Nyūtō Onsen 乳頭温泉
Milky-white waters at ‘Nipple Onsen’
This is one for explorers and you’ll want your own wheels to make the most in these remote mountains of southeastern Akita prefecture. There are buses, but they’re infrequent and if you’re keen to visit a number of the 7 hot springs available without a car, you’ll be doing some walking.
Apparently the name ‘Nipple Onsen’ comes from the suggestive shape of nearby Mt Nyūtō rather than from the milky white colour of the onsen waters.
You can stay overnight at any of the onsen ryokan or turn up as day trippers for a fee. Most have mixed gender outdoor bathing as well as segregated baths.
Nyūtō Onsen is inside Towada-Hachimantai National Park.