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Kaikake Onsen, Oku-Yuzawa’s Hot Spring for the Eyes

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Kaikake Onsen, Oku-Yuzawa’s Hot Spring for the Eyes

A secluded inn with free-flowing natural hot spring water, featuring one of Japan’s rare hot springs known for its beneficial effects on the eyes.

Last update :
Supervised by :  Kaikake Onsen

Kaikake Onsen has a 700-year history and has been known since the Edo period for the beneficial effects of its waters on eye conditions. Far along a steep road in Oku-Yuzawa, a nature-rich area surrounded by mountains, stands a charming inn built in the style of a traditional village headman’s residence, evoking a journey back in time. This is Kaikake Onsen, Oku-Yuzawa’s Hot Spring for the Eyes.

Kaikake Onsen is so well known as a “hot spring for the eyes” that its water was once sold as eye drops. The water is said to help with cataracts, dry eyes, eye strain, and other conditions. There are two baths, heated to 37°C and 42°C. The slightly lukewarm 37°C bath is suitable for a long soak. You can also try a traditional eye-bathing treatment by scooping water from the spout of the lukewarm bath and immersing your eyes in it to rinse them. The inn also has rustic open-air baths, where you can relax both body and mind surrounded by nature.

The two-story wooden inn centers on a main wing built in Meiji 2 (1896), with an entrance wing and a detached annex. Each offers a relaxing Japanese-style space filled with the warmth of natural wood. Meals feature seasonal ingredients, with Koshihikari rice from Minamiuonuma sourced from contract farmers as the centerpiece. A wide selection of local sake from Niigata, one of Japan’s leading rice-producing regions, is also available. The renowned waters of Kaikake Onsen and its fine cuisine offer a restorative experience for both body and mind.

Highlights

  • A charming hot spring inn built in the style of a traditional village headman’s residence, evoking a journey back in time.
  • Kaikake Onsen is known as a “hot spring for the eyes,” with waters said to help with eye conditions.
  • Baths are available at 37°C and 42°C, and the lukewarm 37°C water is suitable for a long soak.
  • Popular seasonal dishes centered around Koshihikari rice from Minamiuonuma.
  • A wide selection of local sake from Niigata, one of Japan’s leading rice-producing regions.

Photos

  • A setting embraced by the surrounding mountains

    A setting embraced by the surrounding mountains

  • Known as a “hot spring for the eyes,” with waters said to help with eye conditions

    Known as a “hot spring for the eyes,” with waters said to help with eye conditions

  • An open-air bath overlooking scenery that changes with the seasons

    An open-air bath overlooking scenery that changes with the seasons

  • Indoor baths with lukewarm water at 37°C and hotter water heated to 42°C

    Indoor baths with lukewarm water at 37°C and hotter water heated to 42°C

  • Guest rooms featuring warm, inviting Japanese-style interiors with natural wood

    Guest rooms featuring warm, inviting Japanese-style interiors with natural wood

  • A selection of flavorful dishes, including Koshihikari rice from Minamiuonuma

    A selection of flavorful dishes, including Koshihikari rice from Minamiuonuma

Official FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.

Q

Is early check-in or late check-out available?
A

No.

Q

Do you offer luggage delivery services to airports or train stations?
A

No, we do not.

Q

Can I leave my luggage after checking out?
A

No.

Reviews

Details

Name in Japanese
目の温泉 奥湯沢 貝掛温泉
Postal Code
949-6211
Address
686 Mitsumata, Yuzawa Town, Minamiuonuma District, Niigata Prefecture
Phone
025-788-9911
Check-in
2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Check-out
10:00 a.m.
Rates
From ¥18,700 per person on weekdays and ¥22,000 per person on Saturdays, days before public holidays, and during peak periods, including one night’s accommodation and two meals (consumption tax and the separate ¥150 bathing tax are not included)
Access
(1) About 18 minutes by taxi from the West Exit of JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station
(2) About 25 minutes by bus from JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station; get off at the Kaikake Onsen Iriguchi bus stop, then walk 9 minutes. Shuttle service is available from the bus stop.
Credit Cards
Accepted
Official website
Official website (Japanese)
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa