Here are the best spots to enjoy autumn foliage around Tamagawa Onsen and Lake Tazawa!

Lake Tazawa is the deepest lake in Japan (approximately 423.4m at its deepest point) and shows different faces throughout the seasons. The autumn foliage season is particularly spectacular, with the contrast between the red and yellow forest and the crystal clear water of the lake being stunning.

There is a promenade along the lake shore that is about 20km in circumference, and Lake Tazawa Rest House . Along the way, there are rest areas, toilets, teahouses, and more, making it a safe and secure walking path. Bicycle rentals are also available on the shore of Lake Tazawa, and a ride around the lake takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. This is also an exhilarating experience.

Lake Tazawa Information

• Facility name: Lake Tazawa Rest House
• Address: 148 Haruyama, Tazawa Lake, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture
• Contact: Tazawako Rest House
• Phone number: 0187-43-0274
• business hours:
  • Shop: 8:30-17:00
  • Restaurant: 11:00-15:00
• Sightseeing boats: Operating days and times may vary depending on the season and peak season (please inquire)
• *Pleasure boats are currently closed at Katajiri Port, where the Tatsuko statue is located, due to a pier shortage (please inquire).
• Closed: Shops, restaurants, and sightseeing boats are all open all year round
• URL: Lake Tazawa Rest House
• access:
  • Public transportation: Approximately 12 minutes by bus from Tazawako Station on the Akita Shinkansen or JR Tazawako Line, approximately 90 minutes by car from Akita Airport
  • By car: Approximately 50 minutes from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway

Google Map

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Tamagawa Onsen, Japan's most acidic hot spring, is best visited during the autumn foliage season

Tamagawa Onsen and Shin-Tamagawa Onsen , famous for their highly acidic springs, each have only one inn. They are located in a plateau area at an altitude of approximately 760m along National Route 341, which runs about 30km north of Lake Tazawa, through the middle of Hachimantai (elevation approximately 1,613m) and all the way to Kazuno City in northeastern Akita Prefecture.

the spring water at Tamagawa Onsen's source, Obuke , is 1.2 (official value). pH 7 is neutral, and as the number increases it becomes alkaline, and as the number decreases it becomes acidic. A pH of 1.2 is similar to the level of stomach acid. Lemon juice is an easy example to understand, with a pH of 2 to 3.

The Daifun spring gushes out approximately 9,000 liters of hot spring water per minute from a single source, another of Japan's highest rates. The spring temperature at the outlet is approximately 98°C, and the same spring water is used as a free-flowing source at the Tamagawa Onsen and Shin-Tamagawa Onsen hot spring inns in Tamagawa Onsen. The official spring quality is an acidic, carbon dioxide-containing, iron (II)-aluminum-sulfate, chloride spring, with hydrochloric acid as its main component. Hydrochloric acid is derived from volcanic gas. Other hot spring components include sulfuric acid and radium. This spring quality is unique to this region, as it is almost free of the hydrogen sulfide odor that is common in volcanic hot springs.

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Hot springs born from a powerful volcano

Tamagawa Onsen appears to have appeared when Mt. Akita Yake (approximately 1,366m above sea level, a volcano under constant observation), towering to the east, erupted around 806, at the start of the Heian period. It is said that it began to be used as a hot spring in the early Edo period (around 1680).

The highly acidic hot spring water at Tamagawa Onsen has various effects on human skin. When you bathe in the hot spring water for the first time, you may feel a tingling sensation and pain on cuts and mucous membranes. People with sensitive skin may develop blisters. However, the water has very strong antibacterial properties and is known to have healing effects on skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and acne.

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It has various benefits, including for skin diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, recovery from illness, and pain relief.

The effects of bathing in Tamagawa Onsen are known to be that in addition to treating skin diseases, the radium content promotes the body's natural healing ability, the ingredients contained in the water help relieve pain in the nervous system, including rheumatism, improve movement in joints and stiff muscles, improve blood circulation, improve high blood pressure, diabetes, decreased organ function, anemia, and promote health and fatigue, making it suitable for many other conditions.

Drinking the spring water is permitted, provided that it is diluted 38 times before use. It is said to be effective for gastrointestinal disorders, liver dysfunction, diabetes, etc. Steam inhalation is expected to improve asthma and bronchitis.

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Tamagawa Onsen's baths are designed with various features in mind so that many people can experience the benefits.

