Disk dumplings from Hobaraya Shokudo

A day trip to Iizaka Onsen on the Fukushima Kotsu Iizaka Line (Iiden) from Fukushima Station! [Fukushima Prefecture]

the second day of our two-day, one-night gourmet trip from Sendai [ Iizaka Onsen Edition]!

Iizaka Onsen is one of the oldest hot springs in the Tohoku region, and it is said that Matsuo Basho stopped here in 1689 on his way to the famous "Oku no Hosomichi" (The Narrow Road to the Deep North).

It is a historic hot spring resort that is counted as one of the three famous hot springs in Oshu (Tohoku) along with Naruko Onsen and


Head to Iizaka Onsen on Fukushima Transportation's local line, the Iizaka Line (Iiden)!

The Iizaka Line (Iiden) a local Fukushima Transportation line that connects to Iizaka Onsen, is operated by a different company than JR, so the station entrance is different.

Fukushima Transportation Abukuma Express Line, Iizaka Line entrance
Abukuma Express Line, Iizaka Line platform entrance

The entrance to the Abukuma Express Line and Iizaka Line (commonly known as Iiden), operated by Fukushima Transportation, is located a little north of JR Fukushima Station, and can be seen by walking a short distance to the left with your back to the east exit of JR Fukushima Station.

This retro feel is already exciting

timetable
timetable
Iiden Free Ticket
Iiden Free Ticket

This time I purchased the " Iiden Free Ticket (with public bath admission ticket)" for 800 yen at the window next to the ticket gate!

One ticket can accommodate one adult, one elementary school student, and up to two infants, and it is a one-day pass , you can get on and off at any station you like as many times as you like.

Furthermore, this ticket allows you to bathe at one of Iizaka Onsen's nine public baths (hot spring admission ticket is for one person only), and you can also receive special service benefits by showing this ticket at participating stores

There are four types of tickets for each season, and if you complete them all you will receive a commemorative gift

Link: Iizaka Line (Iiden) Official Website "Discount Ticket"


Public bath available

  • Sabakoyu
  • Tenojiji Anahara Hot Springs
  • Senke no Yu
  • Yawata no Yu
  • Daimon no Yu
  • Toami no Yu
  • Haraiyu
  • Kiriyu
  • Dosen no Yu

Link: Iizaka Onsen Official Website "List of Public Baths"


Regular ticket vending machines are located next to the ticket counter

Iizaka Line ticket machine
Iizaka Line ticket machine
Ticket gate
Ticket gate
Iiden Free Ticket
Iiden Free Ticket

Time to enter! I'll wait for the right call

The Iizaka Line train, also known as the "Iiden," runs 2-4 trains per hour on weekdays and 2-3 trains per hour on weekends and holidays

Iizaka Line (Iiden) train
Iizaka Line (Iiden) train

After 23 minutes on the Iiden train, we arrived at the last stop, Iizaka Onsen Station!

Go through the ticket gate, climb the stairs, and head outside. We've arrived at Iizaka Onsen!

Statue of Matsuo Basho at Iizaka Onsen Station
Statue of Matsuo Basho at Iizaka Onsen Station

When you exit the station, you will see a bronze statue of Matsuo Basho in the square on the north side of the station building. It was erected on December 21, 1982 (Showa 57)


To the former Horikiri residence, 480 meters from Iizaka Onsen Station

The former Horikiri Residence is an old house dating back to the Edo period that has been repaired, restored, and partially rebuilt, making it a tourist attraction in Iizaka Onsen that opened in May 2010.

Former Horikiri Residence front entrance

The buildings that existed from that time were the front gate, main house, ten-ken storehouse, and well shed, but the main house was destroyed by fire in 1880 and rebuilt the following year in 1881. The other buildings are said to be newly constructed

In 1578, Umemiya Tarozaemon Sugawara Haruyoshi , reclaiming approximately 39,700 square meters of land and devoting himself to agriculture and sericulture.

At the time, the Aka River that flowed through the village frequently flooded, causing damage, so Umemiya Tarozaemon Sugawara Haruyoshi "digged a moat" to change the flow of the Aka River and used the filled-in land for housing and other purposes.As a result, the place was named "Horikiri" and Umemiya Tarozaemon Sugawara Haruyoshi came to be called "Horikiri .

