Customs and Culture January 9, 2015 5:33 pm

Chubu Region Onsen Rundown


Customs and Culture January 9, 2015 5:33 pm

Chubu Region Onsen Rundown


Heavy Hitters: Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki

Chubu Region Onsen: Overview

Yudanaka-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: Marc Veraart Japan – Yudanaka Guesthouse
Yudanaka-onsen, loved by Kobayashi Issa (regarded as the greatest haiku poet), has a long history of approximately 1350 years. It is a unique hot spring village that has springs close to the ground surface, which can be found everywhere in town. Many shrines are also spotted here, and each one preserves and treasures “stones” demonstrating the ancient history of Japan. After taking a bath, you can relax your soul and body while strolling through the village.

Echigo-Yuzawa-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: Hideyuki KAMON – Echigo-Komagadake
Echigo-Yuzawa-onsen has various hot springs in the vicinity of Echigo-Yuzawa Station (Joetsu Shinkansen Line) and is a popular destination for winter sports. There are a number of sotoyu (communal baths that have no accommodation) which you can enjoy along with many leisure possibilities. Its mildly alkaline water is said to work for muscle and neuralgic pains and to relieve fatigue. The famous Japanese novel written by Yasunari Kawabata, Yukiguni (Snow Country), is set in this town. One can experience the aura of the very first line of the novel, “The train came out of the long tunnel into the snow country” by taking the local trains.

Yamashiro-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: Richard Murdey – 山代温泉 古総湯
Yamashiro-onsen is the largest among the hot springs located among the three prefectures of the Hokuriku area, having a long history spanning over 1300 years. It is said that its origin goes back to 725, when a holy priest named Gyoki found a crow healing its wounds in the spring water. The town expands with “Yamashiro-onsen Yokuden” at its center, a communal bath used also by local people, and promotes a nostalgic atmosphere with its old inns with their bright sanguine lattices, and private houses. You can enjoy drinking the famous waters called “Otoko-shozu (male’s freshwater)” and “Onna-shozu (female”s freshwater)” and continue by visiting many spots including a park called “Ruriko” which also has a hot spring.

Wakura-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: かがみ~ – 和倉温泉
Wakura-onsen is located on the Noto-hanto Peninsula facing the Japan Sea, boasting a long history as an ocean hot spring. You will be attracted not only by its high volume of water (at a relatively high temperature), but also by the availability of seasonal seafood. As well, you can enjoy cruising and fishing boat trips from May to September.

Unazuki-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: tsuda – Kurobe Gorge Railway
Although it has been known for a long time that a hot spring existed in the Kurobe area (where Unazuki-onsen is located), the location was surrounded by primeval forest and had nothing closely resembling streets in its vicinity. Subsequently, the development of power resources was launched on the Kurobe-gawa River during the mid-Taisho Era (around 1920), and after the war during the Showa Era, the town became popular as a full-scale, recognized hot spring village. This is a small-sized town but well known for its clear, hot water. As well as visiting the hot spring, you can take a tram to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Kurobe Valley, leaving you with unforgettable memories.

Gero-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: nick – Gero Onsen
Gero-onsen is the largest hot spring town in Gifu, surrounded by the Hida Mountain Range. Legend has it that this hot spring was found when an egret informed the villagers of the spring’s existence. It is a simple alkaline spring featuring clear, colorless water with a mild fragrance and softness. Since early times, it has been utilized as a therapeutic bath used by hospitals and medical research institutions. By utilizing a ticket system called “Yumeguri-tegata,” which allows you to enter three affiliate facilities, you can easily enjoy taking hot springs in Gero. It should be mentioned that the delicacy of Hida beef is also something to experience.


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Categorised in: , ,

This post was written by Mathew Ryan

Chubu Region Onsen: Overview

Yudanaka-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: Marc Veraart Japan – Yudanaka Guesthouse
Yudanaka-onsen, loved by Kobayashi Issa (regarded as the greatest haiku poet), has a long history of approximately 1350 years. It is a unique hot spring village that has springs close to the ground surface, which can be found everywhere in town. Many shrines are also spotted here, and each one preserves and treasures “stones” demonstrating the ancient history of Japan. After taking a bath, you can relax your soul and body while strolling through the village.

Echigo-Yuzawa-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: Hideyuki KAMON – Echigo-Komagadake
Echigo-Yuzawa-onsen has various hot springs in the vicinity of Echigo-Yuzawa Station (Joetsu Shinkansen Line) and is a popular destination for winter sports. There are a number of sotoyu (communal baths that have no accommodation) which you can enjoy along with many leisure possibilities. Its mildly alkaline water is said to work for muscle and neuralgic pains and to relieve fatigue. The famous Japanese novel written by Yasunari Kawabata, Yukiguni (Snow Country), is set in this town. One can experience the aura of the very first line of the novel, “The train came out of the long tunnel into the snow country” by taking the local trains.

Yamashiro-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: Richard Murdey – 山代温泉 古総湯
Yamashiro-onsen is the largest among the hot springs located among the three prefectures of the Hokuriku area, having a long history spanning over 1300 years. It is said that its origin goes back to 725, when a holy priest named Gyoki found a crow healing its wounds in the spring water. The town expands with “Yamashiro-onsen Yokuden” at its center, a communal bath used also by local people, and promotes a nostalgic atmosphere with its old inns with their bright sanguine lattices, and private houses. You can enjoy drinking the famous waters called “Otoko-shozu (male’s freshwater)” and “Onna-shozu (female”s freshwater)” and continue by visiting many spots including a park called “Ruriko” which also has a hot spring.

Wakura-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: かがみ~ – 和倉温泉
Wakura-onsen is located on the Noto-hanto Peninsula facing the Japan Sea, boasting a long history as an ocean hot spring. You will be attracted not only by its high volume of water (at a relatively high temperature), but also by the availability of seasonal seafood. As well, you can enjoy cruising and fishing boat trips from May to September.

Unazuki-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: tsuda – Kurobe Gorge Railway
Although it has been known for a long time that a hot spring existed in the Kurobe area (where Unazuki-onsen is located), the location was surrounded by primeval forest and had nothing closely resembling streets in its vicinity. Subsequently, the development of power resources was launched on the Kurobe-gawa River during the mid-Taisho Era (around 1920), and after the war during the Showa Era, the town became popular as a full-scale, recognized hot spring village. This is a small-sized town but well known for its clear, hot water. As well as visiting the hot spring, you can take a tram to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Kurobe Valley, leaving you with unforgettable memories.

Gero-onsen Hot Spring

Photo by: nick – Gero Onsen
Gero-onsen is the largest hot spring town in Gifu, surrounded by the Hida Mountain Range. Legend has it that this hot spring was found when an egret informed the villagers of the spring’s existence. It is a simple alkaline spring featuring clear, colorless water with a mild fragrance and softness. Since early times, it has been utilized as a therapeutic bath used by hospitals and medical research institutions. By utilizing a ticket system called “Yumeguri-tegata,” which allows you to enter three affiliate facilities, you can easily enjoy taking hot springs in Gero. It should be mentioned that the delicacy of Hida beef is also something to experience.


Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Categorised in: , ,

This post was written by Mathew Ryan