This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
The Shimokita Peninsula is located at the northernmost tip of Honshu, and is a large geopark given to us by the Earth that has recently been attracting attention as a source of unique seafood and many attractions, including the sacred site of Mount Osore, the Kandachime horses of Cape Shiriyazaki, the natural monument Hotokegaura, the tuna of Oma, the scallops of Mutsu Bay, and even the northernmost Japanese macaque, the world's northernmost non-human primate
In the center of the Shimokita Peninsula stands the active volcano Mount Osore (its highest peak is 878m above sea level). The volcano sometimes erupts, causing great suffering for the people. However, volcanoes also bring blessings, the most prominent of which are hot springs. The Shimokita Peninsula is dotted with hot springs with abundant health benefits
Acidic hot springs that gush forth within the grounds of Osorezan Bodaiji Temple
In the center of Mount Osore lies a caldera lake (Lake Usori/Usori-ko/official name: Lake Usoriyama) with a diameter of 3km. On its northern shore, high-temperature steam containing hydrogen sulfide erupts in places, and a desolate expanse of land with no vegetation grows, known as Sai no Kawara
A large amount of hot water springs up in Sainokawara. However, there are no facilities that use this hot water as a hot spring. However, Osorezan Bodaiji Temple, which regards Mount Osore as a sacred mountain, has a facility that uses the hot spring water that springs up from within the temple grounds. This hot spring water gushed forth from the sulfur mine that existed from the Meiji period to the early Showa period when it was being mined
A day-trip hot spring facility located within the grounds of Osorezan Bodaiji Temple
There are four bathhouses within the grounds of Osorezan Bodaiji Temple. They are wooden, single-story huts that are clearly different from the temple buildings; they are Hie-no-yu, Kotaki-no-yu, Yakushi-no-yu, and Hanazome-no-yu. These are facilities where you can take a day trip to bathe; Hie-no-yu is for women only, Kotaki-no-yu is for men only, Yakushi-no-yu is on an alternating gender system, and Hanazome-no-yu is a mixed bath
The spring quality is a strongly acidic hot spring containing iron, sulfur, and sodium chloride. The water is a slightly greenish-gray cloudy color that changes slightly depending on the time, temperature, and weather. The source temperature is high, over 70°C, and is poured directly into the bath. The temperature is adjusted by the amount of water poured into the bath so that it is at the right temperature, but it is still quite hot
However, since the water contains a large amount of harmful hydrogen sulfide gas, we recommend opening the windows when bathing. There is an entrance fee to the temple, but bathing in the hot spring is free
Hot springs are also available at the lodgings at Kisshokaku, a temple lodging at Osorezan Bodaiji Temple. The building is new, with clean rooms and well-equipped facilities. Although it is a temple lodging, it can also be used for sightseeing purposes
INFORMATION
Facility name: Osorezan Bodaiji Temple
Address: 3-2 Tanabe Usoriyama, Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture
Shimofuro Onsenkyo is a hot spring that springs up in Kazamaura Village along the northeastern coastline of the Shimokita Peninsula. It has a long history, dating back to the Muromachi period, and has been known as a hot spring that is effective for wounds. There are four springs, including a newly discovered one, and although it is located on the coastline, it contains hydrogen sulfide (sulfur), a vestige of volcanic influence. There are eight inns, making it 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)
hot spring:
Hamayu type A (cloudy white) / boric acid-salt hydrogen sulfide spring (sulfur spring) Source temperature: approx. 47°C
Hamayu type B (cloudy white) / boric acid-sulfur-containing-sodium-calcium-chloride spring (hydrogen sulfide type)
Oyu type (cloudy white) / Acidic, sulfuric acid-containing, sodium chloride, sulfate spring (hydrogen sulfide type) Source temperature: approx. 66°C
New type (almost transparent) / Sulfur-containing sodium chloride spring (hydrogen sulfide type) Source temperature: approx. 95°C
The day-trip hot spring facility "Umikyo no Yu" draws its hot spring water from the long-established Oyu and Shinyu, allowing you to enjoy two of Shimoburo's most famous hot springs. This new facility opened in 2020 and also has a restaurant where you can eat fresh seafood, making it a popular hot spring facility not only for tourists but also for guests staying overnight
Yagen Onsenkyo, a hot spring in the beautiful Yagen Valley
Yagen Onsen, located along the Yagen Gorge, is said to be one of the most relaxing spots in Aomori Prefecture. A walking path runs along the Ohata River, and Yagen Onsen is located about 2.5km upstream from there, where Oku Yagen Onsen is located
Yagen Onsen was discovered by a Toyotomi clan retainer who fled there
Yagen Onsen is a hot spring nestled in the mountains that is said to have been discovered by a defeated Toyotomi warrior who fled during the Summer Siege of Osaka, the final battle between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyori (the third son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi) in 1615 (which saw the downfall of the Toyotomi clan)
The source is a simple hot spring, and the hot spring facility has two accommodation facilities along the Ohata River
Yagen Onsen
Phone number: 0175-34-3500 (Ohata Town Tourism Association)
Okuyage Onsen has two day-trip hot spring facilities: "Genso Kappa no Yu" and "Fufu Kappa no Yu."
