Alcohol

[Part 1] Three public baths in a small hot spring town that opened over 920 years ago! | Akayu Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture

  • ikoke ikoke
  • Last updated:

Akayu Onsen, located in the southern part of Yamagata Prefecture, known as the hot spring kingdom, has a hot spring town just a 5-minute drive or 30-minute walk from the station, where the JR Yamagata Shinkansen also stops

It is a small hot spring town with 14 inns, each with its own unique style, including pet-friendly inns and inns that are like art museums. In this small hot spring town, public baths that are close to the daily lives of local residents have been renovated, and day-trip baths that are loved by tourists as drop-in baths are scattered throughout the town

We will introduce the history and health benefits of Akayu Onsen, focusing on the newly renovated public baths

Please enjoy until the end

What is Akayu Onsen? What are its benefits?

It is said that the hot springs first appeared in 1093 (Kan'ei 7) when Yawata Taro Yoshitsuna, who was accompanying the unification of Oshu, received a divine revelation and discovered the hot springs. Legend has it that when wounded soldiers bathed in the water, it turned red and their wounds were healed, which is why it came to be called "red hot spring."

Akayu Onsena historic hot spring resort that will celebrate its 930th anniversary next year, in 2023.

What is the quality and efficacy of Akayu Onsen's water?

Akayu Onsen has three hot spring sources, andunusually for a single hot spring resort, it has two different types of hot springs. The names of the sources are "Mori no Yama Hot Spring," "Mori no Yama No. 2 Hot Spring," and "Yugawara Hot Spring."

The Moriyama hot spring is a sulfur, sodium, and calcium chloride spring, and issaid to have high medicinal properties, offering many potential health benefits.

Yugawara hot springs are simple springs with a gentle composition and low irritation, making them a popular choice for people with sensitive skin.

In both cases, the water is colorless and transparent, and no deposits can be seen with the naked eye

There are three public baths in this small hot spring resort! Were there more before?

Akayu Onsen boasts six public baths (communal baths): "Akayu Motoyu," "Azumayu," "Eboshi no Yu," "Oyu," "Tanba Yu," and "Towa no Yu." There are also 14 hot spring inns, as well as footbaths and drinking fountains, allattesting to the abundance of hot spring water.

Oyu and Tambayu were closed early on due to a lack of successors and aging, leaving four public baths, but Eboshiyu, which has its own hot spring source, has remained, and the others have been merged and renovated, leaving only three in operation today

Information on each public bath

We will introduce the characteristics and bathing fees of each of the three public baths

Eboshiyu

This place was tucked away in a residential area. It's obviously old since it hasn't been rebuilt or anything, butit has its own hot spring source, so the water qualityis excellent.

even more unique about this placethat even the taps and showersuse hot spring water! You can enjoy a full hot spring experience for just 120 yen! What a wonderful hot spring experience. I'm so envious of the people who live nearby.

Eboshi-yu ＜Information＞

  • Name: Eboshiyu
  • Address: 356-2 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Business hours: 6:00-11:30 / 14:00-21:30
  • Closed: Fridays
  • Admission fee: 120 yen *100 yen for elementary school students and younger (same for all public baths) *Free for children under 3 years old
  • URL: Nanyo City Official URL (Akayu Onsen Public Bath)
  • Spring quality classification: sulfur-containing sodium calcium chloride hot spring
  • Efficacy categories: Cuts, skin diseases, gynecological diseases, burns, diabetes

Google Map

Akayu Motoyu

Located in the center of Akayu Onsen town, Akayu Motoyu has two hot spring baths, so you can enjoy the different bathing styles. The bathing fee is 240 yen. As it is a public bath, soap and shampoo are not provided, so please remember to bring your own

The effects are also common to Akayu Onsen, and are excellent for cuts, burns, chronic skin diseases, chronic gynecological diseases, weak children, and diabetes

Photo by ikoke
Photo by ikoke

(though it has a separate entrance)and a footbath attached.It's fun to take a look around after your bath.

Akayu Motoyu <Information>

  • Name: Akayu Motoyu
  • Address: 754-2 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Business hours: 8:00-14:00 / 15:00-21:30
  • Closed: Wednesdays
  • Admission fee: 240 yen *100 yen for elementary school students and younger (common to all public baths) *Free for children under 3 years old
  • URL:Nanyo City Official URL (Akayu Onsen Public Bath)
  • Spring quality classification: sulfur-containing sodium calcium chloride hot spring
  • Efficacy categories: cuts, skin diseases, gynecological diseases, burns, diabetes

Google Map

Yukotto

Photo by ikoke

The "Azuma-yu" and "Towa-no-yu" public baths of Akayu Onsen have been taken over and rebuilt as "Akayu Onsen Yukotto," which opened on June 5, 2022.There are also barrier-free private baths available (reservations required).

The general bathing fee is 300 yen, and you will be given a disposable shampoo and body soap at the entrance. What's more, towels are sold and available for rental, so you can easily bathe even if you come empty-handed!

two sections, one with lukewarm water and the other with hot waterconsist ofThe water is a mixture of two different hot spring sources and flows directly from the source.

The rest area was spacious, and there was even a wine vending machine, which was a pleasant surprise. Akayu is a region with a rich history of winemaking, boasting four long-established wineries and two newer ones.

It's wonderful to be able to enjoy a delicious glass of wine after a bath!we also have freshly squeezed grape juice available for those who are drivingAnd don't worry,

Yukotto <Information>

  • Name: Yukotto
  • Address: 3004-1 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Business hours: 6:00-22:00
  • Closed: Tuesdays (Thursdays if Tuesday falls on a public holiday)
  • Admission fee: 300 yen *100 yen for elementary school students and younger (common to all public baths) *Free for children under 3 years old
  • URL: Akayu Onsen Yukotto
  • Spring quality classification: sulfur-containing sodium calcium chloride hot spring
  • Efficacy categories: Cuts, skin diseases, gynecological diseases, burns, diabetes

Google Map

It's nice to stay overnight, but I also recommend stopping by for a quick bath! Let's go to Akayu Onsen!

Akayu Onsen has a history of nearly 930 years. There are three public baths in Akayu Onsen, one of which is Yukotto, which was newly established in June this year after taking over from two other public baths

All three public baths have excellent spring quality and each has its own unique characteristics, making them very attractive facilities. Akayu Onsen is a hot spring resort that makes you want to go bath-hopping, with a retro Showa-era public bath, a public bath with a foot bath and souvenir shop attached, and a public bath that is barrier-free and even has a wine-drinking option

Why not drop by and check it out? We also recommend taking breaks between baths to avoid getting sick from the baths!

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
[Part 2] A stone monument related to Suishinshi Masahide in Akayu! | Akayu Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/17323
Let's go to Akayu Onsen! In Part 1, we mainly introduced the hot springs. This time, while reporting on Akayu Onsen, we found a stone monument dedicated to Suishinshi Masahide, famous for his role in the popular content "Touken Ranbu," which is said to have sparked the sword boom. https://jp.neft.asia/archives/17291 We'll introduce Akayu's other attractions besides the hot springs, as well as the connection between Suishinshi Masahide and Akayu, which we came across during our walk, and his accomplishments. Please enjoy until the end. What is Akayu in Nanyo City? Photo by ikoke Speaking of Akayu, there's Akayu Ramen Ryu Shanghai, which is extremely famous and popular in Yamagata...
read more

Articles that may be related to this article

Other articles