[Shimokita Peninsula, Aomori Prefecture] Geopark Shimokita Peninsula. A rich hot spring springs from the northernmost peninsula of Honshu

Shimokita Peninsula is a peninsula located at the northernmost tip of Honshu, and is home to the sacred site ``Osorezan'', the ``Kandachime'' of Shiriyazaki, and the natural monument ``Hotokegaura''. ), tuna from Oma, scallops from Mutsu Bay, and the northernmost Japanese macaque, the northernmost non-human primate in the world. It is a large geopark created by the earth that has been attracting attention recently.

The outer rim of Mt. Osore and Lake Usori. In the foreground is Sai no Kawahara ©norijun

Osorezan, an active volcano (its highest peak is 878m above sea level), rises in the center of the Shimokita Peninsula. Volcanoes sometimes emit fire, and people have suffered greatly from these disasters. However, volcanoes also bring blessings. A typical example is hot springs. The Shimokita Peninsula is full of hot springs that are rich in health benefits.

An acidic hot spring that gushes out within the grounds of Osorezan Bodaiji Temple.

Hot springs gush out from Sai-no-kawara along with high-temperature steam. This hot spring is not used ©norijun

In the center of Mt. Osore, there is a caldera lake (Usori Lake/Usoriko/official name: Usoriyama Lake) with a diameter of 3 km, and on its north shore, high-temperature steam containing hydrogen sulfide spews out in places, making it impossible for plants to grow. A desolate land called Sai-no-kawara (Saino-kawara) spreads out.

A large amount of boiling water gushes out at Sainokawara. However, there are no facilities that use this hot water as a hot spring. However, Osorezan Bodaiji Temple, which considers Mt. Osore as a sacred mountain, has a facility that uses hot springs gushing out from within its grounds. This hot spring was created during mining from a sulfur mining mine that existed from the Meiji period to the early Showa period.

A day-trip hot spring facility located within the grounds of Osorezan Bodaiji Temple.

A day-trip bathing facility inside Osorezan Bodaiji Temple. “Cold bath” for women only ©norijun

There are four bathhouses on the grounds of Osorezan Bodaiji Temple. It is a one-story wooden hut that is clearly different from a temple building, and has ``Hie-no-Yu'', ``Kotaki-no-Yu'', ``Yakushi-no-Yu'', and ``Hanazome-no-Yu''. "is. These are facilities that you can take a day trip to, and ``Rei-Nuki-no-Yu'' is for women only, ``Furutaki-no-Yu'' is for men only, ``Yakushi-no-Yu'' is for men and women, and ``Hanazome'' is for bathing. The bath is a mixed bath.

The hot springs are strongly acidic and the temperature is quite high. It also contains toxic gases, so it is safer to open the windows ©norijun

The spring quality is iron-containing, sulfur-sodium-chloride spring, and is a strongly acidic hot spring. The color of the water is slightly greenish-gray, and it changes slightly depending on the time of day, temperature, weather, etc. The temperature of the hot spring water is over 70 degrees Celsius, and the water is directly poured into the bathtub. The temperature is adjusted by the amount of hot water that is poured into the bathtub so that it is at the right temperature, but it is still quite hot.

However, as it contains a large amount of harmful hydrogen sulfide gas, we recommend opening the window when taking a bath. There is a fee to enter the temple, but bathing in the hot springs is free.

There is also a hot spring at Kisshokaku, an inn at Osorezan Bodaiji Temple. This is a new building with clean rooms and well-equipped accommodation. Although it is a lodging lodge, you can also stay there for sightseeing purposes.

