Sarugakyo Onsen’s Hot Spring Was Found by a Monkey

Hana no Yu hot spring

From the room at the top floor of Sarugakyo Hotel you can clearly see Lake Akayako. 



But first, let’s go to the hot spring. It’s believed that Sarugakyo Onsen was discovered by a monkey and therefore the local feudal lord Uesugi Kenshin named it “Sarugakyo” (“saru” means monkey).



The biggest bath is called “Minwa no Yu” and has a classical Japanese design. The open-air bath “Mitta no Yu” is located just under the wisterias. Inside the garden and next to Lake Akayako is the perfect location for this bath. Of course, the hot spring is freely flowing.

Healthy tofu dishes

The dishes served in the traditional Japanese dinner change seasonally and use lots of tofu: smoked tofu, tofu with white sesame, tofu pulp salad, steamed chicken with mustard and tofu, carpaccio with locally grown devil-tongue plant, tofu skin, etc. All of those are very healthy dishes rich in isoflavones. You’ll feel completely satisfied with selection of 14 different dishes.

Folklore tales storytelling

At 8 pm the storytelling begins around the sunken fireplace. But before that the guests are welcome to participate in the rice-cake beating tradition. Then, while listening to the folklore tales, you’re served soy flour flavored rice cakes. This is a really relaxing time with a sense of nostalgia.

Mt Tanigawadake is right next to Sarugakyo Onsen

You can go on a day trip to Mt Tanigawadake, one of Japan’s best 100 mountains. Take the ropeway close to Doaiguchi Station and go all the way up to Tenjindaira at 1319 meters above the sea level. The new ropeway doesn’t shake at all. You can see some snow even in the green season.

Continue further up

From Tenjindaira you can take the lift and go to the next station which is 1502 meters above sea level. The panorama view is truly splendid! You will also see alpine plants.