"Original Kappa no Yu" is a free open-air bath. It is called "Kappa no Yu" because of the legend that when Ennin Jikaku Daishi, who founded Mount Osore around 1160 years ago, was seriously injured in the Yagen Gorge, a kappa carried him on its back to a nearby hot spring, where his wounds were healed. It used to be a mixed-gender bath, but now the bathing times are separated for men and women
INFORMATION
Facility name: Okuyagen Onsen Ganso Kappa no Yu
Spring quality: Simple hot spring
Address: Akatakiyama National Forest, Ohatacho, Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture
Okuyagen Onsen Fuufu Kappa no Yu is a day-trip hot spring with only an open-air bath, located next to the Okuyagen Rest House in the Okuyagen Training Scenery Park, which was developed by Ohata Town. Separate open-air baths are available for men and women, and both men and women can use them at any time. The Okuyagen Rest House also has a restaurant and a foot bath
Fureai Onsen Kawauchi: A day-trip hot spring with free-flowing spring water along a beautiful mountain stream
Fureai Onsen Kawauchi is a day-trip hot spring facility located along a mountain stream about 12km up the Kawauchi River from the center of Kawauchi Town, Mutsu City, in the southern part of the Shimokita Peninsula. There are walking paths in the surrounding area, making it a great place to soak after a walk
INFORMATION
Facility name: Fureai Onsen Kawauchi
Spring quality: sodium and calcium sulfate spring
Spring temperature: 52.6℃
Indications for different spring qualities: arteriosclerosis, cuts, burns, chronic skin diseases
Free-flowing hot spring water
Address: 107-4 Ienobe, Kawauchi-machi, 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 and the last Friday of every month
Other accommodations on the Shimokita Peninsula include Mutsu Yatate Onsen (Mutsu City), Ishigami Onsen (Mutsu City), and the day-trip hot spring facilities Kuwabata Onsen (Kazamaura Village) and Oma Onsen (Oma Town). Why not add a tour of these hot springs to your Shimokita Peninsula sightseeing?
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.
![25110883_m](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/25110883_m-150x150.jpg.webp "The mysterious world of the Shimokita Peninsula of Geopark: "The northern limit of monkeys on Osoreyama and Butsugaura" [Aomori Prefecture]")
![Fairytale images](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/be73b392233d2fe609797e999f8ca547-1-150x150.jpg.webp "Scary and slightly sad stories... "Michinoku Otogi Kaido" with many stories left behind [Shichigasyu-cho, Shiraishi City, Miyagi Prefecture]")
![Osorezan](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/30777505_m-150x150.jpg.webp "[Aomori Prefecture] One corner of Japan's 3rd generation Sacred Ground in Mutsu City, "Osoreyama"")
![Enmei Jizo](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/f7ab461e83edd7423e8730afd90212c9-150x150.jpg.webp "A trip to Aomori Prefecture depicted in the 9th journey of the anime "That's Journey" [Aomori Prefecture]")
