[Fukiage, Miyagi Prefecture] “Onikobe Onsenkyo” is a little-known spot! Full of charm, including a 15m geyser and Takitsubo hot spring

It is often said that Miyagi does not have many tourist destinations. However, in reality, there are many lesser-known but attractive places that are just as good as the leading tourist destinations in the country

This time, we will be introducing Onikobe Onsen in particular, focusing on its ancient geysers, a ryokan where you can bathe in hot springs in the basin of a waterfall, and Jigokudani, shrouded in steam

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Onikobe Geyser

Onikobe Onsen is known to locals as a spot with a historic geyser. People from outside often call Onikobe "Onikubi," but the correct reading is actually "Onikobe."

There are two geysers here, named "Benten" and "Unryu."

The impressive Benten Spring

The most impressive is "Benten." It erupts about every 10 minutes, shooting up to a height of about 15 meters. Seeing it up close, it seems quite high

The water that has accumulated in underground cavities erupts due to the heat of the volcano, so you can experience the power of nature. Each eruption lasts for a little over a minute, which is quite long

The geyser erupts at almost regular intervals, making it a perfect tourist spot

There is also an open-air bath in the park

It costs 400 yen to enter this area, but there is a mixed-gender open-air bath within the area, so you can enjoy not only the geyser but also the hot springs

One thing to be aware of is that there are a lot of people passing by. Even though it is a lesser known tourist spot, there are still a fair number of people passing by. People may be peeking at you, so you need to be aware of this beforehand

Foot baths and hot spring egg making

There is also a foot bath, so you can enjoy it casually. There is also a place where you can make your own hot spring eggs. You can buy eggs at a nearby shop and borrow a basket to make them

The eggs for the experience are sold for 40 yen each. The recommended boiling time is about 9 minutes, but you can increase or decrease the time to your liking

Onikobe Geyser <Information>

• Name: Onikobe Geyser
• Address: 12 Onikobe Fukiage, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 0229-86-2233
• Official URL: http://kanketsusen.com/

Google Map

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Hounkaku: A ryokan where you can enjoy hot springs at the waterfall

The hot springs near the geysers are in full view from all sides, so it takes courage to enter. To be honest, not many people actually use them

However, since you've come all the way to a hot spring resort, many people want to enjoy not only the geyser but also the hot springs. For this reason, we recommend Hounkaku, which is located close to the geyser

There is a hot spring here that you can soak in at the base of the waterfall, making it the perfect course to fully enjoy the charms of nature

A beautiful and easy-to-enter waterfall basin

It is rare to find a place where a waterfall itself is a hot spring. There are other places where natural rivers and ponds have been turned into open-air baths, but most of them are not very clean and cannot be called hot springs

However, the appeal of this waterfall basin is that you can bathe in it in a similar way to a regular open-air bath

Please note that it is only available from May to the end of October. Because it is a natural hot spring, the water becomes cold after autumn and is no longer suitable for bathing

Accommodation reservations fill up quickly

They only accept eight groups of guests per day, so it's important to make your reservation early once your travel dates are decided

It is a single inn surrounded by tranquility. It truly feels like a hidden hot spring. If you go near the waterfall and take a bath, you can feel its power. It is surrounded by trees, so the sunlight filtering through the leaves is very pleasant

There may be a lot of gravel around the base of the waterfall, so we recommend bringing sandals

Things to note about waterfall baths

Because it is a natural hot spring, if it rains the day before, the water may become lukewarm or cold, so be sure to check the weather forecast beforehand

Also, July and August are characterized by a large number of horseflies and other insects. The best times to visit are June, September, and October. It's best to aim for these times

Hot water that warms you from the inside out

The alkaline, soft water is very easy to soak in. It feels like a far-infrared heater, warming you from the inside out

Even after you get out of the bath and return to your room, the warm feeling will continue for a long time

Daytime bathing is also possible

Even if the rooms are full and you can't make a reservation, you can still take a day trip to the baths (500 yen). However, this is only available between 10am and 1pm. Please note that the hours are short and early

You can also enjoy the waterfall bath first, and then visit the geysers and other sights. You can get a free ticket to Onikobe Geyser at the reception, so it's also economical in that respect

Mineunkaku＜Information＞

• Name: Mineunkaku
• Address: 16 Onikobe Fukiage, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 0229-86-2243
• Official URL: http://www.naruko.gr.jp/shukuhaku/spa/03/

Google Map

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Onikobe Jigokudani Promenade

A 10-minute walk from Onikobe Geyser is the Jigokudani Promenade. Head down the stairs from the parking lot to Jigokudani

Walking through the quiet nature

The promenade is well-maintained, allowing you to walk through nature surrounded by tranquil trees. There is a gentle river flowing next to it, and the sound of the babbling brook is very pleasant

As you walk through this peaceful scenery, an ominous bubbling sound, like something bubbling up frequently, begins to fill the air

Then, what spreads before your eyes is hot water and steam rising from the rugged rock face. This is the place known as Jigokudani

Purple clouds hang over hell

Numerous small geysers are also spewing out, creating a truly hellish scene. Among them, the spot known as Purple Hell is constantly shrouded in smoke, giving the impression of a lingering cloud

This is called purple clouds, which refer to the clouds in paradise in the Buddhist world

As you walk, hot water and steam will spew out from beside you. It's a place where you can really feel the power of nature

Every time I go it looks different

The atmosphere of Jigokudani varies greatly depending on the weather, season, and time of day. When it is relatively calm, the gentle sunlight shines through the thin steam, creating a scene that is too beautiful to be called hell; it is truly heavenly

It's a spot with many repeat visitors, as it shows a different side to the place every time you visit

Jigokudani also has a promenade at its base, which is about 1 km long. Even if you walk slowly, you can see the whole area in about 30 minutes one way

Jigokudani Promenade <Information>

• Name: Jigokudani Promenade
• Address: 16 Onikobe Fukiage, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
• Phone number: 0229-82-2191 (Naruko General Branch Office, Regional Development Division)
• Official URL: Osaki City website (Jigokudani Promenade)

Google Map

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Summary of Onikobe Onsen

This time, we have introduced Onikobe Onsen, a famous spot in Miyagi that is known only to those in the know. It is a place where you can particularly enjoy the charms of nature, such as rising geysers, hot springs that you can bathe in under the waterfall, and hell, where purple clouds hang overhead

You can feel the calmness of nature and its powerful energy at the same time. Take your time to look around and fully absorb that energy into your body

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