One of the best areas for hiking and hot springs in the Chubu area is just a short trip from Nagoya. Yunoyama Onsen, part of Komono town, has been visited since the beginning of the 8th century. According to local tradition a deer was found healing its wounds in the springs, and as such some of the place names in the area reflect this tradition. It is also in the middle of Suzuka Quasi-National Park, a beautiful forest area with several mountains – the most famous of which is Mount Gozaisho. The legacy of the area lives on today as it is a popular place for day-trippers and people staying on short holidays. In the winter it is also a popular ski resort.
Access to Yunoyama Onsen is very easy – it takes a little over an hour by train from Kintetsu Nagoya station (830 yen one-way) with just a single transfer at Kintetsu Yokkaichi station, and the journey can be made a little quicker with a trip on the limited express train for an extra 500 yen. Access is also available by highway bus from the Meitetsu Nagoya Bus Center (1280 yen one-way) and the same bus will take you up to the foot of Mt. Gozaisho. From Yunoyama Onsen station it is a 10 minute bus ride to the foot of Mt. Gozaisho (and most of the hot springs), although the bus schedule is somewhat limited
There are many hiking trails around the area that head to the summit of Mt. Gozaisho or other areas in Yunoyama. Mt. Gozaisho itself is 1212 meters high and the summit can be accessed by ropeway (2100 yen roundtrip) or on foot. The climb is a favorite for many hikers around the area and the ski resort in the same area is one of the closest to Nagoya.
For those visiting the local hot springs most of the resorts are either near the foot of Mt. Gozaisho or near Yunoyama Onsen station. Some recommendations for one-day trip visits are the Green Hotel (http://www.g-hotel.jp/ , 059-392-3111, one-day visit 650 yen), Kataoka Onsen (http://www.kataoka-onsen.com/ , 059-394-1511, one-day visit 600 yen) and Hotel De Marronnier (http://marronnier.info/ , 059-392-3210, one-day visit 1000 yen) Several companies also have private resorts in the area for use by employees, but tourists and hikers make up the overwhelming percentage of visitors.
Yunoyama Onsen is one of the best getaways from Nagoya and is often one of the first daytrips that foreign residents make, but if you haven’t been here yet the area is highly recommended.
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