place where family memories linger. I'll definitely come back again.

I stayed at this inn during my trip to Hokkaido. I had visited for a day trip in 2012 and always wanted to stay overnight, so this time I booked a 3-night stay in advance. The first two nights were booked through the Secret Hot Spring Preservation Society, and the third night was booked directly through the inn's website. The room I was assigned was a 1st-floor Japanese-style room with an 8-tatami mat size. The amenities provided included bath towels, socks, and yukata. The toilet and sink were shared, and guests had to lay out their own futon. The bathhouse, located at the back of the 1st floor, had indoor and outdoor baths for both men and women. The hot spring water was slightly opaque and had a smooth texture, which was very relaxing. The highlight was the outdoor bath, where you could enjoy a view of the Daisetsuzan mountain range. Dinner on the first night was served in the room, with a variety of dishes that seemed pre-made and heavily seasoned. The standout dishes were the rainbow trout salt-grilled and the crab hot pot. The next day, since I was going hiking, they provided breakfast and lunch boxes in the room. The second night's dinner was similar to the first night, with no significant changes. The third day's breakfast was served in the dining area, with a standard Japanese breakfast menu. However, the biggest disappointment was the dinner on the third night, which was exactly the same as the first night's dinner. When I inquired about this at the front desk, they confirmed that the menu was the same for the third night. This was unexpected and disappointing, as other mountain hot spring inns I had stayed at in the past offered different menus each night.

Two weeks after my first visit in September, I returned to the same mountain lodge for a 2-night, 3-day stay. The next day, blessed with good weather, I enjoyed a stroll around the ponds all the way to Midori Pond, followed by a hike to Midori Peak to fully appreciate the fading autumn colors of the Daisetsuzan Plateau. Unfortunately, the autumn leaves near Midori Pond, which had peaked just three days prior, had all fallen off at once... better luck next year! The hot springs are simply outstanding, boasting Japan's highest quality in terms of water quality, volume, and temperature. It is one of the best hot springs I have ever experienced, excelling in every aspect. Furthermore, it is only open for four months from June 10th to October 10th, making it a rare and valuable summer-autumn limited-time experience. Soaking in the hot springs and then being enveloped by the cool mountain air is truly rejuvenating. While there is no cold water bath, the forest air feels like a natural air conditioner, making the outdoor air bath experience truly wonderful. As for dinner, the first night's menu was the same as last time, so I will skip that. On the second night, we had a mushroom hot pot and kamameshi rice cooked until the solid fuel ran out, with the finishing touch of cooking the rice in front of the guests. The mushroom hot pot had a clear soy sauce-based broth filled with various mushrooms, bamboo shoots, wild vegetables, pumpkin, and chopped leeks, offering a taste of autumn. A unique dish was the asparagus-wrapped pork fry with ponzu jelly, providing a refreshing taste. The steamed dish, which I thought would be a typical chawanmushi, turned out to be a crab and yam dish, with a surprisingly well-balanced broth complementing the main yam dish. The kamameshi rice was a vegetarian dish with carrots, burdock root, and fried tofu. The crispy rice at the bottom was evenly mixed with the delicious parts before eating. It was simply delicious. Mixing the hot pot broth with the rice also tasted great! The breakfast highlight was the fried willow leaf fish and onsen egg. I was surprised to find out it was willow leaf fish with roe inside, maintaining a crispy texture even when cold. The onsen egg, made with the top-notch Daisetsuzan Plateau hot spring, had an incredibly rich and delicious yolk flavor. It was one of the best onsen eggs I have ever had. Although the eggs themselves may not be from famous local chickens, the natural cooking process in the hot spring water brought out their deliciousness. I definitely want to come back next year.

