Nanbu no Yu or Okuyama Onsen? A Station-Side Spa vs a Mountain Bath
Compare Nanbu no Yu near Utsubuna Station with remote Okuyama Onsen: admission, opening hours, last entry, payment and transport in Nanbu, Yamanashi.
Checked: September 27, 2026
These two Nanbu Town baths serve different kinds of day out. Nanbu no Yu is beside the Minobu Line and built for a long, comfortable stay. Okuyama Onsen is deeper in the Fukushi River valley, with a shorter bathing day and a distinctly more remote setting.
| Nanbu no Yu | Okuyama Onsen | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult admission, visitors from outside town | ¥980 | ¥900, including the adult bathing tax |
| Hours | 10 am–9 pm | 10 am–5 pm; last entry 4 pm |
| Regular closure | Operator currently lists year-round opening, with maintenance exceptions | Tuesdays (Wednesday if a public holiday), plus year-end/New Year |
| Getting there | Five-minute walk from Utsubuna Station | About 30 minutes by car from Tomizawa IC; taxi from Utsubuna takes planning |
| Best for | Books, games, meals and lingering | A mountain drive and a quieter soak |
| Payment | Cashless payment accepted | Cash only; no nearby ATM or bank |
Nanbu no Yu works without a car
The station is a five-minute walk away, which makes Nanbu no Yu the easier choice on a Minobu Line itinerary. It stays open until 9 pm, and the dining area lists service until 9 pm with last orders at 8 pm. The current facility guide also describes roughly 8,000 books and manga, board games, several rest areas and a broad range of baths, including an outdoor bath and cypress sauna.
Admission is ¥980 for adults from outside town and ¥500 for children aged three and over; children under three are free. A towel set costs ¥400, so a towel-free adult should budget ¥1,380 before food or other rentals. The facility accepts cashless payment.
Okuyama is a destination, not a quick station detour
Okuyama’s operator lists hours of 10 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4 pm.
Adult admission for visitors from outside town is ¥900, while children aged four to 12 pay ¥450 and younger children are free. The towel set is ¥350. Payment is cash only, and the operator specifically warns that there is no nearby ATM or bank.
The onsen is about 30 minutes by car from Tomizawa IC and roughly 50 minutes from Shin-Shimizu IC. Public-transport visitors should arrange a taxi in advance rather than assume one will be waiting at Utsubuna Station. The older prefectural tourism listing describes a winter closure from December through March, while the operator’s current page lists Tuesdays and year-end/New Year instead. If travelling in winter, check the operator’s calendar or phone before driving into the valley.
The operator describes Okuyama as an alkaline simple sulfur spring and publishes pH 9.9. It does not currently show a precise source temperature or flow rate in the text of its facility page, so older analysis figures should not be treated as current operating data.
Which one makes sense for your trip?
Choose Nanbu no Yu if you need rail access, a late closing time or somewhere to spend several hours between trains. Choose Okuyama when you already have a car and want the bath itself to be part of a mountain outing. The price gap is only ¥80; transport and available time matter much more.
Sources
- [Nanbu no Yu: current hours, prices, facilities and access](https://www.nanbunoyu.com/floorguide/) - [Nanbu no Yu: official spring information](https://www.nanbunoyu.com/bathroom/) - [Nanbu Town: Nanbu no Yu](https://www.town.nanbu.yamanashi.jp/kankou/michinoeki/Spa-Nanbu.html) - [Okuyama Onsen: prices and access](https://www.okuyama-onsen.com/%E6%96%99%E9%87%91-%E3%82%A2%E3%82%AF%E3%82%BB%E3%82%B9/) - [Okuyama Onsen: spring information](https://www.okuyama-onsen.com/%E6%B8%A9%E6%B3%89/) - [Nanbu Town: Okuyama Onsen](https://www.town.nanbu.yamanashi.jp/kankou/michinoeki/Spa-Okuyama.html) - [Yamanashi Prefecture tourism: Okuyama Onsen](https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/kankou/stay/p5_5053.html) - Photo sources: [Nanbu no Yu](https://www.nanbunoyu.com/), [Okuyama Onsen](https://www.okuyama-onsen.com/)Related: Mahora no Yu in Fujikawa · Day-use bathing in Shimobe
