The Yagen campground just reopened this spring. Last year a group of us camped up the road near the Kappa-no-yu Onsen parking lot. While it was a good time, the facilities don't compare to the reopened campground. One night cost us ¥500 for the two of us and that includes well taken care of bathrooms and a pavilion for grilling and washing pans. We chose to camp on the north side of the managers office, next to the parking lot...but doing it over again we'd set up near the main fire pit since open fires on the ground are not allowed. (We didn't know this till morning...oh well)
Hiking trails are well marked, head back across the bridge toward the road and continue up the valley. You'll see wooden signs and stairs leading to a trail that weaves between the road and steam passing the quiet onsen and ending up at the main onsens. The quiet onsen can be found by following the sign with ゆ on it and it has no lights, no changing area, and no nearby facilities. With two baths in it, one extremely hot small one, and a very mild larger one, the onsen is a great place to relax and listen to the stream. The other natural onsen, Kappa-no-yu, is much larger and has a changing area (if you want to call it that), lights, finished sides, and much warmer water. Of the two, if you're scared of someone seeing you naked, you'll want to hit up the quieter of the two after dark...or go on up the road to the Meoto onsen which will cost you ¥200, but separates the sexes.
Something to keep in mind (we neglected to) while camping in Yagen is to keep your food in coolers, cars, or other secure areas. Wild monkeys stopped by our tent and dined on our fruit, bread, sunflower seeds and anything else they could get a hold of. Oops. Note to self for next time.
While in the area, a trip to Osorezan and a stop to refill water bottles in a natural spring are also worth the time.
GPS Coordinates
Yagen Valley Campground N 41°23.010' E 141°04.284'
Kappa-no-yu Onsen N 41°23.153' E 141°02.765'
ゆ Onsen N 41°23.183' E 141°03.167'
Fresh Water Spring N 41°18.880' E 141°07.567'
Mount Osore N 41°19.497' E 141°05.498'
