koganeyu

For those who have made it to the most northern parts of Japan, it is impossible not to be in awe of its natural beauty, but the real value of travel is not in what you see, but in who you meet. The locals in this area are really special people, but how can you meet them? That`s where Koganeyu comes in. Koganeyu is not an onsen. It is a public bath in Nakatonbetsu, but it is much more than a public bath. Under the aura of the operator, Ms Watanabe, Kogane yu is a place where locals enjoy the chance to meet with visitors to the area. The wood stove heated bath is clean and very relaxing, but be sure to spare some time to relax in the lounge (foyer). Ask for a chai tea (a secret recipe Watanabe-san picked up while living in Nepal ) and strike up a conversation with the locals. If you are lucky you may meet the Cello playing Buddhist monk, or the paragliding guitarist English teacher and any one of the extremely interesting and friendly locals. Having traveled around Japan for over 20 years, I can honestly say that my visit to Nakatonbetsu and meeting the locals at Koganeyu must rank as one of my most pleasant experiences ever.