Onsen

From Akita Wiki
Hachimantai Onsen

Onsen (温泉) are Japanese hot springs, and Akita Prefecture is very famous as an onsen destination in Tohoku. The abundant minerals in the waters are said to heal ailments and provide deep relaxation. The availability of onsen is definitely one of the best perks for JETs living in Akita. There are onsen in just about every town in Akita, so please add them as you discover new ones!

Onsens are marked on maps and signs with this symbol: ♨

Etiquette

Entering a hot spring in your birthday suit can be a daunting experience. Here are some tips to help ease the transition.

  • Washing carefully BEFORE you enter the water is the most important part (except for maybe remembering to take off your clothes). Most Japanese baths will have small stools to sit on and a separate washing area away from the water.
  • In very simple or very traditional baths, however, you'll need to crouch by the edge of the bath and scoop bathwater directly out to rinse yourself — it's okay in these baths if you don't have soap.
  • Most simple to medium-range onsen expect you to bring your own soap and face towel, and even at many fancy places you can often save ¥300-500 by bringing your own. At some high-end places, all towels, soap, shampoos, and other toiletries are included in the entry fee.
  • It's best to use coin lockers for any valuable items or documents (though theft in Japan is rare). In most onsen, taking photographs is not allowed.

Famous onsen

Below is a partial list of better-known onsen in Akita. This list was composed with complete bias and a lack of objectivity, so don't be surprised if your favorite onsen isn't on this page.

For a complete list of onsen, see the Akita onsen section below.

Aki-no-Miya Hot Springs (秋の宮温泉郷)

Aki-no-Miya Onsen

These hot springs are located in the mountain border of Akita, Yamagata, and Miyagi. Soaking in the hot springs are good for neuralgia, muscle pains, rheumatism, incised wound, burn, chronic skin disease, dyspepsia, and so on.
☎ 0183-56-2131
https://komachi-shuttle.com/english/akinomiya-en/

Doroyu Hot Springs (泥湯温泉)
Doroyu, or muddy water, Onsen, is actually the colloquial name for the waters surrounding the Okuyama Ryokan (奥山旅館) in Yuzawa.There are 3 hot spring hotels here called Kawa-no-yu, Yama-no-yu and Taki-no-yu.
☎ 0183-79-3021
http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~doroyu-o/

Hachimantai Hot Springs (八幡平温泉郷)
The hot springs scattered around the Akita/Iwate border are known collectively as the Hachimantai Hot Spring Resorts. In 1971, mainly people in Matsuo village tapped this hot spring about 6 km away from Matsukawa power station. Here, you can forget time and completely enjoy this highland resort.

Mizusawa Hot Springs (水沢温泉)
〒014-1201 秋田県仙北市田沢湖生保内字下高野73-15
These hot springs are located under the Akita Komagatake, which has Tazawako at its base. There are many small hotels here where you can enjoy the calm atmosphere.
☎ 0187-46-2111
http://www.tsukamoto-sogyo.co.jp/mizusawa/onsen/index.html

Tsuru-no-yu Onsen

Nyuto Onsen (乳頭温泉)
is aruguably the most famous Onsen in Akita. Located in Semboku in the Towada Hachimantai National park, Nyuto Onsen is actually is a cluster of onsen, the most famous of which is Tsuru-no-Yu with its milky white water. Onsen in this area frequently have an outdoor pool with mixed-sex bathing, (called konyoku, 混浴). Mixed bathing areas will (ideally) be clearly marked with the kanji 混.
http://nyuto-onsenkyo.com/

  • Tsuru no Yu (鶴の湯)
    秋田県仙北市田沢湖先達沢国有林50
    0187-46-2139
    10:00-15:00
    ¥500
    Billed as a "secret onsen dating back to the Edo period", Tsuru no Yu is the most old-school onsen in the ken, and one of the best without question. No showers here, only buckets and extremely sulphury waters. The biggest rotenburo here is mixed. You'll have to get dressed to go between all the indoor pools, so bring a yukata to cover up.

Oga Hot Springs (男鹿温泉郷)

Oga Onsen

These hot springs are located in the northern area of Oga peninsula. They are close to Nyudo-zaki, Hachibotai and Oga aquarium. The pure carbonic salt water of these hot springs helps to relieve stress.

