[Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture] Tsuruoka City, home to four national hot spring resorts

Tsuruoka City has four [national hot spring resorts]: Yutagawa Onsen, Atsumi Onsen, Yunohama Onsen, and Yura Onsen. there is.

A national hot spring resort is a hot spring resort designated by the Ministry of the Environment that satisfies various conditions suitable for a health resort. As of the end of 2022, 79 hot spring areas have been designated nationwide, with Tsuruoka City having the most hot springs in Japan with four.

What is a national hot spring resort?

National Recreation Hot Spring Areas are designated by the Minister of the Environment as hot spring areas that are expected to have sufficient effects from hot spring use and are used as healthy health resort areas in order to promote the public use of hot springs, based on the Hot Spring Law. Thing.

The designation criteria are generally based on the following criteria.

No. 1 Conditions regarding hot spring quality and gushing amount

1. The source used must be a therapeutic spring.
2. The hot springs used must have an abundant amount of water. The estimated flow rate is 0.5 liters per minute or more per hot spring user.

Part 2 Conditions regarding the environment of hot spring resorts, etc.

1. Suitable as a health resort in terms of the natural environment, townscape, history, climate, culture, etc.
2. A plan for the placement of a doctor who can provide guidance on proper hot spring use and health management from a medical perspective, or a plan or training policy for personnel who can provide guidance on bathing methods, etc. in collaboration with the doctor must be established. .
3. Appropriate efforts will be made to protect hot spring resources, maintain hot spring hygiene, promote public use of hot springs, and give consideration to the elderly and people with disabilities.
4. Efforts related to disaster prevention must be fully implemented.

Quote: Ministry of the Environment “National Recreation Hot Spring Area”

Eight designated [National Recreation Hot Spring Areas] in Yamagata Prefecture

In Yamagata Prefecture, in addition to the four locations in Tsuruoka City, there are Zao Onsen (Yamagata City), Ginzan Onsen (Obanazawa City), Goten Onsen (Murayama City), and Hijiori Onsen (Hijiori Onsen). / Okura Village), which is also the highest number of any prefecture in Japan.

``Yudagawa Onsen'', a back room in Tsuruoka that is convenient for visiting Dewa Sanzan

Yutagawa Onsen is a mountain hot spring near the center of Tsuruoka City that was designated as a national recreational hot spring in 2015. It is said to be Tsuruoka's inner parlor, and during the former domain era it flourished as a place for Shonai feudal warriors to have fun, and as a hot spring resort for farmers, especially during the agricultural off-season.

It is said that the hot springs opened about 1,300 years ago, and there is a legend of a white heron that was healed by a badly injured white heron. The spring quality is sodium/calcium sulfate spring, colorless and transparent, tasteless and odorless, and the source temperature is 42.2℃, making it relatively lukewarm and soft with little stimulation. There is only one source, and the amount of gushing water is abundant at 1,000 liters per minute , and the hot springs are centrally managed. The hot spring facilities include 6 hot spring inns, 2 day trip bath facilities, and a footbath, where you can enjoy fresh hot springs fed directly from the source.

Yutagawa Onsen＜Information＞

• Name: Yutagawa Onsen
• Location: Yutagawa, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-35-4111 (Yudagawa Onsen Tourism Association)
• URL: Yutagawa Onsen
• access:
• Railway/About 30 minutes by bus from Tsuruoka Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line
• Car: About 10 minutes from Yamagata Expressway Tsuruoka IC

Google Map

Yunohama Onsen, the birthplace of surfing (surf riding)

Yunohama Onsen is a hot spring resort located along the Sea of ​​Japan in central Tsuruoka City, and was designated as a national hot spring resort in 2018. It is said that the history of hot springs dates back to 1,000 years ago, when turtles were healing their wounds by the seaside, which led to the discovery of hot springs.

The quality of the spring water is sodium/calcium chloride, and it is a high-quality hot spring that warms up well, containing plenty of slightly alkaline minerals from the Sea of ​​Japan. There are 6 sources. Hot water is centrally managed and distributed to each facility. There are 17 hot spring facilities: 11 hot spring hotels, 4 guesthouses, and 2 day-trip bath facilities. There is also a footbath and drinking fountain. It is also the birthplace of surfing in Japan (a diary from the Edo period mentions surfing at Yunohama), and there are plenty of activities such as marine sports and yoga on the beach.

Hot spring facilities are lined up facing the sandy beach, and the Sea of ​​Japan stretches out in front of you. The sunset over the horizon is especially impressive. Nearby are Kamo Aquarium, famous for its Zenpoji Temple, known as a temple dedicated to the sea god Ryujin . It flourished as a port of call for Kitamaebune ships from the Edo to Meiji periods, and is home to many old buildings. There is Kamo Port, where many remains. It also has good access to the center of Tsuruoka city and Dewa Sanzan, and is a hot spring that is crowded with tourists all year round as a base for sightseeing in Tsuruoka.

