Ginzan Onsen

What it is

• A hot spring resort discovered by silver miners during the 17th century.
• A designated National Recreation Hot Spring Resort in Yamagata Prefecture.
• The filming location for the famous NHK television drama Oshinn.
• A pedestrian-only town center where general vehicles are prohibited from entering.

What to see

• Wooden multi-story buildings from the Taisho and Showa eras lining the river.
• Traditional gas lamps installed along the stone-paved pedestrian paths.
• The Shiroganeyu public bath and Fujiya inn designed by architect Kengo Kuma.
• Shirogane Falls located within the Ginzan Shirogane Park area.
• The Nobesawa Silver Mine caves designated as a national historic site.

When to go

• May to October to see Hanagasa dances performed on the town bridges.

Getting there

• Buses run directly to the hot spring area from Oishida Station.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.