
Matsushiro Onsen
onsen
松代温泉
Running beneath the town of Matsushiro are natural hot springs (onsen), which people have bathed in for hundreds of years.
Matsushiro Onsen has been used for bathing for hundreds of years, and carries a local association with Takeda Shingen, the sixteenth-century warlord whose forces fought the Battles of Kawanakajima nearby. Legend holds that his samurai soaked here to recover between campaigns, earning it the nickname Takeda Shingen's secret hot spring. The water is colorless underground but turns a golden color at the surface as iron reacts with oxygen, leaving layers of orange mineral residue in the baths. The government-run resort Matsushiro-so, built in the style of a traditional one-story samurai house, offers both overnight stays and day bathing.
Wash thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the bath. This is non-negotiable etiquette. Bring a small towel but keep it out of the water.
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