Manza Onsen is a popular getaway in all seasons with a beloved ski area in winter. It is one of the highest-altitude hot spring resorts in Japan, located on the slopes of Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane, an active volcano.
Many of the onsen hotels have open-air baths with sweeping views. In winter, you can soak in a hot bath surrounded by snow. The natural onsen here are milky white with a strong sulfurous odor.
From Manza Onsen, you can see Manza Karabuki, an area where plumes of steam and volcanic gas billow nearly constantly from an ancient volcano crater.
Road closures from Okumanza bus stop to the intersection with National Route 292 and from the Nagano border to the Manza Residents Center from mid-November to late April.