Oyasukyo Hot Springs (小安峡温泉)
Located in Yuzawa, this new type of hot spring town provides access to indoor swimming pools and ski areas. The waters here are especially good for skin problems, women's problems and general improvement in health.
Website

Oyu Hot Springs (大湯温泉)

Oyu Onsen

Established 800 years ago and known as the Town of Hot Water for centuries, the Oyu hot spring is close to Lake Towada and boasts many old inns. This hot spring is located in Kazuno in the southern part of Lake Towada. These waters are said to be very good for the skin. All year round, outdoor activities are available to help relieve fatigue.
☎ 0186-37-4111
http://www.h-kazuno.co.jp/en/ - English website

Tamagawa Hot Spring (玉川温泉)
This hot spring gushes from Chichibu stratum, 1700 m below the surface. Probably the second most famous Onsen in Akita behind Nyuto. This hot spring boats the highest flow rate of any onsen in Japan, and is its curative powers are thought to be among the strongest as well. Some of the ailments it is said to be good for are neuralgia, muscle pains, arthralgia, paralysis, arthritis, bruises, sprains, chronic dyspepsia, poor circulation, and fatigue. Also has some of the highest acidity of any hot spring in Japan as well.

Tazawako Kogen Hot Springs (田沢湖高原温泉)
You can see Tazawako and Komagatake from here where many young people enjoy skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.

Sand Onsen (砂ゆっこ)
There is a sand onsen located just beyond the Akita border, in Iwate, near Yokote.
homepage.

Akita Onsen

This is a list of onsen in Akita Prefecture.

Higaeri onsen

This is a list of higaeri (日帰り) or day trip onsen.

Onsen
Name Kanji Area Open Close Baths Ro Sa Kon Map Notes
Tsurumai Onsen 鶴舞温泉 Honjō 08:00 21:30 1 1 1 0 map Utaseyu
Pine Spa Onsen パインスパ新山 Honjō 09:00 21:00 2 0 1 0 map
Miroku Onsen 三六温泉 Honjō 07:00 21:00 1 0 0 0 map Kihōburo
Chōkai Sō 鳥海荘 Chōkai 07:00 21:00* 3 1 1 0 map Neyu, Acchū
Hotel Foresta Chōkai ホテルフォレスタ鳥海 Chōkai 10:00 20:00 1 1 1 0 map
Hotel Masaka ホテルまさか Chōkai 10:00 16:00 1 0 0 0 map
Kizakura Onsen Yurari 黄桜温泉・湯楽里 Higashiyuri 09:00 21:00 1 0 1 0 map
Wakabayashi Onsen 若林温泉 Higashiyuri 09:00 21:00 1 0 0 0 map Very small
Iwaki Onsen "Minato no Yu" 岩城温泉「港の湯」 Iwaki 09:00 21:00 1 1 1 0 map Great for sunsets!
Kameda Denbee Yu Sō 亀田伝兵衛湯荘 Iwaki 10:00 16:00 1 0 0 0 map Senior citizen onsen
Kazahira Sō 風平荘 Iwaki 10:00 16:00 1 0 0 0 map Senior citizen onsen
Kashiwa Onsen かしわ温泉 Nishime 09:00 20:30 2 0 1 0 map
Nishime Yukko Land にしめ湯っ娘ランド Nishime 00:00 00:00 2 0 1 0 map Open 24 hours, Herb bath
Poporokko
"Kusunoki no Yu"
ぽぽろっこ
楠の湯
Ouchi 10:00 21:00 3 1 1 0 map Jacuzzi
Kasumi Onsen かすみ温泉 Ouchi 08:30 20:30 1 0 0 0 map Very small
Taki Onsen 滝温泉 Ouchi 09:00 17:00 2 0 0 0 map
Kahabiro Onsen 小羽広温泉 Ouchi 08:30 16:30 1 0 0 0 map
Izu Onsen 伊豆温泉 Yashima 07:00 20:00 1 0 0 0 map No windows
Jukōen 寿康苑 Yashima 10:00 18:00 1 0 0 0 map Senior citizen onsen
Yuriemon ゆりえもん Yuri 08:30 21:00 2 0 1 0 map Not a real onsen
Nemu no Oka ねむの丘 Nikaho 09:00 21:00 1 0 1 0 map Awaburo
Kakusensou 鶴泉荘 Nikaho 10:00 21:00 1 0 0 0 map
Ushū Onsen Kisakata
Seaside Hotel
羽州温泉 象潟
シーサイドホテル
Nikaho 07:00 21:00 2 1 1 0 map Great for sunsets!
Kaien Shōbū Sō 海苑焦風荘 Nikaho 07:00 21:00 1 0 1 0 map
Sun Nemunoki サン・ねむの木 Nikaho 09:00 17:00 2 0 0 0 map
Hamanasu Onsen はまなす Nikaho 07:00 21:00 3 1 1 0 map Utaseyu, awaburo
Konoura Onsen
Gakkō no Sumika
金浦温泉
学校の栖
Nikaho 05:00 20:00 3 0 0 0 map Cold bath
Gonohama Onsen 午ノ浜温泉 Nikaho 10:00 20:00 1 0 0 0 map Senior citizen onsen
Kami no Yu Onsen 神の湯温泉 Nikaho 13:00 22:00 1 0 1 0 map Denkiburo
Toshitoland としとらんど Ugo 08:00 22:00 1 1 1 0 map
Yutoria ゆとりあ Fujisato 8:30 21:00 4 2 1 0 map Hot rotenburo closed in winter