The hot spring inns "Tamagawa Onsen" and "Shin-Tamagawa Onsen" offer a variety of hot springs with different source rates, including baths that use 100% hot spring water drawn directly from the source, baths with 50% source water, 50% lukewarm water, a 100% source steam bath, and indoor bedrock baths. "Shin-Tamagawa Onsen" also has an open-air bath with a source rate of 30%, and both are open for day trips. "Tamagawa Onsen" is closed during the winter, but "Shin-Tamagawa Onsen" is open all year round.

Tamagawa Onsen Information

• Facility name: Tamagawa Onsen, a healing hot spring inn with abundant therapeutic properties
• Location: Tazawako Tamagawa Shibukurosawa, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
• Inquiries: Tamagawa Onsen Reservation Center
• Phone number: 0187-58-3000
• Opening period: late April to late October (closed in winter)
• Mobile phone: Calls allowed (NTT docomo only)
• Wi-Fi: Free
• Check the Tamagawa Onsen website or travel booking site for details on accommodation fees and facilities.
• hot spring:
• Spring quality: Acidic, carbon dioxide-containing, iron (II), aluminum, sulfate, and chloride spring
• Water temperature: 98℃ (Ofun source)
• Efficacy/See text
• URL: Tamagawa Onsen, a healing hot spring inn with many beneficial effects
• access:
  • Public transportation: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by bus or car from Tazawako Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen or JR Tazawako Line. Approximately 2 hours 40 minutes by airport liner from Akita Airport to Tamagawa Onsen.
  • By car: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from Matsuo Hachimantai IC on the Tohoku Expressway via Aspite Line and National Route 341

Information about Shin-Tamagawa Onsen, a Japanese mountain hot spring resort

• Facility name: Japanese mountain hot spring resort "Shin-Tamagawa Onsen"
• Location: Tamagawa, Lake Tazawa, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture
• Inquiries: Tamagawa Onsen Reservation Center
• Phone number: 0187-58-3000
• Business period: All year round
• Mobile phone: Calls allowed (NTT docomo only)
• Wi-Fi: Free
• For details on accommodation fees and facilities, please check the Shin-Tamagawa Onsen website or travel booking site.
• hot spring:
• Spring quality: Acidic, carbon dioxide-containing, iron (II), aluminum, sulfate, and chloride spring
• Water temperature: 98℃ (Ofun source)
• URL: Japanese mountain hot spring resort "Shin Tamagawa Onsen"
• access:
• Public transportation: Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes by bus or car from Tazawako Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen or JR Tazawako Line, or approximately 2 hours 40 minutes by airport liner from Akita Airport to Tamagawa Onsen
• By car: Approximately 1 hour 25 minutes from Matsuo Hachimantai IC on the Tohoku Expressway via the Aspite Line and National Route 341 (in winter, the road is closed to general traffic, so only local buses operate)

Google Map

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The Tamagawa Onsen Nature Study Trail is located in the hot spring source area where the Daifun spring is located, and natural bedrock bathing is also available.

Tamagawa Onsen's main spring source, the Daifun, is located in the steam-filled hot springs area known as Jigokudani, right next to the Tamagawa Onsen Inn. The source area has countless small hot spring outlets, including the Daifun, and the sight of hot spring water gushing out along with steam is a sight that makes you feel like the earth is alive.

The rock surface at the source of the spring is warmed entirely by the hot spring. Lying down on these rocks is called "natural bedrock bathing," and Tamagawa Onsen is said to be the birthplace of bedrock bathing. An area for bedrock bathing has been set aside on the bedrock beside the Nature Exploration Road, and anyone can use it freely without needing to apply.

However, the bedrock can reach temperatures of up to 50°C in places, so it is dangerous to lie down in clothes or yukata, let alone bare skin. Be sure to lay a mat down on top of it. It is also recommended to cover yourself with a towel blanket or blanket to prevent heat from escaping.

To prevent low-temperature burns, you will be asked to turn over occasionally, and the session will end in about 40 minutes. The bedrock bath is free, but the necessary equipment for the bedrock bath, such as mats and water, is not provided, so you will need to bring all of that with you. It seems that a mat made of rush grass is better than a picnic sheet. Natural bedrock bathing is expected to have analgesic effects and promote metabolism.

