Again Yarigadake, this time not on the ridge but down in the valley, where there is Yumata Onsen. To reach it one has to go to Nanakura in Nagano Prefecture, park the the Nanakura parking and take a taxi to the Takase dam (or walk). From there it is a nice 3 hour hike to the Onsen.
The place to stay is a simple but nice hut, and many people also put up their tents around the place. The hike itself is very easy, accessible with kids.
The Onsens in the area are right in the river, or next to it, below the hut and above the hut. Including some beautiful forms, one even national heritage (as far as I understood).
Thanks to Masumi for teaching me the place.
- Add Nanakura parking from where one takes a taxi.
- The start of the hike are two long tunnels, where nasty creatures are lingering around.
- Submersed trees in the dam
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- The hut
- Before reaching the hut there is a nice hanging bridge, bit shaky
- Pre dinner beer and snacks!
- One of the (too hot) pools along the river. There everywhere hot water is bubbling out of the soil.
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- Dinner, even without meat. The meaties got Nabe.
- Nice bonfire with two friendly Japanese
- Along the river there was an old and now completely defunct path
- What a gnomish look
- View from one of the pools, soaking in hot water
- Tux was with us, as usual. He did prefer not to take a bath in this hot surroundings.
- The national nature heritage - a nice cone formed from sulfur water
- Tux wanted to climb up on the top, I had to tell him that this is not allowed.
- View onto the pools where we soaked for 1-2 hours
- Another nice formation, mushroom shaped in the middle of the river. This time I couldn't stop Tux.
- Another view onto the mushroom
- That is another hanging bridge one has to cross to reach the mushroom and the other area. That one is even more shaky.
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- Crossing the bridge on the way back