From this day, I had planned to enjoy the earliest autumn leaves at Takihara Onsen, including a tour of the marshes and a hike from Midoridake to Akadake. However, the weather was not looking good with rain forecasted from the morning, affecting the next day as well, especially on the Japan Sea side including Asahikawa. As I drove towards the Sounkyo area from Obihiro Airport where the sunny skies were spreading, the weather gradually turned into bad weather. I turned left towards Daisetsuzan Kogen Sanso and as I continued on the 10km dirt road, the raindrops turned into snow. As I progressed, the snow started to accumulate and hail even started to fall along the way. Huh?! I heard on the radio news earlier that they observed the first snow on the summit of Kurodake yesterday, but has the cold reached this mid-slope area?! By the time I reached the mountain lodge, about 1km away, it was clear that snow was piling up, and when I arrived at the lodge, the surroundings were covered in a white world. Huh?! It's not even September 20th yet, but the scenery looks like midwinter! I wonder if I can get down tomorrow. The wind started to pick up, and the wind chill factor was quite severe, making it difficult to even consider the marsh tour, let alone the hike to Midoridake and Akadake the next day, so I decided to enjoy a leisurely soak in the hot springs. The hot spring is a genuine sulfur spring with a plentiful amount of water and excellent freshness. This is the real deal hot spring that is alive. If I may boldly state, if the hot spring water here is considered alive, then hot springs that have various drugs added and circulated are dead springs. So, you can clearly feel the difference in how it feels on your skin. The water is slightly thick and gently clings to your skin. The hot spring flows endlessly from the mouth of a wooden bear statue, and the water flows smoothly from the edge of the bath. When you wash your face with it, there is no strong sulfur smell or harsh feeling on the skin, but rather a mild and well-structured hot spring quality with a solid core. When you taste the water, it has a sour taste, indicating that it is a slightly acidic simple sulfur spring. The most intense I have experienced is the water quality of the Kamuiwakka Falls in Shiretoko. It is quite intense. It is slightly softer than the pH of the water in Kawazu Onsen. The bathhouse is also well thought out, with separate baths for men and women that are one open space without a wall separating them at the top, making it difficult for air to stagnate, and ventilation is excellent. Sulfur springs also have issues with gas, so it is crucial to bring in outside air and circulate the air in the bathhouse outside, and this place has no problem with that, so you can rest assured and soak in the hot springs to your heart's content. The edge of the indoor bath is also well designed, with a border that is twice the size of a normal border, providing ample space to sit comfortably when soaking in the hot water and cooling off. The edge of the outdoor rock bath is also spacious, allowing you to lie down on it, which is excellent! The refreshing air flows through the body, which has absorbed a lot of mountain energy, making it pleasant to bathe in the hot spring under the stars. I heard that the main bath was renovated and renewed a few years ago. It doesn't feel like a wilted retro hidden hot spring, but rather a well-integrated design that exudes a wood scent. For example, the outlet of the outdoor bath is harmonized using cut wood itself. The bathhouse also brings out the wood texture on the entire surface and the lighting is dim, giving it a chic look. The wood-carved bear sculpture exudes an indescribable sense of a hidden paradise, making you realize that this is the bear's mountain. This sculpture has been active since before the renovation and is now the work of a sculptor who has passed away, making it a priceless item that can never be obtained again. Dinner mainly consisted of mountain delicacies, including preserved spring mountain vegetables and river fish.

After passing through Kunimi Pass and heading towards Mikuni Pass, I saw a sign saying that the Highland Mountain Lodge was open. It piqued my interest, so I decided to look it up online and found out that they offer day-use hot springs. I decided to visit. [About the Mountain Lodge] After entering from the main road as indicated by the sign, I found myself on an unpaved road. It started off easy to drive on, but gradually turned into a narrow mountain road. It can be challenging as occasional oncoming vehicles pass by. After driving a few kilometers on the mountain road, I suddenly came across this mountain lodge. It had a base camp for climbing Mt. Daisetsu and had a mountain hut-like atmosphere. As it is a mountain lodge, it seems that climbers and hikers can stay there. [About the Hot Springs] The hot spring water was milky and cloudy, typical of hot springs. There were indoor and outdoor baths, but I recommend the outdoor bath. The temperature was just right, not too hot, and soaking in the hot spring while looking at the mountains was very relaxing. [About the Food] When it comes to hot springs, you think of hot spring eggs. I tried the carefully steamed hot spring egg they offered. It was average. It had a different taste compared to the hot spring egg I had at Ibusuki Healthy Land Tamatebako Onsen. Also, I bought some Mt. Daisetsu mineral water. Since it's just water, I couldn't tell the difference, but it added to the overall experience. [Summary] I think the hot spring experience here is quite good.

This is a hot spring inn located in Hokkaido, in the Kamikawa area. It is surrounded by mountains and is popular as a base for mountain climbing. The most crowded season is probably the autumn when you can fully enjoy the short autumn in the depths of Hokkaido's mountains. However, be careful as bears are known to roam the area and you wouldn't want to become their winter meal (lol). I was aiming for lunch and a bath, but I missed the timing and the restaurant was closed. I remember when I stayed here before, the meals were mainly river fish and mountain vegetables. The soft serve ice cream was like a pack of ice cream shaped into a soft serve using a machine (lol). The location itself is appreciated for what it is. The prices at the vending machine were 550 yen for a 500ml can of beer, 380 yen for a 380ml can, and 90 yen for a Vitamin C tablet. A steamed egg using the hot spring water was 80 yen. The taste was average, but for some reason, anything with "hot spring" or "spring water" in its name makes my wallet open involuntarily (lol). Nevertheless, the hot spring bath in the midst of the deep mountains, surrounded by lush greenery and occasional snow-capped peaks, with the sound of birds in the distance and the clear air, is truly wonderful. The bath is segregated by gender and has indoor and outdoor baths, which feel very refreshing. The spring quality is simple acidic spring, 71.2℃, pH 2.7, mixed spring. Water is added during hot periods, otherwise not. Therefore, depending on the timing, the bath may cool quickly. After bathing, mountain spring water is provided for drinking, and it tastes so good!