Yuzawa

Onsen
Name Kanji Area Open Close Baths Ro Sa Kon Map Notes
Tarōbee ryokan 多郎兵衛旅館 Yuzawa 10:00 14:30 2 0 1 0 map
Ōyu Onsen
Abe ryokan
大湯温泉
阿部旅館
Yuzawa 08:00 20:00 2 0 2 1 map
Motoyu Kurabu 湯の宿
元湯くらぶ
Yuzawa 10:00 15:30 1 0 1 0 map Private baths available
Seifūen 清風苑 Yuzawa 10:30 16:00 1 0 0 0 map
Yunosawa Onsen
Nisshū Kan
湯ノ沢温泉
日勝館
Yuzawa 0 0 0 [ map]
Akinomiya Onsens
Shingorō
秋の宮温泉郷
新五郎湯
Yuzawa 09:00 17:00 1 0 0 0 map Utaseyu
Akinomiya Onsens
Tarōbei
秋の宮温泉郷
太郎兵衛
Yuzawa 06:00 18:00 1 0 0 0 map
Akinomiya Onsens
Shūrakushō
秋の宮温泉郷
衆楽荘
Yuzawa 0 0 0 [ map]
Akinomiya Onsens
Inazumi Onsen
秋の宮温泉郷
稲住温泉
Yuzawa 10:00 17:00 1 4 0 0 map Hyōtanburo, okeburo
Akinomiya Onsens
Onajimisō
秋の宮温泉郷
おなじみ荘
Yuzawa 10:00 15:00 1 4 0 0 [ map]
Akinomiya Onsens
Spa-Che Kyūkei Center
秋の宮温泉郷
SPA-CHE休憩センター
Yuzawa 09:00 16:30 ? 0 0 0 map
Akinomiya Onsens
Akinomiya Hakubutsukan
秋の宮温泉郷
秋乃宮博物館
Yuzawa 09:00 17:00 ? ? ? ? [ map]
Akinomiya Onsens
Hōju Onsen
La Foret Kurikoma
秋の宮温泉郷
宝寿温泉ラ・フォーレ栗駒
Yuzawa 08:00 17:00 1 1 0 0 map
Yunomata Onsen
Kōyō kan
湯の又温泉
紅葉館
Yuzawa 09:00 16:00 2 0 0 0 map
Ōyu Onsen
Oyasusansō Yoshikawa
大湯温泉
小安山荘 よし川
Yuzawa 08:00 20:00 1 0 0 0 map
Oyasukyō Onsen
Kōjūyokujō
小安峡温泉
公衆浴場
Yuzawa 0 0 0 [ map] closed down??
Oyasukyō Ashiyu, Kamayu 小安峡の足湯・釜湯 Yuzawa 0 0 0 [ map]
Oyasukyō Onsen
???
小安峡温泉
鶴泉荘
Yuzawa 10:00 20:00 1 1 0 0 map closed??
Oyasukyō Onsen
Motoyu Kyōdōyokujō ???
小安峡温泉
元湯共同浴場 山神の湯
Yuzawa 09:00 20:00 0 0 0 [ map]
Akita Ikoinomura 秋田いこいの村 Yuzawa 08:00 20:00 2 0 0 0 map
Yama no Yukko やまの湯っこ Yuzawa 09:00 16:00 2 0 0 0 map
Doroyu Onsen
Okuyama Ryokan
泥湯温泉
奥山旅館
Yuzawa 10:00 17:00 1 3 0 2 map 1 female only rotemburo, 1 (or 2?) mixed
Doroyu Onsen
Toyoake kan
泥湯温泉
豊明館
Yuzawa 07:00 17:00 1 0 0 0 map utaseyu (not sure of Toyoake kan reading)
Doroyu Onsen
Ogura kan
泥湯温泉
小椋旅館
Yuzawa 08:00 18:00 1 0 0 0 map No showers
Kawarage Ōyutaki 川原毛大湯滝 Yuzawa 00:00 00:00 0 0 0 1 map Waterfall onsen. Changing rooms only
Sun Palace Mitake
Yuzawa Onsen
サンパレスみたけ
ゆざわ温泉
Yuzawa 08:00 22:00 1 0 0 0 map
Akinomiya Onsens
Takanoyu Onsen
秋の宮温泉郷
鷹の湯温泉
Yuzawa 11:00 14:00 1 1 0 1 map 1 private ladies rotemburo
Akinomiya Onsens
Akinomiya Sansō
秋の宮温泉郷
秋の宮山荘
Yuzawa 10:30 20:00 1 1 1 0 map Utaseyu, jacuzzi
旅館仙秋 Yuzawa 0 0 0 [ map] not higaeri?
Akinomiya Onsens
Matsunoyu
秋の宮温泉郷
松の湯
Yuzawa 11:00 17:00 1 1 0 0 map Just 1 indoor and 1 outdoor bath here which can be private or mixed.
Kakuhōkan 鶴峯館 Yuzawa 09:00 21:00 0 0 0 map
とことん山 Yuzawa 0 0 0 [ map]
湯沢市リフレッシュ
交流センターほっと館
Yuzawa 0 0 0 map

Former onsen

The following onsen have closed down and are no longer in operation.

