I decided to visit Bessho Onsen, the oldest hot spring resort in Shinshu with a history of over 1000 years, by train. From Nakakaruizawa Station, take the Shinano Railway to Ueda Station, and then take the Ueda Dentetsu Bessho Line to Bessho Onsen Station. The train ride was peaceful, with magnificent views of Mount Asama and rice fields along the way. Once at Bessho Onsen, it is a 10-minute walk to the Kitamukai Kannon-do Temple.
The north-facing Kannondō Hall is built facing north, which is rare, and it is said that it is best to visit it together with the south-facing Zenkoji Temple. The three-story octagonal pagoda, a national treasure, is the only one of its kind in Japan, and its beautiful appearance, which can only be seen by climbing up from Anrakuji Temple, is a moving experience.
Bessho Onsen has three out-spa baths, and it is fun to visit them after the tour. The station also exhibits a “round window train” with round windows on its sides, which some enthusiasts come to see.
On the way back, we took a local train back to Karuizawa and returned to Tokyo by Shinkansen. I had been to Bessho Onsen several times by car, but the train trip was a new experience.
© Source travel watch