I received a New Year's email after visiting last summer. I wanted to visit during the autumn season, but weekend reservations were already full before the spring opening. So, I ended up staying in early summer, which turned out to be the right decision. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the remaining snow-covered marshes. The lodge is perfect for immersing oneself in nature, with clean rooms, the sound of flowing water, and a starry sky in the open-air bath. The food is made with local ingredients, and considering the location's costs, it's understandable. Staying here for a night allows for a relaxing time compared to staying in the hot spring town of Sounkyo. I would like to visit again during the peak of autumn leaves, but I wonder if the wooden walkway will still be flat.

In September 2010, I stayed at a hot spring inn in Japan that offers the earliest autumn leaves viewing. This inn is a member of the "Association for the Preservation of Japanese Hidden Hot Springs." I thought it would be impossible to stay during the autumn leaves season, but when I checked the inn's website a week before, I was surprised to find that there was one day available, so I immediately made a reservation. After driving about 10 km on an unpaved forest road (which was well-maintained and easy to drive on) from Route 39 by Lake Ounuma, the inn appeared in a secluded area surrounded by mountains and primeval forests. It is located at an altitude of 1,260 meters. There were many hikers around the inn, and most of the guests seemed to be hikers as well. Steam was rising from the hot springs behind the inn, indicating that the hot springs were abundant. The inn looked surprisingly clean and spacious for a secluded mountain hot spring inn. The rooms did not have TVs, and the toilets were shared, but bath towels and slippers were provided, making it easy for many people to stay comfortably. There were separate indoor and outdoor baths for men and women. The hot spring water was constantly flowing, and the freshly poured water in the bath was colorless and transparent, while the water in the bath had a pastel green hue with plenty of mineral deposits, giving it a slightly sulfurous smell. The temperature of the water was just right for me, and the outdoor bath was slightly hotter than the indoor bath. Meals were served in the dining hall for both dinner and breakfast. The variety of dishes was impressive, and they were carefully prepared. Dinner was a multi-course meal with several dishes already on the table, followed by several hot dishes brought later. The warm dishes were served on warmed plates, showing attention to detail. The tender boiled pork teppanyaki, chawanmushi with fried onions, and freshly grilled rainbow trout stood out in the dinner menu. Breakfast was a buffet with home-cooked dishes, and the rice was particularly delicious. The squid and daikon simmered dish, squid shiokara, and smoked salmon salad were memorable. I would like to visit again during the blooming season of alpine plants when I can relax and enjoy the surroundings.

The Daisetsu Kogen is said to have the earliest autumn leaves in Japan, starting in mid-September. In contrast, it is closed during winter and only open for a few hours from May to October. I arrived at the Daisetsu Kogen Sanso after driving along a gravel road from Sounkyo. It is said that workers who entered the mountains to clear fallen trees after a typhoon found the hot springs here. The earliest autumn leaves in Japan, hot springs, and a 7km hiking course offer a delightful travel experience. Due to the peak season, it can be difficult to secure reservations on desired dates, so it is recommended to adjust the schedule accordingly. Despite being a mountain lodge, there is no inconvenience as you can reach it by car or motorcycle. They offer Daisetsu Kogen craft beer and wine, with a menu that rivals any hot spring resort. The hot springs are very relaxing and also accommodate day visitors. After a refreshing hike in the highlands, you can move on to the next destination in a great mood. This lodge will make you want to visit again, explore leisurely, and soak in the hot springs. Please note that regular mobile phones do not work on site, only satellite phones. Therefore, thorough preparation and caution are necessary for highland exploration, as bears are frequently seen. Satellite broadcasting is the only option as terrestrial TV signals cannot be received.

The area around Mt. Daisetsuzan is where you can see the most beautiful autumn leaves in Japan. The key to the beauty of autumn leaves is the temperature difference between day and night, the greater the difference, the more beautiful the autumn leaves become. You can experience this at this hot spring. The hot spring water is directly sourced, the facilities are not fancy, but in the middle of this mountain, it's more than enough. Enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves, breathe in the delicious air, go for a mountain walk, relax in the hot spring, and then have a beer. It's the ultimate luxury. Nature-loving mountain men and women, from mid-September to around the autumn equinox is the best time to visit. After that, there may be snowfall, so caution is necessary. It's worth a visit.