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Just hearing the name might make you imagine a frightening place, but Onikobe Onsen in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, is rich in nature and is one of the few spots in the prefecture where you can feel the breath, breathing, and vitality of the earth
A hot spring resort located on a plateau! Onikobe area of Naruko Onsen
Onikobe, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, is a hot spring area located in the northwest of Miyagi Prefecture, north of Osaki City, and is located on a plateau stretching from the middle of Mt. Arao to the outer rim of the volcano
Onikobe Onsen is one of the hot spring areas in the Naruko hot spring resort (Naruko Onsen, Higashinaruko Onsen, Kawado Onsen, Nakayamadaira Onsen, Onikobe Onsen), but it is sometimes called the Onikobe hot spring resort, including the surrounding hot springs with individual inns, such as Fukiage Onsen, Todoroki Onsen, Miyazawa Onsen, and Kamitaki Onsen
It is said that this place was already discovered around the 6th year of the reign of Emperor Ojin (270s), but the Engishiki Shinmeicho (list of shrines listed in the Engi era) lists a hot spring shrine at Onikobe Onsen, and there is a legend that the name Onikobe comes from the place where Otakemaru's head flew to when Sakanoue no Tamuramaro beheaded him during his campaign against the Emishi in 801 (8th year of the Enryaku era)
The place where Otakemaru's body was buried is called Onishigai, and refers to the area of Minamimachi, Chiyodamachi, Daimachi and part of Mashiba in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture today
The legend of Otakemaru is passed down in various places in Miyagi Prefecture, including Onikobe, Wakuya in Toda County, and elsewhere
Jigokudani Promenade: A walk along the river where you can see steam rising and natural geysers, a truly hellish landscape
The Jigokudani Promenade in Naruko Onsen is located about 13km north of the hot spring resort, a 5-minute walk from Fukiage Kogen Campground
The parking lot at Jigokudani Promenade has space for about 20 cars. Inside the parking lot, go down the stairs next to the "Jigokudani Promenade Guide Map" sign
There is the Fukiage Oni Bridge. Crossing this bridge will take you directly to the Jigokudani Promenade, where steam is rising
The photo below shows Kaminari no Yu, shown on map 1. Just beside the walking path, there is a vertical crack in the rock that looks like a lightning strike, and steam is rising from between the cracks
Along the Jigokudani Promenade, hot springs gush out at over 10 locations on both sides of the Fukiagezawa River, and high-temperature hot springs also gush out here and there right next to the promenade
Fukiagezawa is a stream that flows into the Arao River at the southwestern foot of Mt. Arao. The Arao River is also another name for the Eai River, which is familiar to people in Miyagi Prefecture and the northern part of the prefecture
The Hell Promenade is 1 kilometer long and takes about 30 minutes to walk, but the footing is well paved, so you can stroll around without any worries
↓This is "Purple Hell" on guide map ②, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is the most interesting spot on the Jigokudani Promenade
"Purple Hell" is a place where hot spring water constantly gushes out, and its appearance is likened to the purple clouds that float over the Buddhist paradise, and this place was named "Purple Hell" as an analogy to the paradise of Jigokudani
Previously, you could make soft-boiled eggs right next to this place, but as of 2023, this is no longer possible
Once you pass Murasaki Jigoku, the view opens up and there is a small rest area
It's nice to take a short break in front of the clear stream, but as this is "Hell Valley" as the name suggests, staying here for a long time can make you sick from the toxic gases, so please be careful
Leaving the rest area, I thought I would continue on, but there was a no-entry sign just before "Tochinokiyu" (Tochinoki hot spring) shown on the guide map (7), so this was my final destination. (As of 2023)
From here, all you have to do is return the way you came
The round trip takes about 30 minutes, so it shouldn't be too difficult even for those with small children or elderly people
We recommend stopping by if you are visiting Naruko Onsen
There are many other sightseeing spots around "Jigokudani Promenade"
Motomiyahara, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, where the Jigokudani Promenade is located, is dotted with various facilities that utilize nature
Fukiage Kogen Campsite
Located a 5-minute walk from Jigokudani Promenade, this is one of Miyagi Prefecture's leading free-site campgrounds with an all-grass lawn. There are sites with power outlets (reservations required) and a pet area, but the best part is that you can drive vehicles onto the grass, making it a great place for camping and outdoor beginners
Camping and strolling along the Jigokudani Promenade is a classic activity
Fukiage Kogen Campground ＜Information＞
Address: 23-89 Honmiyahara, Onikobe, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Business hours: April 22, 2023 - November 23, 2023
Hours of operation: [Check-in] 9:00-17:00 [Check-out] until 13:00 [Day use] 9:00-17:00
Inquiries: 0229-86-2493
Google Map
Onikobe Spring
This place is also located close to the Jigokudani Promenade and has two geysers: Benten, an intermittent geyser that erupts at a height of about 15 meters every 10 minutes, and Unryu, an intermittent geyser that erupts at a height of 2 to 3 meters every 10 to 20 minutes
Unlike the hot, steaming, mysterious place of the Hell Promenade, here you can see the spectacular water springs
This facility also has a shop, foot baths, and the opportunity to try making hot spring eggs, making it a great choice for families and couples
Onikobe Kanketsusen <Information>
Address: 12 Fukiage, Onikubi, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Opening hours: 10:00-15:00
Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Admission fee: Adults 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students 200 yen (tax included), preschoolers free
Facilities: Hand bath, foot bath, hot spring egg making experience, shop, restaurant (rice wrapped in bamboo leaves)
Inquiries: 0229-86-2233
Google Map
Fukiage Onsen Hounkaku
This place is famous for its natural waterfall hot springs, and you can bathe in the waterfall basin within the facility
This inn, worthy of being called a secret hot spring, can only accommodate eight groups per day, but day trips are also possible
Please note that while the indoor baths are separated by gender, the outdoor bath at the waterfall basin is mixed bathing
Fukiage Onsen Hounkaku ＜Information＞
Address: 16 Onikobe Fukiage, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Business hours (day trip): 10:00-13:00
Closed days (day trips): Irregular holidays
Opening period (day trip): All year round
Bathing fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for children (ages 3 to elementary school)
I'm a member of the Neft editorial team. I love alcohol, music, and traveling, so I indulge in some drinks after work on weekdays, and on weekends, if I have free time, I travel to nearby areas. I work hard every day with the goal of eventually traveling overseas to find connections to Tohoku through NEFT reporting.
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