OGAMA
Ogama Onsen, located in the middle of a steep slope on the mountain, features large gama (toad) statues at the entrance of the building, in honor of the hot spring’s name.
Previously housing a high school, the long halls and classrooms of Ogama Onsen have been turned into changing areas, dining spaces, and various baths within the ryokan.
Adding to the “old school” feeling is a statue at the front of the ryokan: Ninomiya Kinjiro, a boy reading while transporting wood on his back, is a famous symbol that represents the virtues of study and hard physical labor.
Across from the statue, a row of footbaths lines the entrance of the ryokan, making it a great pit stop where you can refresh your legs and feet while trekking through the mountain, without having to change your clothes or go inside to use the changing area.
At Ogama, the water has a greenish color that looks like matcha.
There are outdoor and indoor baths, both of which provide views of the essentially untouched natural surroundings of the ryokan.
The four baths at Ogama are approximately 98 degrees year-round, and open all four seasons.
Mountain trails and ski slopes in close proximity to the bathing areas make it easy for guests to go on hikes during the warmer months or go skiing during the colder months in between onsen dips.