[Access] About 20 minutes by car from the Katsunuma IC on the Chuo Expressway
[Website] Koshu City Exchange and Health Center, Daibosatsu no Yu (Japanese)
After finishing my hike up Mt. Daibosatsu, I wanted to relax at the Unpo-so in the Sakeishi Onsen, but due to COVID-19, there was a sign saying “No baths today.” Looking for a nearby hot spring, I discovered Daibosatsu no Yu, which has interesting high alkaline water. The source of the water is 28°C with a pH of 10.1, making it strongly alkaline. Although the location wasn’t particularly scenic, I was able to enjoy alternating between cold spring baths and warm jet baths, which really helped me relax.
Daibosatsu no Yu is part of the “Koshu City Exchange and Health Center” and is popular with locals. It’s also a convenient stop after a hike up Mt. Daibosatsu or the Daibosatsu Pass, so many people were coming in throughout the day.
According to the center’s information, the “Enzan High Alkaline Hot Springs, Daibosatsu no Yu” has onsen water that comes from a source with a pH of 10.05, which is strongly alkaline. The water flows out at a rate of 915 liters per minute, and it’s available for both “low-temperature” and “high-temperature” baths. However, the downside is that despite the large amount of spring, chlorine is used in the circulation filtration system, which is simply pity.
On this day, I started my hike from Kamihikawa Pass and enjoyed a round trip to Daibosatsu Peak and the Daibosatsu Pass. The view of Mt. Fuji from the Karamatsu Ridge, especially near the early part of the hike toward Kaminari Rock, was far more impressive than I expected. I stopped several times to admire its grandeur. The trail from Kaminari Rock to the Daibosatsu Pass was lined with pleasant green meadows, making for a lovely walk. The hike from Kamihikawa Pass is not too steep, so it felt more like a pleasant hike than a challenging climb. It’s listed as an easy trail in guidebooks, and I can see why. It’s also easily accessible from the city, so I’d love to visit during the autumn leaves season, although it might be very crowded.