[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 the third oldest hot spring in Japan, along with Dogo Onsen (Ehime Prefecture) and Arima Onsen (Hyogo Prefecture).

The existence of a hot spring shrine was written about in ancient documents in the 900s of the Heian period, and it is estimated that hot springs had been in use for about 1,300 years before that. There are records that surrounding feudal lords visited the hot springs during the Sengoku period, and during the Edo period there were over 50 natural hot springs.

 "Iwaki Yumoto Onsen" became active as a hot spring resort after the construction of the coastal highway "Hama-kaido (Tokiwa-do)" in the Meiji period. It was crowded with people enjoying the hot springs.

Iwaki Yumoto Onsen, which used to have smooth sailing, has run out of hot springs due to coal mining.

Coal was discovered near hot springs in the late Edo period, and in the Meiji period, demand for coal increased significantly due to the trend of civilization and enlightenment, and many coal mines were established. Coal mining destroys the veins through which hot springs flow, resulting in a decrease in the amount of hot spring water. The hot springs gushing from the hot water veins above the veins became a nuisance during coal mining, and were gradually discarded.

Around the 30s of the Meiji era, the amount of hot spring water decreased dramatically, and finally in 1919 (Taisho 8), the hot springs ceased to flow.

Revival using hot springs from coal mines

The era was the era of rich nations and strong soldiers. Because the national policy was to increase coal production rather than hot springs, 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 became a haven for people working in the mines and developed significantly.

``Tokiwa Hawaiian Center'' is a revival plan for a coal mining company on the verge of closure.

Even though the hot springs were no longer in use, large amounts of hot spring water continued to spout from the coal mines. The town talked with the coal mining company to see if it could be put to better use, and finally in 1942 the hot spring supply to the town was restored. As a result, the town of Yumoto became more lively, but this did not last long.

The energy industry peaked in the 1950s, shifting from coal to oil, and coal mines rapidly declined. The largest company, Tokiwa Coal Mine (now Tokiwa Kosan), faced a financial crisis and decided to take drastic action to make effective use of the large amount of hot springs that had been a hindrance to coal mining. That is the hot spring resort facility ``Tokiwa Hawaiian Center (currently Spa Resort Hawaiians)''.

``Tokiwa Hawaiian Center'' opens in January 1966. A large pool was filled with abundant hot springs, various leisure facilities were provided, and a "hula dance show" was held every day to create a Hawaiian atmosphere. This was a big hit, and the venue was packed every day, with attendance exceeding 10 million people in the eight years since it opened.

INFORMATION

• Facility name: Spa Sort Hawaiians
• Address: 50 Warabidaira, Tokiwa Fujiwara-cho, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
• Phone number: 0570-550-550 (Navi dial)
• URL: Spa Resort Hawaiians

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After the mine is closed, hot spring water will be secured by pumping water from underground.

The main coal industry continued to decline, and the Tokiwa Coal Mine closed in 1971. After that, the few remaining mines were closed in 1985 (Showa 60), and coal mining was completely withdrawn from the Iwaki region.

When the mine closed, the supply of hot springs to the town became unstable, and in 1976, inn-related parties, the local government, and Tokiwa Kosan jointly established the Tokiwa Yumoto Onsen Company to stabilize the hot spring supply. We will try to supply. Hot springs began to be obtained by driving pipes into underground hot water channels that were no longer in use and pumping the hot spring water up.

The hot spring water at Iwaki Yumoto Onsen is currently pumped up through dozens of pipes that are dug 620 meters underground. The amount of gushing water is approximately 5,000 liters per minute, the highest in Fukushima prefecture, and is distributed to Spa Resort Hawaiians, hot spring facilities in the town, and homes.

The slightly 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 quality of the hot spring water is the same at each hot spring facility. The spring quality is a sulfur-containing sodium chloride/sulfate spring (hot spring quality name for notice: sulfur spring), and the spring temperature at the source is 58.5℃ and pH 8.0. It is a slightly alkaline hot spring that is clear and colorless, has a slightly salty taste, and has a hydrogen sulfide odor similar to rotten eggs, which is unique to sulfur springs. It has also gained a reputation as a hot spring for beautiful skin.

The effects of hot springs are extremely rich, and in addition to general indications for hot springs such as relieving pain and stiffness in muscles and joints, recovering from fatigue, and improving health, hot springs can also be used for diabetes, mild asthma, muscle stiffness due to motor paralysis, and autonomic nerve dysfunction. It is said to be effective for many symptoms such as atopic dermatitis, depression, and sleep disorders.

A wide variety of accommodations, from long-established inns to hotels and guesthouses　

In addition to ``Spa Resort Hawaiians'', ``Iwaki Yumoto Onsen'' also has ``Genroku Saigayado Furutakiya'', which was founded in the Edo period and has a history of over 300 years, and ``Shohakukan'', which was also founded in the Edo period. There is a wide variety of 20 hotels, including long-established inns such as ``Hakukan'' and ``Shintsuta,'' which was founded in the Meiji era, as well as pure Japanese-style inns, Japanese-style inns, hotels, guesthouses, and inns where you can receive hot spring therapy. There are several hot spring accommodation facilities (member store of Iwaki Yumoto Onsen Ryokan Cooperative Association in 2022).

In addition to hot springs, there are many inns that pride themselves on their cuisine, and travelers are treated to exquisite cuisine made from fresh seafood from Onahama Port and surrounding ports, known as ``Tokiwa Things,'' and ingredients from the mountains and fields, including Hitachi beef. I'll give it to you.

Iwaki Yumoto Onsen Ryokan Cooperative Association

• Phone number: 0246-43-3017
• URL: Iwaki Yumoto Onsen Ryokan Cooperative Association

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Japan's only horse hot spring "JRA Racehorse Rehabilitation Center"

"Iwaki Yumoto Onsen" has the only rare hot spring facility in Japan. It is a “horse hot spring”. Hot springs have shown great results in helping racehorses recover from muscle fatigue and have a relaxing effect.

This facility is called the Racehorse Rehabilitation Center and is a treatment and rehabilitation facility for sick and injured racehorses run by the Japan Racing Association (JRA) Racehorse Research Institute. The center is equipped with the latest rehabilitation, training, and testing equipment, including a swimming pool, water walking machine, water treadmill running machine, horse training track, X-rays, and ultrasound examinations. Racehorses who soak in the hot springs here to heal their wounds often win major races.

The ``Racehorse Rehabilitation Center'' is open to visitors not only to horse racing enthusiasts but also to the general public. You can see racehorses relaxing in the hot springs up close.

INFORMATION

• Facility name: Racehorse Rehabilitation Center
• Address: 71 Uenohara, Tokiwa Shiratori-cho, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
• Contact: 0246-43-3185
• Visiting hours:

                  Monday - Friday / 8:00 - 17:00 (You can observe racehorse training etc. in the morning)

  　　　　Saturdays and public holidays/8:00-11:00 (Pool training and hot springs are closed on public holidays)

• Tour fee: Free
• Closed: Sunday
• URL: Racehorse Rehabilitation Center

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