3 Men Found Dead in the Snow from Suspected Poisoning at Popular Volcanic Hot Springs: Reports

Mar. 15, 2025

Emergency services are pictured at the scene after three men are found dead in the Takayu Onsen area in Japan.Photo:Kyodo via AP Images

Kyodo via AP Images

Three men have died from suspected hydrogen sulfide poisoning at a popular hot springs resort in Japan, per multiple local media reports.

On Monday, Feb. 17, the men — a manager at a hotel in his 60s and two staff members in their 50s and 60s — went for a routine maintenance check, but failed to return, reported theAsahi Shimbun,Kyodo NewsandJapan Today.

The trio had entered the mountains in the Takayu Onsen area in Fukushima at around 2 p.m. local time that day, theAsahi Shimbunadded, citing Fukushima prefectural police. At around 8 p.m., however, a hotel employee made an emergency call after they failed to return.

Emergency services are pictured at the scene after three men are found dead in the Takayu Onsen area in Japan.Kyodo via AP Images

The men were found “lying in the snow about 100 meters from the mountain trail entrance north of the hotel between 10 a.m. and noon” on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the outlet stated, adding that a doctor at the scene had confirmed their deaths, citing the city’s fire department.

A search team of around 20 police officers and firefighters had been sent out at around 9 a.m. to look for the missing men, the outlet continued, adding that there was a “possibility the three inhaled the deadly gas” which is naturally found near the hot springs.

A cause of death has not been officially confirmed.

A traditional Japanese hot spring at Nyuto Onsen in northern Japan.Getty

Getty

The three men were thought to have known the area well and regularly carried out maintenance on the pipes, according to U.K. newspaperThe Times.

There was also just under 57.5 inches of snow in the area at around 7:30 a.m. on the morning they were found, Kyodo News stated.

A staff member at the resort said “the snowfall was heavier than usual,” per theAsahi Shimbun.

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The Takayu Onsenwebsitesays that the resort — which is around 9 miles west of central Fukushima city — has been voted one of the best in Japan, winning numerous national contests. The site adds that anyone can benefit from a “dip in the green-white [spring] waters that as act as ‘nature’s soap.’ "

According to theJapan Guide, the Takayu Onsen has a 400-year-old history and has “slightly milky, blue water” and a “distinctive sulfuric smell” due the the hydrogen sulfide.

source: people.com