[Miyagi] Akiu's nature and culture come together! Relax your body and mind at Tenshukaku Nature Park!

When it comes to hot spring resorts in Sendai
, Akiu is the place to go. Akiu's charm lies in the beautiful scenery you can enjoy throughout the four seasons.
While natural landscapes like the Raikyo Gorge and Akiu Great Falls are wonderful, why not take a stroll through the gardens that nature and humans have created together?

Located further inland from Akiu Onsen is Tenshukaku Nature Park, a park where the beauty of nature has been further enhanced by humans. This time, we will introduce Tenshukaku Nature Park!

What is Tenshukaku Nature Park?

Although it's called Tenshukaku (castle tower), there wasn't actually a castle here.
Sadashige, the third head of the Baba clan, a branch family of the Akiho clan, a powerful family in Miyagi Prefecture, built a "mansion" in the area where the current Tenshukaku Nature Park is located, as it was a strategically important military location. In
other words, there wasn't a castle tower here; the park was built on the site of a "mansion" that served a similar role to a castle tower, hence the name Tenshukaku Nature Park.

Tenshukaku Nature Park offers a variety of attractions, including the Koyakan Ruins Garden, Ichitaro no Yu hot spring, and an auto campsite.
When you're tired of modern life, it might be a good idea to visit here to find some peace and relaxation!

Koyadate Ruins Garden

The site of the building that once served as the castle tower is now open to the public as a garden.
The rock garden, which utilizes the natural landscape and is made of Akiu stone, is breathtakingly impressive, and the contrast with the koi carp swimming gracefully in the beautiful pond surrounding it is a true collaboration of culture and nature.
Over a hundred plum trees and five hundred maple trees grow around the pond, and in spring and autumn, many visitors come to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
In particular, the Akiu Night Museum, which features the illumination of the maple trees in autumn, is extremely popular.

The garden features two footbaths where you can easily enjoy the hot spring waters of Akiu Onsen.
There's a small mini footbath right near the entrance, but don't be satisfied with just that.

Located in the latter half of the garden, "Yakata no Yu" is a magnificent footbath situated in a scenic spot.
Soothe your tired feet after strolling through the park while gazing at the majestic natural scenery, allowing your mind to be healed as well.
This is what it means to be healed both body and soul!

Since you're here, we recommend enjoying both foot baths!

Ichitaro no Yu

Akiu Onsen isn't just about the hot springs around the inns.
There are other hot springs with a unique charm that you can't experience at the inns.
One such place is "Ichitaro no Yu."

Ichitaro no Yu is a day-trip hot spring located next to the Tenshukaku Nature Park.
The indoor bath, made of cypress wood and bathed in bright sunlight, is a proud large bath filled with a rich aroma and a sense of openness.
On the other hand, the open-air bath offers the charm of the four seasons with the beautiful scenery of the Koyakan Ruins Garden as a backdrop.

The view from the open-air bath, in particular, is something you simply can't experience in a typical hot spring town, so be sure to try it when you visit!
There is a separate entrance fee for Ichitaro no Yu, but if you pay the entrance fee for Ichitaro no Yu, the entrance fee for Koyakan Garden will be free. So, if you want to enjoy both, please pay the entrance fee for Ichitaro no Yu!

Other attractions!

Tenshukaku Nature Park has many other recommended spots.
The auto campsite, open from April to October, has 19 tent sites, and you can even rent a stone oven for baking pizzas for an additional fee.
There's also an open-air bath exclusively for overnight guests, so you can instantly relax and unwind after a day of camping!

At the sister facility "Kinoie," there is a coffee shop, a pottery shop, an Akiu handicraft shop, and a lodge village, where you can purchase pottery and miscellaneous goods made by Akiu artisans. If you bring a combined admission ticket for the lodge village and auto campground, you will be happy to know that the price of Ichitaro no Yu is discounted!

In addition, there are many other attractions in Tenshukaku Nature Park, such as soba noodle restaurants and cafes.
If you're looking to escape from everyday life and be healed by nature, head to Akiu right away!
The scenery of each season awaits you!

INFORMATION

Chimon

A balding writer who loves travel and laughter.
A nice guy who hides his thinning hair by shaving his head!
He travels north and south to bring smiles to Tohoku through his writing!

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