The onsen was first opened in 1816, with seven local people including Genpachi Nakajima opening up a series of small inns by 1818—Takada-ya, Nagano-ya, Yumoto-ya, Ogata-ya, Minami-beya, Murakoshi-ya, Takasago-ya and Toma-ya. These original hotels live on today in the Akakura Hotel, Toma Ryokan, Akakura Wakui Hotel, Star Hotel Akakura, Daimaru, Shimizu-ya, Matsu-ya and Itakura Ryokan.

The Akakura Onsen name comes from Mt. Akakura, the sub-peak of Mt. Myoko that stands above Minami Jigokudani (“south hell valley”), the source of the onsen that today serves Ikenodaira and Myoko Onsen. The source for Akakura Onsen’s hot springs actually comes from Kita Jigokudani, the north valley. In the early days, however, the area was known as Ippongi (One Tree) Onsen. It was the only onsen resort in Japan run by the feudal government, with the inns paying 15 ryo (a large gold coin) each year to the Takada Domain.

At first Akakura Onsen largely served travelers on the Hokkoku Kaido road running along the valley below, but later became a popular summer resort destination before now being best known for the winter season and those deep Akakura snows.

 

 

Akakura Onsen in the 1920s