Yunohama Onsen＜Information＞

• Name: Yunohama Onsen
• Location: 1 Yunohama, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-75-2258 (Yunohama Onsen Tourism Association)
• URL: Yunohama Onsen
• Access: Train: Approximately 40 minutes by bus bound for Yunohama Onsen from JR Uetsu Main Line Tsuruoka Station Car: Approximately 10 minutes by National Route 112 from Nihonkai Tohoku Expressway Shonai Airport IC

Google Map

``Yura Onsen'' where the legend of Yaotome, the founder of Mt. Haguro, Prince Hachiko, remains.

"Yura Onsen" has a beautiful scenery that has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches and 100 Best Japanese Bathing Beaches (selected by the Ministry of the Environment), and the founder of Mt. Haguro, Prince Hachiko, landed here. It is a resort-style hot spring area overlooking the Yura Coast, which is said to have been It will be designated as a national hot spring resort in 2022 (Reiwa 4), and the spring quality is sodium-calcium-sulfate spring with a source temperature of 59℃. There are 8 hot spring facilities including hot spring inns and guesthouses.

The Yaotome Legend is that eight maidens played flutes from atop a rock to invite Prince Hachiko, who was floating off the coast of Yura, to Yura Beach, where he was then guided by a three-legged crow to Mt. Haguro. This is the legend of the founding of the mountain.

Yura Beach is now Yura Beach, and is connected to Hakusan Island, located about 50 meters off the coast, by a vermilion bridge. The view of the sun setting over the Sea of ​​Japan from the coast over Hakusan Island is a must-see.

Yura Onsen＜Information＞

• Name: Yura Onsen
• Location: Yura, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-73-2250 (Yura Onsen Tourism Association)
• URL: Yura Onsen
• Access: Railway/Get off at Atsumi Onsen Station on the Uetsu Main Line and take the bus bound for Yunohama Onsen for about 40 minutes Car/Take National Route 112 from Shonai Airport IC on the Nihonkai Tohoku Expressway for about 20 minutes

Google Map

"Atsumi Onsen" boasts a rich spring flow of 1,300 liters per minute

"Atsumi Onsen (Onmi Onsen)" is a hot spring with a history of about 1,200 years, located on the Sea of ​​Japan side near the prefectural border with Niigata Prefecture. During the Edo period, it flourished as a hot spring used by the Shonai clan.

The Atsumi River flows through the center of Atsumi Onsen, and although it is only a few hundred meters from the coastline, it is surrounded by mountains. Due to its unique topography, it has a rich natural environment blessed with both the sea and mountains. is a feature.

The spring quality is sodium/calcium chloride/sulfate spring. It is colorless and transparent with a slight hydrogen sulfide odor and salty taste. It was designated as a national hot spring resort in 2019 (Reiwa 1). There are 3 source wells, the source temperature is about 59℃ (3 sources mixed), and the amount of gushing water is 1,300 liters per minute, which is very abundant.

There are seven hot spring inns, one day-trip hot spring facility, and one footbath. The morning market held in the hot spring town has a history of about 300 years and is a specialty of Atsumi Onsen. Atsumi turnips, a specialty of the Atsumi region, are still grown using traditional slash-and-burn farming methods, and the traditional dish of pickled turnips is a staple dish at inns and is a popular souvenir.

Near Nezugaseki from Atsumi Onsen is Nezugaseki, a checkpoint located on the border between Echigo Province (Niigata Prefecture) and Dewa Province (Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture). Many historical heritage sites remain, including Nezugaseki Beach, where Minamoto no Yoshitsune is said to have landed.

Atsumi Onsen＜Information＞

• Name: Atsumi Onsen
• Location: Yuon, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0235-43-3547 (Atsumi Tourism Association)
• URL: Atsumi Onsen
• Access: Railway/Get off at JR Uetsu Main Line Atsumi Onsen Station Car/About 5 minutes from Atsumi Onsen IC on the Nihonkai Expressway

Google Map

A hot spring inn in Tsuruoka that boasts cuisine that will satisfy everyone.

The charms of Yutagawa Onsen, Yunohama Onsen, Yura Onsen, and Atsumi Onsen are their hot springs and relaxing environments , but another feature that all four hot springs have in common is Tsuruoka's traditional vegetables, delicacies from the Sea of ​​Japan, The food is amazing, made with the best ingredients such as Yamagata beef.

Tradition and innovation, the many dishes prepared with the heart of our chefs are sure to satisfy everyone, representing Tsuruoka a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomic Culture