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[Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture] The amount of hot water is number one in Fukushima Prefecture. ``Iwaki Yumoto Onsen'' has hot springs for everything from hula dancing to racehorses.
[Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture] The amount of hot water is number one in Fukushima Prefecture. ``Iwaki Yumoto Onsen'' has hot springs for everything from hula dancing to racehorses.
Iwaki Yumoto Onsen, located in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, is a hot spring with a long history that is said to be one of the three oldest hot springs in Japan, along with Dogo Onsen (Ehime Prefecture) and Arima Onsen (Hyogo Prefecture)
The existence of Onsen Shrine was recorded in ancient documents from the 900s during the Heian period, and it is believed that the hot springs had been in use for approximately 1,300 years prior to that. There are also records of surrounding feudal lords visiting the hot springs during the Sengoku period, and by the Edo period, more than 50 hot springs were naturally gushing out
Iwaki Yumoto Onsen became a lively hot spring resort after the construction of the coastal road Hama-kaido (Joban Expressway) during the Meiji period, and as the only hot spring resort on Hama-kaido, it became popular with around 20,000 people visiting for hot spring cures each year
The once-smooth Iwaki Yumoto Onsen springs has dried up due to coal mining
Coal was discovered near the hot springs in the late Edo period, and in the Meiji period, the demand for coal increased significantly as a result of the trend toward civilization and enlightenment, leading to the establishment of many coal mines. Coal mining destroys the hot spring veins through which the hot springs flow, causing the amount of hot water to decrease. The hot springs that gushed forth from the hot spring veins above the veins became a nuisance during coal mining, and were gradually discarded
Around 1897, the amount of hot spring water decreased dramatically, and finally in 1919 (Taisho 8), the hot spring water stopped flowing
It was an era of wealth and military strength. National policy was to increase coal production rather than hot springs, so Iwaki Yumoto Onsen ceased to be a hot spring resort until the 1960s after World War II. However, ironically, with the rise of coal mining, the town grew rapidly as it became a place to accommodate the people who worked in the coal mines
"Tokiwa Hawaiian Center": A desperate revival plan implemented by a coal mining company facing closure
Even after the hot springs were no longer in use, a large amount of hot spring water continued to gush out from the coal mine. The town discussed with the coal mining company how to make effective use of the water, and finally in 1942 (Showa 17), the supply of hot spring water to the town was restored. This brought an increase in the prosperity of the town of Yumoto, but this did not last long
The energy industry peaked in the 1950s and then shifted from coal to oil, causing coal mining to rapidly decline. The largest company, Joban Coal Mine (now Joban Kosan), also faced a management crisis and took bold action to make effective use of the large amount of hot springs that were a hindrance to coal mining. This was the hot spring resort facility, Joban Hawaiian Center (now Spa Resort Hawaiians)
The Tokiwa Hawaiian Center opened in January 1966. It filled a large pool with the abundant hot spring water, provided a variety of leisure facilities, and held a daily hula dance show to create a Hawaiian atmosphere. This was a huge hit, with the center packed to capacity every day, and within eight years of opening, the number of visitors had exceeded 10 million
After the mine closed, hot springs were pumped up from underground to secure them
The main coal industry continued to decline, and the Joban Coal Mine closed in 1971. The few remaining mines closed in 1985, and coal mining completely withdrew from the Iwaki region
Coal from the Joban Coal Mine on display at the Iwaki City Coal and Fossil Museum Horuru. The Iwaki City Coal and Fossil Museum Horuru was damaged in the Fukushima earthquake that occurred on March 16, 2022, and is currently closed as of December 2022. The reopening date has not yet been determined (please contact us by phone at 0246-42-3155)
When the mine closed, the supply of hot spring water to the town became unstable, so in 1976 (Showa 51), the inn owners, the local government, and Tokiwa Kosan came together to establish the Tokiwa Yumoto Onsen Company to ensure a stable supply of hot spring water. They began to secure hot spring water by driving pipes into the unused underground hot springs and pumping up the water
The hot spring water of Iwaki Yumoto Onsen is currently pumped up through several dozen pipes driven about 620 meters underground. The flow rate is the highest in Fukushima Prefecture, at approximately 5,000 liters per minute, and is distributed to Spa Resort Hawaiians, hot spring facilities in the town, and homes
The weakly alkaline sulfur spring is effective for many symptoms
All of the hot springs at Iwaki Yumoto Onsen are managed by a hot spring company, and the spring quality is the same at each facility. The spring quality is sulfur-containing sodium chloride sulfate spring (publication name: sulfur spring), and the spring temperature at the source is 58.5°C and pH 8.0. The water is clear and colorless, with a slight salty taste, and is a weakly alkaline hot spring with a slight hydrogen sulfide smell reminiscent of rotten eggs, which is unique to sulfur springs. It is also known for its skin-beautifying properties
Hot springs have a wide range of benefits, and in addition to the common indications for hot springs, such as relieving muscle and joint pain and stiffness, recovering from fatigue, and promoting health, they are also said to be effective for a number of other conditions, including diabetes, mild asthma, muscle stiffness due to motor paralysis, autonomic nervous system disorders, atopic dermatitis, depression, and sleep disorders
A wide variety of accommodation options, from long-established inns to hotels and guesthouses
In addition to Spa Resort Hawaiians, Iwaki Yumoto Onsen is home to a wide variety of 20 hot spring accommodation facilities, including long-established inns such as Genroku Saigayado Furutakiya, which was founded in the Edo period and has a history of over 300 years, Shohakukan, also founded in the Edo period, and Amejo no Yado Shintsuta, which was founded in the Meiji period, as well as traditional Japanese inns, traditional Japanese inns, hotels, guesthouses, and inns offering hot spring therapy (members of the Iwaki Yumoto Onsen Ryokan Cooperative Association in 2022)
In addition to hot springs, many inns boast excellent cuisine, and travelers are treated to exquisite dishes made with fresh seafood caught at Onahama Port and other surrounding ports, known as "Tokiwamono," and the bounty of the mountains and fields, including Hitachi beef
Iwaki Yumoto Onsen is home to a unique hot spring facility that is unique in Japan. It is called the "Horse Hot Spring." The hot spring has proven effective in helping racehorses recover from muscle fatigue and relax
This facility, the Racehorse Rehabilitation Center, is run by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) Equine Research Institute and is a facility for the treatment and rehabilitation of sick or injured racehorses. The center is equipped with the latest rehabilitation, training, and testing facilities, including a swimming pool, water walking machines, water treadmills, a training arena, X-rays, and ultrasound scans. Racehorses that have soaked in the hot springs here to heal their wounds have often gone on to win major races
The Racehorse Rehabilitation Center is open to visitors, not just horse racing enthusiasts, but also general tourists. You can see racehorses enjoying themselves soaking in the hot springs up close
INFORMATION
Facility name: Racehorse Rehabilitation Center
Address: 71 Uenohara, Tokiwa Shiratori-cho, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
Inquiries: 0246-43-3185
Tour times:
Monday to Friday: 8:00-17:00 (Race horse training can be observed in the morning)
Saturdays and public holidays: 8:00-11:00 (pool training and hot springs are closed on public holidays)
My love of travel grew, and I used to write a travel magazine, and now I'm a travel writer for the web. During my research, I visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, mainly in the Tohoku region, but my fun part is soaking in hot springs and experiencing traditional Japanese culture such as old townscapes, lifestyles, and performing arts and crafts.
