[Zao Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture] Winter in Zao isn't just about skiing and frost-covered trees. Hot spring hopping is also recommended!

Yamagata Zao, famous for its frost-covered trees in winter, is also known for its highly therapeutic hot springs

There are many inns in the area, but you can also enjoy the hot springs on a casual day trip instead of staying overnight

This hot spring will soothe your chilled body. Just a foot bath will warm you up and even make you sweat lightly. It is a highly acidic hot spring

Zao is bustling with people visiting to see the frost-covered trees and many skiers, but this time we will introduce you to Zao's day-trip hot springs

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Are there multiple public hot spring facilities in Zao?

Zao Onsen, one of Japan's oldest hot springs, opened in 1900, is rare in Japan in that it has many inns and day-trip hot spring facilities, each with its own hot spring source

In addition, there are three public baths and three foot baths scattered around the hot spring town. The public baths are very reasonably priced, and the foot baths are free

It might be a good idea to just grab a towel and wander around visiting different hot springs!

Upper bath communal bath

The upper bath is located just below the stone steps of Onsen Shrine, where the hot springs are concentrated, so the quantity and freshness of the water is excellent. The water is a little hot, so it can be quite hot, but you will get used to it. However, it seems that you should not stay in the bath for too long

・Business hours: 6:00-22:00
・Opening period: All year round
・Bathing fee: 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for children

Google Map

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Shimoyu communal bath

All public baths are unmanned and require you to put money into the red postbox-like box at the entrance

No change will be given, so don't forget to bring coins!

The lower bath also has a hand bath and foot bath (free of charge) on the front right, so you can enjoy the hot springs even if you don't take a bath

It is located just a short walk from Kamiyu

Google Map

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Kawarayu public bath

The Kawarayu Public Baths are built directly above the hot spring source, so the water is apparently so hot that some people say they couldn't even get in. There are no restrooms at this facility, so if you need to use the restroom, we recommend using the upper or lower baths

This facility is very attractive to hot spring connoisseurs, as the hot spring water is spouted at your feet with a slatted floor at the bottom of the bathtub. What's more, the water not only flows in from under your feet but also from all sides, making it a facility where you can enjoy the freshest water

・Business hours: 6:00-22:00
・Opening period: All year round
・Bathing fee: 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for children

Google Map

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Foot baths are also available!

There are three
footbaths in Yamagata Zao: the one next to Shimoyu , the " Midoriya No. 2 Hot Spring Footbath ," and the " Kurugi no Yu Even just dipping your feet in the baths makes you sweat, and you'll stay warm for a while after you get out.

Towels for the Relaxing Bath are sold for 100 yen at the restaurant Robata, located next to the premises!

Apparently this restaurant serves delicious Genghis Khan, a Zao specialty, and the smell is so good when you soak your feet in the footbath that you'll probably want not only a towel but also a meal

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An open-air bath along the river in a great location

If you head towards the mountains from Zao Onsen town, you will find a dynamic open-air bath surrounded by mountains and with a river flowing beside it

If you walk down from the parking lot, you will find a men's area at the front and a women's area at the back, and all you need is a changing room so you can simply enjoy the hot springs

The bathtub is a little deep, so you have to stand while bathing, but there are stones here and there where you can sit down, so you can soak in it for a long time

The location is great, the healing effects are great, and it's guaranteed to refresh both your body and mind!

*The facility will be closed during the winter and is scheduled to reopen on April 22nd

The path to get there is quite steep, so it is closed in winter, but in spring you can enjoy bathing surrounded by fresh greenery

Other day-trip hot springs

Zao Onsen Genshichi Open-Air Store	862-1 Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-2301
Yunohana Teahouse Shinzaemon no Yu	905 Zao Onsen Kawamae, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-2301
Zao Onsen Zenshichinoyu	825 Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-2301
ZAO Center Plaza	903-2 Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-2301
Slatted bathtub kawaraya	43 Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-2301

Zao's hot spring town has a wide variety of day-trip bathing facilities, so it can be hard to decide which one to use

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summary

I think there are hot springs in every prefecture in Japan, but Yamagata Prefecture is also famous for having hot spring facilities in each city, town, and village

Even within Yamagata Prefecture, a hot spring powerhouse, Zao Onsen is one of the top-class hot springs in terms of both the volume of hot water and its effectiveness. There are six public baths and foot baths, as well as five day-trip bathing facilities, making it a must-see for hot spring lovers

It's great to see the frost-covered trees that are synonymous with winter in Zao, but why not also try soaking in hot springs to soothe your chilled body?

Oh! Please be careful not to stay in the bath for too long to avoid getting a hot spring shock

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