Tamagawa Onsen Nature Trail Information

• Facility name: Tamagawa Onsen Nature Quest
• Location: Tamagawa Shibukurosawa, Lake Tazawa, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture (next to Tamagawa Onsen, a healing hot spring inn with abundant therapeutic properties)
• Inquiries: 0187-43-2111
• Phone number: Semboku City Tazawako Tourist Information Center "Folake"
• Freedom to stroll
• Natural bedrock bath: Free (no application required)
• *There are areas where sulfur dioxide gas concentrations are high and off-limits. Please do not enter these areas as they could be life-threatening.
• *Closed during winter
• Map: Tamagawa Onsen, a healing hot spring inn with many beneficial effects

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Katamaeyama Forest Park: Enjoy outdoor activities such as forest walks, experience facilities, and tent and bungalow areas

Katamaeyama Forest Park is a forest park that stretches along the western shore of Lake Tazawa, where the famous gold-leaf-covered Tatsuko statue stands on the lakeshore. The statue was erected in 1968 (Showa 43) based on the legend that once upon a time, a young girl named Tatsuko, who longed for eternal beauty, continued to drink water from a spring that was said to grant wishes, and eventually turned into a dragon. In grief, Tatsuko threw herself into Lake Tazawa. The statue is made of bronze, but the gold leaf is applied to prevent the statue from rusting, as the water in Lake Tazawa is highly acidic due to the influence of Tamagawa Onsen.

Katamaeyama Forest Park has a walking path through the forest, and along the path you'll find the Forest Learning and Exchange Center, an observation deck, a charcoal-making experience facility, and a playground with play equipment. There are also tent and cottage areas where you can fully enjoy outdoor life.

(As of 2025, the sightseeing boat from Lake Tazawa Rest House cannot board or disembark at Katajiri Port near Katamaeyama Forest Park. Please inquire at Lake Tazawa Rest House about the expected opening date.)

Katamaeyama Forest Park Information

• Katamaeyama Forest Park
• Facility name: Katamaeyama Forest Park
• Location: Nishikimachi, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture, Saimyoji, Katajiri
• Contact: Lake Tazawa Campground
• Phone number: 0187-47-2007
• Mobile phone: Within service area (NTTdocomo, au, SoftBank)
• Wi-Fi: None
• *For details on campsite fees and facilities, please refer to the Katamaeyama Forest Park website.
• *Bear sightings are becoming more frequent. Please be careful and carry bells, whistles, bear repellent spray, etc., and do not travel alone. Also, be careful of hornets.
• URL: Katamaeyama Forest Park
• access:
  • Public transportation: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen or JR Tazawako Line bus from Tazawako Station on the Tazawako Loop Line for approximately 30 minutes, get off at Katajiri bus stop, and walk for approximately 15 minutes.
  • By car: Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Morimorioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway via National Route 46

Google Map

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A late autumn sight: The yellow ginkgo trees of Shinzanji Temple

Nishiki-cho, Semboku City, on the west side of Lake Tazawa, is where the Tozawa clan, a powerful clan from Shizukuishi, Mutsu Province (Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture), known for being the first to develop Kakunodate, first advanced into Akita and built a castle. The town is also known for the Kamihinokinai Paper Balloon Raising event (designated an intangible folk cultural property by Semboku City), which is said to have been taught by Hiraga Gennai (1728-1779). In autumn in Nishiki, home to such an ancient tradition, we recommend visiting the Shinzan-ji Temple's Milk Ginkgo trees.

The "Shinzanji Ginkgo Tree" is a large ginkgo tree located within the grounds of Shinzanji Temple, an ancient temple said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi 1,200 years ago, about 10km north of Kakunodate and 5km west of Lake Tazawa (Tatsuko Statue). Legend has it that the ginkgo tree grew from a walking stick that Kobo Daishi stuck upside down. The tree is actually about 600 years old, with a height of about 43.1m and a trunk circumference of about 10.2m at the base.

What makes this ginkgo tree famous are the "milk branches" that hang down from the trunk, the largest of which can reach 2m in length and 30cm in diameter. As the shape of the branches that hang down resembles a breast, it has long been said that if you tie white paper to the hanging milk branches and pray to them, you will produce milk. However, ironically, this ginkgo tree is a male tree (ginkgo trees are both male and female) and does not bear fruit (ginko nuts). It is a designated natural monument of Akita Prefecture.

Information about Shinzanji Temple's Milk Ginkgo Tree

• Facility name: Shinzanji Temple's Milk Ginkgo
• Address: 281 Ishikawahara, Oyamada, Nishiki-cho, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture
• Contact: Nishiki Tourist Information Center
• Phone number: 0187-42-8480
• access:
  • Public transportation: Akita Shinkansen, JR Tazawako Line, transfer at Kakunodate Station, Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway, get off at Yatsu Station, then walk for about 25 minutes
  • By car: Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Park your car in the parking lot at Karakurikan or Hinokinaigawa River Park and walk for approximately 25 minutes.

Google Map

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