INFORMATION


  • Facility name: Osorezan Bodaiji Temple
  • Address: 3-2 Tanabe Usoriyama, Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture
  • Phone number: Osorezanji Office 0175-22-3825 / Shukubo "Kichijokaku" 0175-22-3826
  • Opening period: May 1st to the end of October
  • Entrance fee: 500 yen for adults, 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students
  • URL: Osorezan Bodaiji Temple

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Shimofuro Onsenkyo, the largest hot spring village in the Shimokita Peninsula

Day trip bathing facility "Kaikyo-no-yu". Enjoy large and new hot springs ©Aomori Prefecture

"Shimofuro Onsenkyo" is a hot spring that gushes out in Kazamaura Village along the northeastern coastline of the Shimokita Peninsula. Its history dates back to the Muromachi period, when it was known as a hot spring that was effective for healing wounds. There are four hot springs, including one newly discovered, that contain hydrogen sulfide (sulfur) and are located on the coastline but still have the influence of volcanoes. There are 8 inns, forming the largest hot spring town on the Shimokita Peninsula.

INFORMATION


  • Facility name: Shimofuro Onsenkyo
  • Address: Shimofuro, Kazamaura Village, Aomori Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0175-35-2010 (Kazamaura Village Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
  • hot spring:

    Hamayu system A (cloudy) / Boric acid-salt hydrogen sulfide spring (sulfur spring) Source temperature: Approximately 47℃

    Hamayu type B (cloudy)/boric acid-sulfur-containing sodium/calcium-chloride spring (hydrogen sulfide type)

    Large hot water type (cloudy)/acidic/sulfuric acid-sodium-chloride/sulfate spring (hydrogen sulfide type) Source temperature: Approximately 66℃

    New hot water type (nearly transparent) / Sulfur-containing sodium-chloride spring (hydrogen sulfide type) Source temperature: Approximately 95℃

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The day-trip hot spring facility ``Kaikyo-no-Yu'' draws its hot spring water from an old hot spring and a new hot spring, allowing you to enjoy two hot spring sources representative of the lower baths. This is a new facility that opened in 2020, and it also has a restaurant where you can eat fresh seafood, making it a popular hot spring facility not only for tourists but also for hotel guests.

The new “Kaikyo no Yu” ©Aomori Prefecture

INFORMATION


  • Facility name: Day trip hot spring facility “Kaikyo no Yu”
  • Phone number: 0175-33-2116
  • business hours:

   April to October/7:00 to 20:30 (last reception 20:00)

   November - March / 8:00 - 20:30 (last reception 20:00)

  • Closed: 2nd and 4th Tuesday, January 1st

   *Changes may occur during long holidays such as year-end and New Year holidays, Golden Week, and Obon holidays.

  • Bathing fee:

   Regular ticket / 450 yen (for people aged 15 and over, excluding junior high school students who are not village residents)

   Villager ticket: 150 yen (for Kazamaura villagers aged 15 to under 70, excluding junior high school students)

   Villager Respect for the Aged Ticket / 100 yen (for Kazamaura villagers aged 70 and over)

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Yagen Onsenkyo, a hot spring in the beautiful Yagen Valley

Yagen Onsenkyo, located along the Yagen Stream, is said to be one of the most relaxing spots in Aomori Prefecture. There is a promenade along the Ohata River, and about 2.5km upstream from Yagen Onsen is Oku Yagen Onsen.

Yagen Onsen was discovered by a vassal of the Toyotomi family who had fled

The spring quality is simple hot spring. “Yagen Onsen” springs between the mountains ©Aomori Prefecture

``Yagen Onsen'' is the site of the ``Osaka Summer Camp,'' the last battle fought between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyori (Toyotomi Hideyoshi's third son) in 1615. This is a hot spring in the mountains that is said to have been discovered by the defeated generals of the Toyotomi army during the 1960s.

The source is a simple hot spring, and there are two hot spring facilities along the Ohata River.

  • Yagen Onsen
  • Phone number: 0175-34-3500 (Ohata Town Tourism Association)
  • URL: Yagen Onsen

``Okuyakuken Onsen Ganso Kappa no Yu'' where the legend of the kappa is passed down from generation to generation.

The “Original Kappa no Yu” is said to have been discovered over 1,000 years ago and is passed down in legend ©Aomori Prefecture

Okuyagen Onsen has two day-trip hot spring facilities: Ganso Kappa-no-Yu and Meoto Kappa-no-Yu.

