6 Onsen in Fukushima worth your time

A historic hot spring resort with over 60 riverside inns and the oldest communal bathhouse in the district.

What it is

• One of the three famous hot spring resorts in the Oshu region.
• A simple thermal spring resort located at the foot of the Kuriko Mountains.
• Legendary site discovered by Yamato Takeru and visited by poet Matsuo Basho.
• Historic destination that hosted Helen Keller on two separate occasions.

What to see

• Over 60 traditional ryokan inns standing along the Surikami River.
• Sabakoyu, which is the oldest communal bathhouse in the district.
• The Iizaka Hachiman Shrine where local festivals are held.

When to go

• The Iizaka Kenka Matsuri festival held at the local Hachiman Shrine.

Getting there

• Take the Iizaka Line directly from Fukushima Station to the hot spring town.
• Approximately 10 minutes by car from the Fukushima Iizaka Interchange.

Official site

iizaka.com

Read more about Iizaka Onsen

A historic medical hot spring in Bandai-Asahi National Park offering therapeutic waters and access to nearby mountain hiking trails.

What it is

• A historic hot spring area first discovered on August 15, 1661.
• The first site in Fukushima Prefecture designated for medical hot spring treatment.
• A base for hikers climbing Mount Minowa and Mount Adatara.
• Part of the protected landscape within Bandai-Asahi National Park.

What to see

• Three distinct baths known as the Kami, Naka, and Shimo springs.
• Natural flow spring water containing high levels of bicarbonate and iron ions.
• The Shimo bath which features a self-springing natural water source.
• Neutral thermal waters maintained by the Mount Bandai Ryotei and Takinoya facilities.

Getting there

• Located near the Tsuchiyu Bypass on Prefectural Route 30.
• Accessible by a thirty minute taxi ride from Inawashiro Station.

Read more about Yokomuki Onsen

A historic hot spring resort in Fukushima featuring the highest radium content in the Tohoku region and traditional riverside inns.

What it is

• A hot spring district in Ishikawa Town featuring alkaline simple and radium containing waters.
• Legend says the spring was discovered by Minamoto no Yoshiie during the Heian period.
• The resort area is divided into Upper and Lower bath sections along the Kitasu River.
• The district contains six inns including the top-ranked Yahataya hotel.

What to see

• The Bobata Onsen Motoyu Shrine built by Minamoto no Yoshiie.
• Six traditional inns situated within the hot spring district.
• Natural scenery along the banks of the Kitasu River.

Getting there

• Accessible by bus from Sukagawa Station and Iwaki-Ishikawa Station.
• Fifteen minutes from the Fukushima Airport Interchange by car.

Read more about Bobata Onsen

A historic hot spring town in Fukushima featuring mineral-rich waters sourced from a former coal mine and unique horse baths.

What it is

• A hot spring resort in Iwaki City with over 1,300 years of history.
• A former post station located along the historic Rikuzen-hama Highway.
• The spring yields 5,000 liters of mineral-rich water per minute at 58.3 degrees Celsius.
• Water is sourced from the bottom of a former coal mine.

What to see

• Three public bathhouses located throughout the hot spring town.
• Spa Resort Hawaiians theme park situated on the west side of the area.
• A horse rehabilitation center featuring specialized hot spring facilities for horses.

Getting there

• A five to ten minute walk from Yumoto Station.
• A five-minute drive from the Iwaki-Yumoto Interchange.

Official site

iwakiyumoto.or.jp

Read more about Iwaki Yumoto Onsen

A historic riverside hot spring resort near Aizuwakamatsu featuring therapeutic thermal waters and traditional inns overlooking the Aga River.

What it is

• A hot spring resort town overlooking the Aga River along Route 118.
• Reportedly discovered 1200 years ago by the monk Gyoki or Kobo Daishi.
• The district features chloride and simple thermal spring waters at sixty degrees Celsius.
• A resort area currently home to eight operating inns and hotels.

What to see

• Public footbaths located in the center of the town for visitors.
• Konsei Shrine situated within the hot spring district.
• Scenic views of the Aga River from the resort town.

Getting there

• Fifteen minutes from Ashinomaki Onsen Station by bus.
• Direct buses run from Aizuwakamatsu Station and Koriyama Station.

Official site

www.aizu-ashinomaki.jp

Read more about Ashinomaki Onsen

A quiet hot spring resort in Fukushima featuring two riverside inns and legendary ties to the poet Izumi Shikibu.

What it is

• A therapeutic bathhouse site developed by local residents in Ishikawa Town.
• A simple weak radioactive cold mineral spring with water at eight degrees Celsius.
• The setting for the novel Thirteen Tombstones by author Kunio Oguri.
• A location named after a legend of a cat crying for its owner.

What to see

• Two traditional inns located along the banks of the Imade River.
• The site where a cat allegedly recovered from illness after bathing.

Getting there

• A fifteen minute walk from Iwaki-Ishikawa Station.
• A twenty minute drive from the Tamagawa Interchange.
• A forty minute drive from the Sukagawa Interchange.

Read more about Nekodaki Onsen