8 Onsen in Iwate worth your time

A historic hot spring village in a river valley featuring traditional wooden inns and therapeutic sulfur waters used for centuries.

What it is

• A collection of twenty traditional inns situated along the Daigawa River valley.
• A hot spring destination reportedly discovered twelve hundred years ago by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro.
• A historic retreat formerly frequented by the lords of the Nanbu Clan.
• The original water source for the nearby Hanamaki Onsen area.

What to see

• Nakajima Inn, a four-story wooden structure constructed by skilled shrine carpenters.
• The local post office which functions as the primary financial institution for the village.
• Traditional architecture lining the narrow valley alongside the flowing river.
• Natural hot springs containing simple sulfur and sodium chloride sulfate.

Getting there

• Buses travel from Hanamaki Station to the Dai Onsen terminal in thirty minutes.
• The hot spring village is a ten-minute drive from the Hanamaki Interchange.

Read more about Dai Onsen

A historic sulfur hot spring resort in Iwate featuring traditional inns, public baths, and unique tiger pufferfish farming.

What it is

• A sulfur hot spring resort located in the Shizukuishi Basin of Iwate Prefecture.
• Reportedly discovered by a farmer from Kaga Province during the Tensho era.
• Historical retreat used by the ninth lord of the Morioka Domain for medical treatment.
• Modern facilities use the natural hot spring water to farm tiger pufferfish.

What to see

• Hotels and traditional inns lining both banks of the Oshuku River.
• A town-operated public bath house open to both residents and visitors.
• Uguisu Yunotsato Park which features a public footbath for travelers.
• The Flower Garden Mori no Kaze built on the site of a former pool.
• Sulfur spring water with source temperatures ranging from 57 to 62 degrees Celsius.

Getting there

• The hot spring area is accessible by taxi from Shizukuishi Station.

Official site

ousyukuonsen.com

Read more about Ōshuku Onsen

A historic riverside hot spring resort in Iwate offering mineral-rich waters and large accommodations within the Hanamaki Onsen Village.

What it is

• A hot spring resort area located along the Toyosawa River in Hanamaki City.
• Part of the larger Hanamaki Onsen Village with a history dating back to 1689.
• The spring was allegedly discovered by the historical figure Sakanoue no Tamuramaro.
• The waters are known for containing salt and mirabilite minerals.

What to see

• Large modern hotels and traditional Japanese inns situated along the riverbank.
• Natural scenery of the Toyosawa River flowing through the hot spring district.
• A trial footbath using the local spring water located in central Hanamaki.

Getting there

• Take a twenty-minute bus ride from Hanamaki Station to reach the area.
• The resort is a fifteen-minute drive from the Hanamaki-minami Interchange.

Read more about Shidodaira Onsen

A historic hot spring resort on Mount Yakeishi featuring rare natural lime formations and baths with water rising from the floor.

What it is

• A hot spring resort located on the slopes of Mount Yakeishi in Kitakami City.
• Reportedly discovered in 1334 and ranked as a top-tier Ozeki bath during the Edo period.
• Designated as a National Health Resort in 1965 for its mineral-rich waters.
• The site consists of two main inns and multiple hot spring baths.

What to see

• Outdoor baths where hot water emerges directly from the bottom of the pools.
• The Tengu-no-Iwa lime scale dome which is a designated national natural monument.
• Waters containing a mix of sodium chloride and calcium sulfate.

When to go

• Visit between May and October as the facilities close during the winter season.
• The access road is strictly closed from November to early May.

Official site

mizuki.sakura.ne.jp

Read more about Geto Onsen

A historic high-altitude sulfur spring and ski resort located within the scenic Towada-Hachimantai National Park in Iwate.

What it is

• A sulfur hot spring discovered in the early 8th century at 750 meters elevation.
• The site is located within the borders of Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
• The name refers to nets historically used to restrict access to the spring.
• A resort facility and ski area established on the site in 1965.

What to see

• A mixed-gender open-air bath called Sennyo-no-yu located near the main facility.
• A ski resort featuring five pair lifts for winter sports enthusiasts.
• Mountain views from the high-altitude location in Shizukuishi Town.
• Hot spring water sourced from two kilometers away in the mountains.

When to go

• The ski season operates from mid-December through late March each year.

Read more about Amihari Onsen

A secluded hot spring resort in Iwate featuring unique standing baths and mineral-rich waters once associated with local gold mines.

What it is

• The innermost hot spring located within the Hanamaki Minami Onsen Gorge.
• A spring source named Kogane no Yu containing sodium, calcium, and sulfate.
• The site of the former Kogane Onsen, named for historical gold mines in the area.
• A resort area where Hotel Airinkan serves as the sole accommodation.

What to see

• Deep standing baths designed for bathing while in an upright position.
• Natural hot spring waters sourced directly from the local mineral springs.

Getting there

• Take a bus from Hanamaki Station for a journey of approximately thirty-five minutes.
• Drive twenty minutes from the Hanamaki-minami Interchange to reach the resort.

Read more about Shin-namari Onsen

A renovated hot spring inn along the Toyosawa River offering simple thermal waters in a quiet mountain setting.

What it is

• A single Japanese style hotel located along the Toyosawa River
• The fifth hot spring facility from the Hanamaki South entrance
• A former hot spring cure house renovated into a large inn
• A facility that reopened for business under new management

What to see

• A large Japanese style hotel building situated between two other hot springs
• Natural simple hot spring water used for bathing
• Views of the Toyosawa River from the inn grounds

Getting there

• Take an Iwate Ken Kotsu bus from Hanamaki Station
• The bus journey takes approximately forty minutes to reach the area

Read more about Yamanokami Onsen

A large hot spring resort at a river confluence featuring sulfur-rich waters and two distinct hotel buildings.

What it is

• A hot spring facility located in Hanamaki City within Iwate Prefecture.
• The site was originally opened by Takami Construction in 1990.
• The resort is situated at the confluence of the Toyosawa and Osawa rivers.
• The property is part of the Oedo Onsen Monogatari Premium series.

What to see

• Hot spring baths containing natural sulfur water.
• Hotel Satsuki, a five-story building containing fifty-six guest rooms.
• Bettei Kaede, a three-story building featuring forty-five guest rooms.

Getting there

• The bus ride from Hanamaki Station takes thirty-five minutes.

Read more about Watari Onsen