There are hand and foot baths inside, and you can spend some relaxing time surrounded by the trees in the courtyard, feeling the changing seasons. Admission is free, so feel free to use it

Former Horikiri Residence Hand Bath
Former Horikiri Residence Hand Bath
The spacious former Horikiri residence foot bath
The spacious former Horikiri residence foot bath

Former Horikiri Residence <Information>

  • Address: 16-16 Higashitakinomachi, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0201
  • Phone number: 024-542-8188
  • Official URL: https://kyu-horikiritei.fckk.jp/

Google Map


Visit Iizaka Onsen's famous public baths

This time, we went to Hakoyu

Hakoyu
Hakoyu

Sabakoyu which is famous for being used by Matsuo Basho , and has been loved by people for 1,200 years.

Sabakoyu
Sabakoyu

Newly built in January 2011, Haraiyu has a Japanese-style exterior with drums and towers, and the bathroom is located on the first basement floor

Both men and women can enjoy two baths: one with hot water straight from the source, unique to Iizaka Onsen, and the other with warm water that is adjusted to a comfortable temperature so that anyone can bathe

The only public bath with rental items

Of the nine public baths, Namiraiyu is the only one that rents out bath towels, so you can go and leave empty-handed, making it a recommended public bath for tourists


Rental item list

  • Bath towel 180 yen
  • Other face towels: 120 yen
  • Rental towel set: 380 yen (face towel, bath towel, soap, shampoo, conditioner)

Other public baths are for sale only. You can also purchase tickets at Namiyu

Even if you don't know the rules for bathing in a public bath, are worried about whether you can bathe in hot water, or find towels to be a burden, you can easily use Namiraiyu

Hakoyu <Information>

  • Address: 30 Totsunamachi, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0201
  • Phone number: 024-542-5223
  • Official URL: https://www.iizaka-onsen.jp/

Google Map


After the hot spring, head to "Shorakuan" for Iizaka ramen

After the hot spring, we ramen restaurant founded in 1948, just a three-minute walk from Iizaka Onsen Station.

The exterior of Shorakuan
The exterior of Shorakuan
Inside the Shorakuan restaurant
Inside the Shorakuan restaurant

The interior of the restaurant is filled with a Showa-era feel and has a great atmosphere. Choose shrimp tempura ramen from the wide variety of soba, udon, and ramen on the menu

Shrimp Tempura Ramen (850 yen)
Shrimp Tempura Ramen (850 yen)

Smooth noodles in piping hot soup, topped with bouncy shrimp tempura!

The roast pork at Shorakuan is made with chicken and is light and delicious. Ramen is reasonably priced, starting from 650 yen

Shorakuan<Information>

  • Address: 3 Asahimachi, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0201
  • Phone number: 024-542-4326
  • gourmet site

Google Map


Iizaka Onsen specialty! Disk dumplings

The specialty of Iizaka Onsen is the "disk dumplings" !

However, most of the restaurants are open from the evening, and there are only two or three restaurants where you can eat there from lunchtime

Among them, we went to Hobaraya Shokudo

Hobaraya Restaurant
Hobaraya Restaurant

Hobaraya Shokudo also offers a wide variety of dishes, including soba, udon, and Chinese food

7 gyoza servings (400 yen)
7 gyoza servings (400 yen)

The gyoza are delivered in the shape of a round dumpling for a minimum of two people

3 servings of gyoza
3 servings of gyoza

The round dumplings were filled with plenty of vegetables, and the skin was thin and easy to eat, so even if one person ate three servings, it still didn't seem like much

Many people enjoyed gyoza along with the popular ramen and katsudon

Although it's not on the menu, you can order bottled beer, so you can enjoy gyoza and beer together!

Hobaraya Shokudo<Information>

  • Address: 11 Higashihorikiri, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0201
  • Phone number: 024-542-4348
  • gourmet site

Google Map


summary

This time we brought you a look at a day trip to Iizaka Onsen during the day

It's a 23-minute train ride from Fukushima Station, and offers hot springs, gourmet food, nature, and history. You might even discover something new that you can't see at Iizaka Onsen at night!


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