Shirahone Onsen is located in the quiet and peaceful Chubusangaku National Park in Nagano Prefecture. This hot spring resort in the northern Japanese Alps may be small, but its unique milky waters rich in calcium and magnesium and beautiful scenery are worth a special trip. While the village of Shirahone has a four centuries-long history, it is thought that the hot springs have been in use since the Kamakura period (1185-1333). Because of the special milky-white waters, villagers in the area noticed that the hot springs were effective at treating ailments, such as sore muscles. By the mid-nine…