Asama Onsen Sakamotonoyu (Sakamotoya)

Travel journal of dropping in at the hot spring

Characters

Nishi-san: He is an orthodox hot springs lover and particular about quality of springs. He loves the hot springs flowing from the source, the hot water with a presence, and the rustic atmosphere.

Kita-san: He doesn't care much about quality of hot springs. He loves an open-air bath, and prefers hot springs that have visible features such as good views.

In November, as autumn deepened, Nishi-san and Kita-san arrived in Matsumoto, Shinshu. After looking briefly at Matsumoto Castle, a famous castle, they headed to Asama Onsen, known as "Inner sanctum of Matsumoto."

Entrance gate of Asama Onsen

I didn't know about Asama Onsen. Is it famous?

Well, there are a lot of major hot springs in Shinshu, so compared to Shirahone Onsen and Norikura Plateau, this one may be a bit low-key.

So why Asama Onsen?

Well, in short, 'cause it's easy to get to, has a long history. And is a pretty nice hot spring.

With Nishi-san's the guidance, they arrived at Sakamotonoyu.

♨ It seems that Asama Onsen already existed under the name "Tsukama-no-yu" in 698.

Exterior

Here we are, this is Sakamotonoyu. What do you think? Doesn't it look nice?

Wow, at first glance it looks elegant. Is this a ryokan?

Originally, yes. Now they only do drop-in bathing. No, drop-in bathing plus a kindergarten. Oh, you can go in here with your shoes on.

Oh, really? You can go in without taking off your shoes? Wait, wait, a kindergarten? What do you mean?

♨ The Sakamotonoyu building won the Matsumoto City Landscape Award in 1991.

Entrance to the drop-in bathing area

As you enter through the entrance, there is a drop-in bathing area on the left, the reception on the right, and beyond that is the kindergarten. You can hear the voices of children playing outside the door.

A drop-in onsen plus a kindergarten... Huh... That's rare, right?

Exactly. But it's helping the facility to survive, so I think it's fine.

While they were saying that, they arrived at the bathing room.

Bathtub

Oh, it smells like boiled eggs, you know.

It's pretty good, huh? The water is gentle too. This is what Asama Onsen-like.

Hot water spout

I see. But, as I expected, there really is no open-air bath...

No. But that means, you can concentrate and enjoy the hot water itself.

I expected you to say that too.

After the bathing, they has returned to the lobby. It has tables and chairs in a corner by the window, which is as a break room.

Lobby

Phew, that was a nice bath.

Kita-san looks out the window.

Courtyard (sandbox)

Huh, a sandbox? It's a sandbox, right?

Ah, exactly, a sandbox. I guess it's for kids to play in.

This must have originally been a Japanese-style courtyard. They put sand in the pond instead of water?

That's probably true. ...Then, you too, how about playing in the sand instead of the open-air bath?

I will decline.

After leaving Sakamotonoyu, Nishi-san and Kita-san decided to take a stroll around Asama Onsen. After browsing the souvenir shops and having a coffee, they headed to the next hot spring facility. (→ Continue to Menoyu Shizanro)

(November 2025)

♨ Sakamotonoyu was originally a long-established ryokan founded in 1885. It closed down as an accommodation facility in October 2020, and since then has operated as a drop-in bathing and a kindergarten.

Impression & rating

Although it's a simple hot spring, it has a strong sulfur scent. It seems to use a unique hot spring source, making it a little different from the other water at Asama Onsen.

3.5 pt

Impression & rating

It's a shame that it has only one indoor bath and no open-air bath. I think the water is probably nice, but it lacks entertainment value.

1.5 pt

→ How to rate

The Onsen facility

Address: 3-31-30, Asama Onsen, Matsumoto City, Nagano Pref.
Phone: domestic: 0263-46-1097
international: +81-263-46-1097
Website: Sakamotonoyu Instagram
Small-scale kindergarten Sakamotoya
Drop-in bathing hours: 9:00 - 21:00
Closed day: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Admission fee: Adults: ¥650 / 2 years old to elementary school students: ¥300
Baths: Gender-separated indoor bath
Facilities: There are no lockers in the undressing room. (There are clothes baskets.) There are lockers for valuables (free of charge)
Equipments: No soap, shampoo etc.

The hot spring data

(According to the hot spring analysis report etc.)

(Field examination date: Apr. 25, 2016)

Spring quality: Alkaline simple hot spring (Hypotonic Alkaline High temperature spring
Source: No. 1 source
Gushing place: 3-641-7, Asama Onsen, Matsumoto City, Nagano Pref.
Temperature: 46.5℃ (115.7℉)
[air temperature: 16℃ (60.8℉)]
Water volume: - L / min (Pumping after drilling)
pH value: 8.9
Total ingredients: 0.4131 g / kg
Perception: It is almost colorless and clear, with a slight sulfur taste and slight hydrogen sulfide odor.

Today's Ekiben

Azumino Kamameshi

(Purchased at Matsumoto Station)

This ekiben is packed with the delicious flavors of mountain produce, with plenty of mushrooms, mountain burdock, and stir-fried Nozawana greens with oil. The duck meat and quail egg also add a nice flavor. This is an ekiben that you'll definitely be glad you bought. Highly recommended.

« contents »
Japanese rice, duck meat, Nozawana, shimeji mushrooms, quail egg, chestnut, freeze-dried tofu, shiitake mushroom, green beans, mountain burdock, burdock, carrots, etc.

(¥1,100) (→ Iidayaken website)

The descriptions on this page contain personal opinions and are not necessarily objective facts.
The information may have changed at present. In particular, the admission fee and charge etc. has often not updated from the time of travel, so check the latest information on the official website.

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