I Looked Into Ryokan New Otaka

One of the hidden themes of this blog is that it's not just about campsites — every now and then I like to take a detour and look into hot spring inns too, and I've already looked into a number of day-trip and overnight facilities so far.

This time I looked into "Ryokan New Otaka." I came across some information suggesting it has the highest open-air bath in Nasu, and that got me curious enough to start digging in.

Billed as the highest open-air bath in Nasu

Ryokan New Otaka appears to be located in the Nasu-Yumoto area of Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, at an elevation of 1,300m. Its main draw is undoubtedly the open-air bath with a view, said to be the highest-elevation open-air bath in the entire Nasu area. Apparently, on clear days you can see Mt. Chausu from it, and the bathing hours are set for a fairly long stretch, from 5am to 11pm.
The other open-air bath is fed directly from the source spring and, while somewhat smaller, comes with a jacuzzi. There's also a note that the building has no air conditioning due to the high elevation, so while it sounds like it could stay pleasantly cool even in summer, it might be worth bringing something to layer on depending on the season.

The water type is a simple thermal spring — colorless and odorless, but containing iron, so it apparently turns a pale yellowish-brown over time. The water temperature runs high at 71.7°C, and it's said to offer a wide range of benefits, including relief for neuralgia, muscle pain, poor circulation, and general fatigue.

Komorin

Just imagining an open-air bath at 1,300m elevation makes me feel like the air up there must be a different kind of clear. Even as an indoor person, I kind of want to soak in it at least once.

What are the rooms and meals like?

All the guest rooms appear to be Japanese-style, available in 8-mat and 10-mat sizes. I couldn't fully confirm from the official site whether each room has its own sink, but there was a mention of a shared washroom with a large mirror, so it seems possible that some rooms may follow a shared-facility style. The entire building is non-smoking, and anyone who wants to smoke would need to use a designated smoking area instead.

Meals are served in a dining area with a good view, and the menu I found mentioned things like Nasu wagyu steak and shabu-shabu, a tasting set of Sangen pork, and shabu-shabu with A4-grade-or-higher domestic Kuroge wagyu beef. There's also a local sake tasting set, so anyone who enjoys drinking will probably find dinner something to look forward to. Breakfast is apparently centered around local vegetables.

The standard overnight rate with two meals, tax excluded, seems to start at 10,000 yen for adults and 7,000 yen for children, though a discount plan limited to weekdays in summer apparently brings that down to 9,000 yen and up for adults and 6,300 yen and up for children. It's worth remembering that a separate bathing tax applies on top of that. Reservations can be made through the online booking system or by phone. Cancellation fees were listed as 100% for same-day cancellations or no-shows, 50% the day before, and 30% two days before, so if there's any chance your plans might change, it seems wise to get in touch early.

Komorin

The moment I read the words "Nasu wagyu shabu-shabu," my stomach almost growled. I'm also curious about the view from that dining area.

Checking out nearby tourist spots too

• Nasu Ropeway: About a 3-minute drive, then roughly a 15-minute walk to reach the 9th station of Mt. Chausu
• Nasu Animal Kingdom: About a 12-minute drive
• Sesshoseki (Killing Stone): About a 10-minute drive, a historic site known for the legend of the nine-tailed fox
• Nasu Teddy Bear Museum: About a 17-minute drive
• Nasu Highland Park: About a 20-minute drive
• Nasu Trick Art Pia: About a 20-minute drive
• Nasu Rindo Lake View: About a 25-minute drive
• Nasu Garden Outlet: About a 30-minute drive

Having the ropeway just 3 minutes away by car feels like it would make for a perfect little excursion after warming up in the open-air bath. Access from the station apparently involves taking a local bus, but the frequency and travel time seem to vary depending on the destination, so it's probably a good idea to check the details in advance.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool, no result came up at all — instead it just showed a message saying it was undergoing temporary maintenance. Given that the location sits at 1,300m elevation, it's possible the data for that area simply couldn't be retrieved properly.

Because of that, this time I ended up with an "undeterminable" result — meaning I genuinely can't judge whether the signal is good or unstable. Rather than leaning toward either a positive or negative conclusion, I'm just leaving it as what I was able to confirm. Anyone actually planning to stay there might want to check the official tool again for themselves before heading out.

Komorin

I think that's actually the first time I've ever seen an "undeterminable" result. It was interesting to learn that this kind of thing can happen at high-elevation locations.

Wrapping Up

Pulling it all together, my overall impression of Ryokan New Otaka is that it's a place with real appeal for anyone who values scenery, thanks to its open-air bath at 1,300m elevation offering views of Mt. Chausu. Between the rooms, the meals, and the nearby tourist spots, it seems like a solid candidate to keep in mind when planning a relaxed overnight stay up in the mountains.

That said, the official tool couldn't return a result for Rakuten Mobile signal conditions, so I wasn't able to say anything definitive on that front. Given the high elevation, anyone concerned about connectivity might want to check the official tool for themselves before setting out.

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Related Links

• Official Site