Hotels near Sukayu Onsen, Aomori

The only co-ed bath house in Japan we've ever visited. Women can buy a bathing suit thing in the lobby shop if you're shy. The onsen is one giant pool, with the womens/mens sides separated by a fence. Some old men definitely stretched to try and peep over the fence, but ladies can easily avoid giving them a free show. The water is sulfurously smelly, but incredibly medicinal - just had knee surgery and it's like a fountain of youth. Rest area in the lobby is so relaxing, with lounge chairs facing the snowy forest outside. There is a traditional hotel connected to the onsen, and an excellent soba restaurant on site.

I consider this a 'must visit' spot. The water is top of the line. The bath is mixed but don't let that keep you away. The water is cloudy and completely opaque, so you can easily cover yourself. For female-bodied people, you can enter the bath behind a fence and even stay completely behind the partition the entire time if you are feeling shy. I do recommend venturing out into the main bath. The bath house is spectacular and can only really be experienced from the main part of the bath (there is a dividing line between the men's and women's sections so don't worry. I even saw men enforcing the rules amongst each other). I have been to several mixed baths and believe that they should always be safe unless they are very secluded or totally empty. Remember, many of the men are probably feeling shy too! In any case, this is one of my favorite onsen I've been to in Japan and I wouldn't want some women to pass it up because they are nervous about mixed bathing.