Hanakage no Yu or Tsutsumigawa Onsen? Two Baths in Makioka
Both Makioka baths charge ¥700 to most out-of-prefecture visitors. Hanakage no Yu is easier for a relaxed stop; Tsutsumigawa sits higher in the hills.
Checked: September 27, 2026
The two public baths in Makioka look similar on paper: both list outdoor baths and saunas, and both have the same non-resident adult admission. The practical difference is where they sit and what you can do around the soak. Hanakage is in Kubodaira, with a large lounge, reservable private room and dining area. Tsutsumigawa is farther into the hills, where the surrounding mountain scenery is part of the outing.
| Hanakage no Yu | Tsutsumigawa Onsen | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult admission, visitors from outside Yamanashi and Koshu | ¥700 | ¥700 |
| Hours, April–October | 10 am–9 pm | 10 am–9 pm |
| Hours, November–March | 10 am–8:30 pm | 10 am–8:30 pm |
| Last admission | One hour before closing | One hour before closing |
| Regular closure | Mondays; Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday | Thursdays; Friday if Thursday is a public holiday |
| Facilities listed | Indoor and outdoor baths, sauna, lounge, dining area, private room | Indoor and outdoor baths, sauna, rest area |
| Setting | Lower, near the Kubodaira settlement | Higher in the hills; the prefectural tourism listing gives an elevation of about 793 m |
Choose by how you want to spend the rest of the day
Hanakage makes more sense when you want a meal or a proper rest after bathing. Its city page lists a large shared room and a private 10-tatami room, available from ¥1,030 for up to three hours. The facility also says leaving the grounds means paying admission again, so plan to eat and relax on site rather than stepping out and back in.
Tsutsumigawa is a better fit if the bath is a stop on a drive or hike through the Makioka hills. Yamanashi Prefecture’s tourism listing describes a stone outdoor bath, sauna and mountain views, and labels the water as source-flowing. That label is useful, but it does not establish that every bath or shower uses untreated water.
Getting there without a car
Neither bath is an urban station-side facility. The prefectural tourism listings give roughly 30 minutes by bus from Yamanashishi Station to Hanakage. For Tsutsumigawa, the city’s Nishizawa Keikoku and Kubodaira-Makioka loop services stop at Tsutsumigawa Onsen. Bus frequency matters more than the ride length here; check the current timetable before setting out, especially if you need a particular train back.
By car, Hanakage is generally the simpler stop from the Katsunuma side. Tsutsumigawa takes you farther into the mountain area, so leave extra time rather than treating the drive estimates as door-to-door guarantees.
A note on the September repair closure
Yamanashi City announced that Tsutsumigawa would close from September 3 through September 13, 2026, for machinery replacement, with reopening planned for September 14. That scheduled closure has passed, but the city page still carries the notice and does not confirm in the notice itself that work finished on time. Call the facility before making a special trip. Hanakage’s regular Monday closure and seasonal hours remain listed on the city page.
Neither bath lists a tattoo policy. Check with both facilities before choosing; do not assume they follow the same rule.
Sources
- [Yamanashi City: Hanakage no Yu](https://www.city.yamanashi.yamanashi.jp/soshiki/17/2255.html) - [Yamanashi City: Tsutsumigawa Onsen](https://www.city.yamanashi.yamanashi.jp/soshiki/17/2290.html) - [Yamanashi City: Tsutsumigawa repair closure notice](https://www.city.yamanashi.yamanashi.jp/soshiki/17/20678.html) - [Yamanashi Prefecture tourism: Hanakage no Yu](https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/kankou/stay/p5_5005.html) - [Yamanashi Prefecture tourism: Tsutsumigawa Onsen](https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/kankou/stay/p5_5006.html) - Photo sources: [Yamanashi Prefecture tourism](https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/kankou/stay/p5_5005.html), [Sauna Ikitai](https://sauna-ikitai.com/saunas/1664)Related: Hatsuhana Onsen in Yamanashi City · Hottarakashi Onsen or Pukupuku Onsen?
