The main attraction at Kamiyamada Onsen is the name -onsen. You will find a few foot hot spring throughout the streets. Although, for me it's not the onsen that make this place interesting. The cool feature about this place is the glimpse into a town that was built during the Showa era (1926-1989) when Japan's economy was booming (1970s). And what came with that boom? Snack bars.

This town has so many retro snack bars throughout the small streets where you will most likely run into women from South East Asia.

What is a snack bar?

A snack bar in Japan is a small, cozy bar where customers pay a cover charge to enjoy drinks and casual conversation with hostesses or hosts. These bars offer a relaxed, intimate atmosphere, with staff engaging guests through conversation, games, and karaoke. Typically frequented by regulars, snack bars are common in Japanese nightlife districts and provide a unique, personable experience distinct from standard bars or izakayas.

In summary, it's a bar where women just kinda hang out with you and chat because that's their job. The idea is that the customer service comes with flirting. While I'm not a real user of these places, I can appreciate this place for being very different to what I'm used to. It's a glimpse into another side of Japan found in a somewhat random place.

Also, you will get some pretty cool photos here of old school Japan.

Tip: try the Thai food here! It's actually very good with a small Thai population in town.

Oh! And if you're there in summer, check out the street festival! It is super fun with fireworks, street floats, dancing, and street food!

Plus! You can get bike rental from close by and ride up the river.