Niche Hidden Gems in Niigata | Indulge in Divine Pork in a Millennia-Old Medicinal Bath

| Indulge in divine pork in a millennia-old medicinal bath. Family! I've discovered a hidden hot spring treasure known only to Japanese locals! Tucked away in the remote mountains of Niigata, a snow country, lies "Matsunoyama Onsen," one of Japan's three major medicinal hot springs! Imagine soaking in million-year-old fossil seawater on a snowy day – I have to share this limited-time winter romance with the world! ♨️ One of Japan's Three Major Medicinal Hot Springs Legend has it that the hot spring water here is fossil water from an ancient ocean. It's as thick as melted emerald soup, but without any sulfur smell! After soaking, your skin will be incredibly smooth. If you always have cold hands and feet, you must come here. Locals say that soaking for three days can cure all illnesses (I believe it!). ❄️ The Ultimate Romance of Bathing in the Snow The moment you rush into the open-air bath amidst the falling snow is truly amazing! Your eyelashes frost over, snowflakes land on your hair, but your body is immersed in a 40°C warm spring. Looking at the distant snow-capped mountains resembling matcha daifuku, enjoying iced milk and soy sauce dango after your soak – life is complete! +10086 🐖 Unbelievably Delicious Hot Spring Pork Cuisine I highly recommend "Hinano Yado Chitose," a century-old restaurant! Their original "Touji Pork" is so delicious it'll make you scream!! Slowly cooked for 3 hours in 60°C hot spring water, the fatty meat is surprisingly crispy! The fat bursts in your mouth like popping candy, so tender you can almost suck it down. There's no porky smell at all. Paired with Niigata sake, I could eat three bowls of rice! 📸 An Incredibly Photogenic Hot Spring Town Although the street isn't long, every corner looks like a scene from a Japanese drama. Snow lanterns illuminate the old wooden houses, and there are footbaths along the snowy mountain roads. Wearing a yukata and carrying a transparent umbrella, any photo you take captures the essence of a snow country love song. I recommend bringing a light-colored sweater/red scarf – the snow acts as a perfect reflector! 🚗 Transportation Guide Tokyo Station → Niigata Station (Shinkansen 2h) Transfer to a bus heading towards "Matsunoyama Onsen" (1.5h) I recommend staying for one night to experience the different sensations of bathing in the morning and evening. Most hotels in the hot spring town include kaiseki breakfast and dinner. Around 1k+ per person, super worth it!