5 Unique Tohoku Onsen Hot Springs That Surprised Foreign Visitors

1. Iizaka Onsen (Fukushima Prefecture): “Unbelievable! The Water is Crazy Hot!”

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“Iizaka Onsen in Fukushima was so crazy hot; I couldn’t stay in for 5 seconds. The locals said that it’s not satisfying if it’s not hot, and they seemed to dislike adding cold water. But they seemed to be enduring the hot water instead of enjoying it. Almost like it was a punishment!” (Malaysia/Male)

Iizaka Onsen is a historical Tohoku onsen hot spring that appears in Tohoku folklore. The region has hotels, inns, and many public bathing areas. The temperature is around 50 degrees Celsius, and the average Japanese person can only stay in for a few seconds! Even if it’s too hot, the locals will insist that “it’s not hot,” which means it can be difficult to add cold water to cool it down. As a visitor, it’s kind of tough to understand this “rule.”

2. Sukayu Onsen (Aomori Prefecture): “I Thought it Was a Pool! But…Mixed Bathing?!”

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“You can feel Japan’s history at Sukayu Onsen in Aoyama Prefecture. There is an old wooden inn in the mountains with a huge bath that looks like a pool. Normally it’s mixed bathing, but we weren’t very comfortable with it, so we decided to go during ‘ladies’ time.'” (Russia/Female)

Sukayu Onsen’s “Hiba Sennin Furo” is about 364.46 square meters. The famous Tohoku onsen bath is made from Aomori Hiba (Thujopsis), and it has a fresh forest aroma.

It is normally mixed bathing, but for one hour from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., it is ladies only. Also, if you are uncomfortable, they sell bathing clothes called “yuami-gi” for 1,000 yen. A bath this big is pretty rare, so we really recommend the experience.

3. Goshogake Onsen (Akita Prefecture): “What is that Smell!? My Body Smells Like Matches”

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“Goshogake Onsen is near the summit of Hachimantai; it is a wild-looking inn where smoke whisps through the air, creating a fantasy scene. However, the smell of sulfur is powerful, and I guess I didn’t wash my body carefully, and my shirt smelled like sulfur! My wife said that it felt like she was with a match the whole time. There were clear and cloudy hot springs, and each one had different effects on the body. I didn’t know that hot springs were so interesting.” (Indonesia/Male)

Goshogake Onsen opened around 300 years ago as a spa treatment facility. In Japan, spa treatments are called Toji; it is where you cook for yourself and bathe in the hot spring for an extended period to heal your wounds and injuries. It is said that Goshogake Onsen works on symptoms such as gastrointestinal disease, neuralgia, knee arthritis, rheumatism, and asthma.

Currently, they accommodate standard lodging and day-trips. A spa treatment to heal your body is always a good option. The spring quality is simple sulfur spring, and the smell of sulfur is very strong, and if it gets on your clothes, it will take multiple washes to remove it. Just make sure you don’t wear your favorite outfits when you visit!

4. Furofushi Onsen (Aomori Prefecture): “Amazing! The open-air bath is by the beach!”

“My recent favorite Tohoku onsen is the Furofushi Onsen in Aomori Prefecture. The open-air bath is by the beach, and the open feeling is fantastic. Japanese hot springs can be found in such great spots!
When there weren’t as many international visitors, Japanese people used to stare, and I was not too fond of it. But after living in Japan for so long, it doesn’t bother me anymore. On the other hand, my Peruvian friend who has been living in Japan for many years said, ‘I don’t want to bathe with other people’ and still hasn’t been in a hot spring.” (Chile/Female)

Furofushi Onsen is a famous Tohoku onsen hot spring with an open-air bath sticking out into the Sea of Japan. We particularly recommend it during sunset. They have mixed bathing and a ladies’ bath area, so you don’t have to worry about joining the opposite sex.

5. Ginzan Onsen (Yamagata Prefecture): “A Tohoku onsen that feels like you went back in time”

“Ginzan Onsen is a hot spring resort that feels like you went back in time, but the information at the hotels were displayed in English and Chinese, and they use QR code for audio guides. I appreciate the measures they take so foreigners can have a good time without much trouble. Usually, I travel with a friend who isn’t fluent in Japanese, and she looks bored when I talk to Japanese people. However, since there are people who can speak English at the hotel and town, she looked happy since she could communicate with people!” (Indonesia/Female)

Many of the ryokan inns at Ginzan Onsen are of a Western-style wooden multi-story construction, but they have guest rooms with tatami (straw mat floors). Here you can experience the “Taisho Roman” (Taisho era culture) where Japanese and Western culture is blended.

Due to the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, the number of visitors dropped. Since then, they have focused on attracting foreign visitors, and it is now a popular Tohoku hot springs paradise for locals and travelers alike.

Curious Surprises at Tohoku Onsen

Hot springs have slowly become more accepting of international visitors. However, there are still people who are hesitant to make the visit, worrying about things such as: “I don’t want to take off my clothes in a public area” (Pakistan/Male), and “It looks good, but I can’t bring myself to do it because it’s embarrassing” (Italy/Male).

Also, many said, “I have a tattoo, so I can’t enter hot springs.” (Including our Polish/Male interviewee.) The attitude towards tattoos in Japan is starting to change, so more Tohoku onsen hot springs may allow tattoos in the future. In fact, there are a few already around that you can visit!

Original Japanese text by Masakazu Yoshida