Daisen:

  • Kakumagawa Onsen Ryokan Kakusui (角間川温泉 旅館角水) - Closed in autumn 2012
  • Himegami Onsen Yōkaen (姫神温泉 陽華苑)

Gojōme:

  • Nametara Onsen (滑多羅温泉・鶴乃湯) - Closed in 2007

Kazuno:

  • Higashi Toroko Onsen (東トロコ温泉) - Closed in November 2008
  • Toroko Onsen (トロコ温泉)

Ōdate:

  • Daimonji Onsen (大文字温泉) - Closed in winter 2011
  • Takinosawa Onsen (滝ノ沢温泉)

Yurihonjō:

  • Byakko no Yu Tachibana (白狐の湯たちばな). Iwaki.
  • Kantokan Onsen (感湯館温泉). Ouchi
  • Shibakura Onsen (柴倉温泉). Higashiyuri.
  • Tsukiyama Onsen (月山温泉). Yashima
  • Wel Sunpia Akita (ウェルサンピア秋田). Iwaki.

Yuzawa:

  • Oyasukyō Kakusensō (小安峡温泉 鶴泉荘)

Mixed onsen

While most onsens are usually segregated into mens or womens, some onsens are mixed. The Japanese term for mixed bathing is kon'yoku (混浴). Usually onsens that offer mixed bathing also offer segregated baths too. This is an incomplete list of ones in northern Tōhoku.

Akita:

  • Hachimantai Lake Inn (八幡平レークイン)
    Kazuno
    Homepage
  • Fukenoyu (ふけの湯)
    Kazuno
    Homepage
  • Soma Onsen Ryokan (杣温泉旅館)
    Kitaakita, Moriyoshi
  • Nyuto Onsen (乳頭温泉)
    • Tsuru no Yu (鶴の湯) 10:00-15:00
    • Tae no Yu (妙乃湯) 10:00-15:00
    • Ganiba(蟹場) 9:00-16:30
    Semboku
    Homepage
  • Abe Ryokan (阿部旅館)
    Yuzawa
    Homepage. Mixed rotemburo from July to Sept.
  • Doroyu Onsen (泥湯温泉)
    Yuzawa, Okuyama Ryokan (奥山旅館)
    Homepage

Iwate:

  • Saiun Sou (彩雲荘)
    Hachimantai City
    Homepage
  • Kyuukamura Iwate Amihari Onsen (休暇村岩手網張温泉)
    Shizukuishi Town
    Homepage
  • Mori Sansou (森山荘)
    Shizukuishi Town
    Homepage
  • Oosawa Onsen (大沢温泉)
    Hanamaki City
    Homepage
  • Fujisan Ryokan (藤三旅館)
    Hanamaki City
    Homepage
  • Daisen Bekkan (大扇別館)
    Nishiwaga Town
    Homepage
  • Getou Onsen Kankou Hotel (夏油温泉観光ホテル)
    Kitakami City
    Homepage
  • Motoyu Getou (元湯夏油)
    Kitakami City
    Homepage

Aomori:

Vocabulary

The following are words that you are likely to encounter on your onsen travels.

  • Ofuro (お風呂) = bath
  • Utaseyu (打たせ湯) = stream of water cascading onto one's back; pelting water; waterfall shower
  • Rotemburo (露天風呂) = (Ro) man-made outdoor bath.
  • Kon'yoku (混浴) = (Kon) mixed bathing
  • Sauna (サウナ) = (Sa) If a sauna is present, so is a cold bath unless stated.
  • Mizuburo (水風呂) = cold bath
  • Notemburo (野天風呂) = natural outdoor bath
  • Neyu (寝湯) = a very shallow bath that will cover about half your body when lying down
  • Acchū (圧注浴) = a douche bath
  • Jacuzzi (ジャグジー)
  • Vibra bath (バイブラバス) =
  • Kihōburo (気泡風呂) = bubbles coming up through the water
  • Awaburo (あわ風呂) = bubble bath
  • Denkiburo (電気風呂) = electric bath Denkiburo
  • Hyōtanburo (ひょうたん風呂) =
  • Okeburo (桶風呂) =
  • Onsenkyō (温泉郷) =
  • Kyōdōyokujō 共同浴場 =
  • Ganban'yoku (岩盤浴) = stone sauna

Map

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See also

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