``Ganso Kappa no Yu'' is a free open-air bath. The reason it is called "Kappa no Yu" is that when Ennin Jikaku Daishi, the founder of Mt. Osorezan, was seriously injured in the Yagen Stream about 1160 years ago, he carried a kappa on his back to the nearby hot springs. This is based on the legend that it carried people there and healed their wounds. It used to be a mixed bath, but now bathing times are divided between men and women.

INFORMATION


Facility name: Okuyakuken Onsen Ganso Kappa no Yu

  • Spring quality: simple hot spring
  • Address: Akatakiyama National Forest, Ohata-cho, Mutsu-shi, Aomori Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0175-34-2008
  • business hours:

    Men's usage hours: 7:00-9:00, 11:10-13:00, 15:10-17:00

    Hours for use by women: 9:10-11:00, 13:10-15:00

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Okuyagen Onsen Meoto Kappa no Yu is a day-trip hot spring with only a well-equipped open-air bath.

There is a roof so you don't have to worry about rain. ``Okuyakuen Onsen Meoto Kappa no Yu'', a day-trip bathing facility with open-air baths for men and women only © Aomori Prefecture

``Okuyakuen Onsen Meoto Kappa no Yu'' is a day-trip hot spring with an open-air bath attached to the ``Okuyakuken Rest House'' located in the ``Okuyakuken Kensei Park'' maintained by Ohata Town. There are open-air baths for men and women, and both men and women can use them at any time. Okuyakuen Rest House also has a restaurant and a footbath.

INFORMATION


  • Facility name: Okuyakuen Onsen Couple Kappa no Yu
  • Spring quality: simple hot spring
  • Address: 1-3 Akatakiyama, Ohata-cho, Mutsu-shi, Aomori (Okuyakuken Rest House)
  • Phone number: 0175-34-2008
  • business hours:

    April 1st - April 30th / 9:00 - 17:00

    May 1st - August 31st / 9:00 - 18:00

    September 1st - October 31st / 9:00 - 17:00

    November 1st - March 31st / 10:00 - 17:00

  • Bathing fee: 230 yen for adults, 110 yen for elementary and junior high school students, free for elementary school students and younger
  • Closed: Wednesdays, December 29th to January 3rd, and every Tuesday from November to the end of April
  • URL: Okuyakuen Onsen Meoto Kappa no Yu

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“Fureai Onsen Kawauchi” is a day-trip hot spring with free-flowing hot springs along a beautiful mountain stream.

Fureai Onsen Kawauchi is a day-trip hot spring facility located along a mountain stream about 12 km up the Kawauchi River from the center of Kawauchi Town, Mutsu City, in the southern part of the Shimokita Peninsula. There are walking paths around the area, and we recommend taking a bath after a walk.

INFORMATION


  • Facility name: Fureai Onsen Kawauchi
  • Spring quality: Sodium/calcium-sulfate spring
  • Spring temperature: 52.6℃
  • Indications by spring quality: arteriosclerosis, cuts, burns, chronic skin diseases
  • Directly flowing from the source
  • Address: 107-4 Kawauchi Machiyanobe, Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0175-42-5245
  • Business hours: 9:00-20:00 (Reception until 19:30)
  • Bathing fee: 380 yen
  • Closed: Mondays, last Friday of every month

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Yun Yun, a day trip bathing facility at Kuwabata Onsen, which springs along the coast of Kazamaura Village ©Aomori Prefecture

Other lodging facilities on the Shimokita Peninsula include Mutsuyatate Onsen (Mutsu City), Ishigami Onsen (Mutsu City), day trip hot spring facility Kuwabata Onsen (Kazamaura Village), and Oma Onsen (Oma Town/Omamachi). )And so on. Why not add visiting hot springs to one of your sightseeing destinations in the Shimokita Peninsula?

Shimokita Navi

Shimokita Geopark

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