All rooms feature a private wood-fired sauna. "Earthboat Ueda Onsen" opens a new base.
TRAVEL｜Earthboat Ueda Onsen
Want to spend time in nature, but find the preparations and cleanup for camping a bit daunting? This is where "Earthboat," a hotel with a "Nature Escape" concept, fulfills the desire for an adult outdoor stay. At "Earthboat Ueda Onsen," which opened its doors on July 31, 2026, in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, guests can enjoy not only a private wood-fired sauna in each unit but also their own private open-air hot spring bath. We report on a one-night, two-day stay in a private space surrounded by forest.
Text by FUJII Aki
A New "Earthboat" Equipped with Open-Air Hot Spring Baths
"Earthboat" is an outdoor hotel with private saunas that enhances your stay in nature, a little distance away from the everyday.
The trailer house-style guest rooms each come with a wood-fired sauna, a functional kitchen, a plush queen-size bed, toilet, and shower. Despite being "outdoors" surrounded by nature, it offers not inconvenience but a promise of a comfortable stay.
Since its inception in 2022, "Earthboat" has expanded its bases nationwide, primarily in Nagano and Gunma prefectures. The 11th new location is "Earthboat Ueda Onsen," introduced here. Located near the popular hot spring facility "Jufuku no Yu" in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, it features not only private saunas in each unit but also open-air hot spring baths using the same source as "Jufuku no Yu."
Private Sauna Experience Surrounded by Nature
Ueda Onsen is approximately a 3-hour drive from Tokyo. If you depart in the morning, you'll have ample time before the 3 PM check-in to stop at the local supermarket "TSURUYA" near the Ueda-Sugadaira IC to pick up ingredients for dinner's barbecue and drinks.
Upon arriving at "Earthboat Ueda Onsen," self-check-in is done using the room number and passcode sent via email beforehand. Start preparing the wood-fired sauna while there's still plenty of daylight.
The private sauna, spacious enough for two adults to lie down, comes complete with a self-löyly set, firewood, and fire starters.
You tend the fire yourself by adding logs. While it's not as much trouble as you might think, the very act makes it feel like a uniquely special experience, different from any other sauna.
After cooling down in the cold plunge, relax on the provided reclining chairs and enjoy the outdoor air while gazing at the starry sky. This is the essence of a private sauna experience surrounded by nature.
More Comfortable Than Tent Camping, More Authentic Than Glamping
After your sauna, enjoy a barbecue using ingredients purchased locally earlier in the day. The compact yet functional kitchen is equipped with a mini-fridge, electric kettle, cooking utensils, and cutlery, as well as basic seasonings like olive oil and salt and pepper.
Utilizing the barbecue grill set up in front of your room, savor your meal with heightened senses amidst the beautiful, nature-filled air.
Unlike typical camping, you are freed from the troublesome tasks of setting up grills and stoves, and cleaning up charcoal and firewood. This allows you to be more attuned to nature, which is unique to "Earthboat."
The Absence of Travel's Hustle: A Clear Private Space
The next morning, you wake up to the sunlight filtering into the room.
Breakfast, enjoyed with the sound of birdsong, is the "Jufuku no Yu Collaboration Breakfast Set" that you booked. The handmade bread, baked at "Jufuku no Yu's" popular bakery, tastes as good as fresh when reheated in the provided Dutch oven, achieving a crispy exterior and fluffy interior.
Until the 10 AM check-out, spend your time as you wish, whether it's taking a walk, enjoying the sauna again, or relaxing in the hot springs.
"Earthboat Ueda Onsen" offers a variety of experiences during the one-night, two-day stay, including tending a wood-fired sauna, using spring water for the cold plunge, outdoor bathing under the stars, barbecuing, enjoying the hot springs, and preparing breakfast in a Dutch oven. Despite such a fulfilling experience, the lack of travel-induced hustle stems from being able to surrender to nature without conforming to others' paces or being burdened by tedious tasks. "Earthboat Ueda Onsen" guarantees such a truly private space.
Earthboat Ueda Onsen
Location｜9097-183 Sanada-cho Kobo, Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture
Google Map：https://maps.app.goo.gl/VtFfqSdK8Gor9TFM7
(Approx. 20 minutes by car from Ueda-Sugadaira IC)
Price｜From ¥41,500 per night for 2 people (incl. tax)
Capacity｜Max 3 people (Queen bed, sofa bed, extra futon)
Pets｜Allowed (no restrictions on type, size, or number)
Contact
Earthboat