Hakuba Happo-One
HAKUBA HAPPO’S MIRACLE HOT SPRING
Having discovered that Hakuba Happo Onsen waters held the highest pH 11.2 in all of Japan, the investigative part of me wanted to know why, when, how and what made it so special, so of course I deep dived and talked to the locals who are so proud of their area having such healing waters.
To understand how it’s occurred, one must understand the unique geology of Japan’s islands which are divided into Northeastern Japan and Southwestern Japan by a major fault called the Fossa Magna. Running through the centre of Hakuba Village along the Himekawa River is the western border of this fault called the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line.
Deep within the earth from which the Happo-One Mountain Ranges rise above, were found a great belt of Serpentinite rock which is formed when ocean water inside the oceanic plate reacts to the minerals found deep in the core of the Earth’s mantle (in the simplest terms).
Hakuba is one of largest land areas where one can find exposed Serpentinite Rock, and with the volcanic activity prevalent in Japan, this combination of Serpentinite reacting with the natural hot spring has resulted in the onsen waters having not only a high pH value, but also the presence of dissolved hydrogen (which means the water has antioxidant properties) and very few types of “bacteria” compared to other hot springs.
Continual research by scientists in Japan, and worldwide is ongoing as they assess the potential benefits of what the locals call a “miracle hot spring”. Though I am not in any so way a scientist, I personally found this history and discovery fascinating and wonder what else will be discovered, but for now I am equally happy to just relax and soak away in the hot, healing waters of onsen.
ACCESS
BY TRAIN
JR TOKYO STATION - JR NAGANO STATION
HOKURIKU SHINKANSEN
~80-100mins | ~ 8140JPY OW
JAPAN RAIL PASS & JR EAST NAGANO NIIGATA AREA PASS
FOLLOWED BY BUS
JR NAGANO STATION (EAST EXIT) - HAKUBA HAPPO ONE BUS TERMINAL
BUS STOP #25 (reservations) or #26 (no reservations)
2400JPY ADULTS | 1400JPY KIDS OW
~ 75mins
DIRECT BUSES - HAKUBA HAPPO ONE BUS TERMINAL
NARITA AIRPORT (~6 - 7 hrs)
~13000JPY ADULTS OW
~ 11000JPY KIDS OW
HANEDA AIRPORT (~ 5.5 - 6.5 hrs)
~ 9300JPY ADULTS OW
~ 7300JPY KIDS OW
SHINJUKU BUS TERMINAL (~ 5hrs)
~ 6400JPY ADULTS OW
EXTENDED TRIP INSPIRATION
JR SHINJUKU STATION - JR MATSUMOTO STATION
LIMITED EXPRESS AZUSA TRAINS (~ 2.5hrs) | ~ 6620JPY OW
explore Matsumoto for a couple nights
*
JR MATSUMOTO STATION - JR HAKUBA STATION
LIMITED EXPRESS AZUSA TRAINS ( ~ 1hr) | ~2190JPY OW
or
LOCAL TRAIN “OITO LINE” ( ~ 2hrs) | ~ 1170JPY OW
DIRECT TRAIN ROUTE
JR SHINJUKU STATION - JR HAKUBA STATION
LIMITED EXPRESS AZUSA TRAINS ( ~3.75 - 4 hrs) | approx 8050JPY OW
(accommodation shuttle/local bus/taxi from JR Hakuba to Hakuba Happo-One Bus Terminal)
WEBSITE: HAKUBA HAPPO ONE | INSTAGRAM: @HAKUBAHAPPOONE