Magoroku Onsen is one of seven secluded ryokan that form the Nyuto Onsen village, set within a beech and cedar forest in the mountains of Senboku City. The property sits roughly 15 kilometres from Lake Tazawa and about 30 kilometres by mountain road from Tazawako Station, which is served by the Akita Shinkansen. A seasonal bus links the lake area to the onsen cluster, and the ryokan participates in the Yuki-no-Yado joint bath pass that permits guests to visit multiple Nyuto properties during their stay.
The wooden buildings follow traditional architectural forms, with low-beamed interiors, engawa corridors, and guest rooms that open toward the forested valley. The property has operated in its current form for several generations and its aesthetic deliberately avoids modernisation. All guest rooms are tatami-floored, ranging from standard six-mat rooms to slightly larger eight-mat options, with simple furnishings and no in-room television.
The defining feature is an outdoor rotenburo bath filled with milky, sulphurous water drawn directly from a spring beneath the property. The mineral content creates a characteristic white opacity and faintly eggy aroma that experienced onsen travellers associate with high mineral potency. Separate mixed-bathing (konyoku) and women-only sections operate on a posted schedule, and an indoor bath is available for private soaking.
Meals are served in the communal dining room or, by prior arrangement, in-room, and are included in the room rate. Dinner typically features sansai (foraged mountain vegetables), locally caught ayu sweetfish, Akita beef, and warm tofu preparations. Breakfast follows a traditional Japanese format: rice, miso soup, pickled vegetables, and grilled fish. There is no à la carte menu; dietary restrictions must be communicated well in advance.
There is no spa facility, fitness room, or business centre. Wi-Fi connectivity is limited or unavailable inside the main building. The property is best suited to travellers seeking deep rest, natural bathing, and a genuine encounter with Tohoku mountain culture rather than modern hotel conveniences.
| Price | ¥15,000–24,000 (~$98–157 USD) per person with 2 meals |
|---|---|
| Address | Tazawako Magoroku, Senboku, Akita 014-1204 |
Room types
- Standard tatami room
Amenities
- Sulphurous milky outdoor bath
- Riverside forest setting
- Traditional Japanese meals featuring mountain vegetables
- Quiet mountain atmosphere
Weather through the year in Japan
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Japan.
Location
Tazawako Magoroku, Senboku, Akita 014-1204
39.7720, 140.6163 View on map
Highlights
- Milky sulphurous rotenburo bath fed by a spring directly beneath the property
- Participation in the Nyuto Onsen seven-ryokan joint bath pass (Yuki-no-Yado)
- Traditional kaiseki meals featuring foraged mountain vegetables, ayu sweetfish, and Akita beef
- Beech-forest valley setting, among the most atmospheric locations in Tohoku's onsen circuit
- Authentic multi-generational wooden architecture with engawa corridors and tatami rooms throughout
Tips for visiting
- Book well in advance — room count is small and weekends sell out months ahead, particularly during autumn foliage (October) and the winter snow season
- The Yuki-no-Yado bath pass allows visits to all seven Nyuto ryokan baths — confirm at check-in whether the pass is included in your rate or available to purchase
- Bring sufficient cash; the property does not accept credit cards and there are no ATMs in the onsen village
- Pack warm layers even in summer — nights in the valley drop sharply after dark
- Mobile phone signal is very weak throughout the valley; download offline maps and confirm reservations before arriving