Forest Onsen: Morning Steam in the Valley

Kuroyu Onsen, Nyuto Onsen, Akita, October 21, 2025: Steam Route to a Hidden Hot Spring Village The morning at Kyukamura Nyuto-Onsenkyo began with a traditional Japanese breakfast. The highlight was sampling Akita's famous Akita Komachi rice, paired with fresh raw eggs from Hinaichi-dori chickens (one of Japan's renowned native chicken breeds) for the Japanese-style raw egg rice dish Tamago-kake gohan. Other dishes included simple and warm pickled vegetables. After our meal, we packed our bags, checked out, and drove up the mountain again to the next hot spring in the valley. The road continued to wind through the beech and oak forests, changing colors, with red, yellow, and orange leaves mingling along the way. A thin mist hung over the road, and the smell of damp earth lingered. As we approached Kuroyu, steam rose from a rocky crevice in the forest, signaling that we were approaching one of the most tranquil natural hot springs. Kuroyu literally means black water. The name comes from the mineral-rich nature of the hot spring water. Some say the water here was once a source of comfort for miners, as the heat and minerals effectively relieve fatigue. The outdoor hot springs are surrounded by small wooden houses, arranged in a tiered pattern. A few old wooden chairs stand on the stone terrace in front of the hot springs, facing the mountains. There's no talking, no music, just the sound of boiling water, the rustling of leaves, and the breath of nature. The konyoku (mixed-gender) outdoor baths here may seem unusual to the younger generation, but a deeper understanding reveals a culture that emphasizes gender and privacy, emphasizing a simple return to nature. Even though we didn't get to soak, just walking around, breathing in the sulfur, and standing amidst the steam and morning mist was enough to truly appreciate the experience. #Akita #JapanWinter #ForestOnsen #KuroyuOnsen #NyutoOnsen #TravelJapan #JapaneseNature