Dake Onsen is a hot spring village located at the foot of Mt. Adatara. It is the most convenient place to start your hike up the mountain. From here you'll find a shuttle bus, that brings you up to the Adatara’s Ropeway Station.
Dake Onsen was once an independent state, named "the Republic of Smile" (Niko niko kyowakoku ニコニコ共和国). It lost its title of independent state and got reattached to Japan by the government, but the village remains very strong as a community and welcoming of travelers.