Awanoyu, a Famous Shirahone Hot Spring

Founded in 1912, this long-established hot spring inn stands in Shirahone Onsen, tucked away in the mountains of the Northern Alps. Its signature attraction is a large open-air bath for both men and women, making it especially popular with married couples, couples, and groups who want to enjoy the same bath together. Although the open-air bath is shared, the entrances are thoughtfully separated for men and women. The milky white water, a hallmark of Shirahone Onsen, allows guests to bathe without worrying about visibility. There are also separate indoor baths for men and women in another building, each with its own open-air bath.

Guest rooms are available in both the main building and the new building, with a wide variety of options including Japanese-style rooms with a hiroen sitting area or two-room engawa veranda, as well as Japanese-style rooms with beds. The third floor of the new building is an executive floor, where guests can enjoy special amenities and complimentary drinks. The inn only accepts guests of elementary school age and older, creating a quiet space for adults.

The cuisine, made with plenty of Shinshu ingredients, is also well regarded. Options include authentic kaiseki meals prepared in Kyoto style with fresh mountain and seafood ingredients, winter-only toji soba, and other special-order dishes.