Aomori Hiba, which not only has a pleasant fragrance but is also water-resistant, has its place at hot springs [Aomori Prefecture]

The scent of Aomori Hiba contains a special ingredient not found in Japanese cypress. This ingredient is "hinokitiol." Hinokitiol is extracted as a natural ingredient with strong antibacterial and antiseptic properties, and is used for deodorizing, disinfecting, and insect repellent. Typical applications include cosmetics, toothpaste, and scalp care products, and its fragrant ingredients are also highly popular in aromatherapy

The name "hinokitiol" may lead one to believe it is a component found in cypress, but among trees grown in Japan, it is only found in Aomori hiba. The unique scent of Aomori hiba comes from the strong antibacterial and preservative properties of hinokitiol, which give the wood its resistance to pests and moisture

This characteristic is also utilized in the baths of hot springs with long histories, such as Sukayu Onsen and Tsuta Onsen

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The hugely popular Sukayu Onsen has a 160-tatami "Hiba Senninburo" bath made from Aomori hiba

Sukayu Onsen often appears on television in the winter . Its most famous feature is the Hiba Sennin Bath . The 160-tatami wooden bathhouse offers hot baths (around 41°C), cold baths (around 39°C), 4/6/8 baths (around 42-43°C), and hot waterfalls, all of which are drawn directly from different hot springs.

The bathroom, made entirely from Aomori cypress, was originally built around 1902 (Meiji 35) and remodeled to its current form in 1971 (Showa 46). You'll be amazed by the large, all-wood space, and your mind will instantly be liberated by the atmosphere. The aroma of the hot springs mixed with the subtle scent of wood may be the most relaxing experience for Japanese people

The Aomori cypress used in the "Cypress Senninburo" has been around for over 50 years, even though it is new and has been exposed to the harsh natural environment of Sukayu Onsen, as well as water and steam from the inside, which is an extremely harsh environment for wood, and has continued to perform its role without rotting. This is proof of the Aomori cypress's strong ability to protect itself

Sukayu Onsen's "Hiba Senninburo" bath is a rare mixed-gender bath these days. Looking at old photos, people of all ages and genders can be seen bathing comfortably, but in today's world, it's difficult for women to enter, so bathing attire (yuamigi, worn while bathing, fee applies) is provided. However, for women who wish to stay, there are designated women-only times (8:00-9:00, 20:00-21:00) to ensure everyone can enjoy themselves. While the bathtubs are small, there is also a separate indoor bath for men and women, "Tama no Yu" (water temperature 41-42°C), made from Aomori hiba. Day-trip bathing (also known as "Hiba Senninburo" or "Tama no Yu") is also available

Sukayu Onsen is a hot spring that is said to have been discovered around 340 years ago in the early Edo period, and was originally called "Shika no Yu" (Deer's Hot Spring) because a wounded deer was said to have healed there. It is said that the name was later changed to "Sukayu" because the hot spring water tastes sour

There are five hot springs, all of which are sour and milky white. The spring quality is an acidic sulfur spring (containing gypsum, acidic hydrogen sulfide spring) (hypotonic hot spring), and due to its benefits and facilities, it was designated as the "first national hot spring resort" in 1954 (Showa 29). Due to its high acidity, it has strong antibacterial properties and is said to be effective in treating skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. Other benefits unique to hot springs include relief from neuralgia, sensitivity to cold, recovery from illness, and health promotion, making it a popular hot spring

The Hakkoda Hotel, a sister hotel located near Sukayu Onsen, is one of Japan's largest log-house wooden hot spring hotels, boasting a large bath made of Aomori cypress. The water is an acidic, iron-containing (II and III) aluminum sulfate and chloride spring, and because the spring temperature is high, water is added to make it the right temperature. Guests can also use the Hiba Senninburo bath at Sukayu Onsen

Sukayu Onsen Information

• Facility name: Sukayu Onsen
• Location: 50 Arakawa Minami Arakawayama National Forest Suyuzawa, Aomori City
• Phone number: 017-738-6400
• hot spring:
  • Spring quality: Acidic sulfur spring (containing gypsum, acidic hydrogen sulfide spring) (hypotonic hot spring)
  • Efficacy/See text
• Mobile phone: Calls accepted (NTTdocomo, au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile)
• Wi-Fi: Free
• Accommodation fees etc.: Please refer to the official website or travel booking site
• Daytime bathing fee: Adults 1,000 yen, elementary school students 400 yen
• URL: Sukayu Onsen
• access:
  • Public transportation: Take the free shuttle bus from Shin-Aomori Station on the Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen, or take the JR bus bound for Sukayu Onsen from Shin-Aomori Station or Aomori Station on the JR Ou Main Line or Aoimori Railway for approximately 100-110 minutes, then get off at the Sukayu Onsenmae bus stop
• *There is no direct bus from Aomori Airport
  • Car / Green season: Approximately 60 minutes from Aomori IC on the Tohoku Expressway
• *In winter, there are restrictions such as complete road closures and nighttime road closures in the surrounding area, so please obtain information

Google Map

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Hakkoda Hotel Information

• Facility name: Hakkoda Hotel
• Address: 1-1 Minami Arakawayama, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 017-728-2000
• Mobile phone: Calls accepted (NTTdocomo, au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile)
• hot spring:
  • Spring quality: Acidic, iron-containing (II and III), aluminum sulfate and chloride spring
• Wi-Fi: Free
• URL: Hakkoda Hotel
• *For details on accommodations, hot springs, and rates, please refer to the website or reservation site
• *For access and Google Maps, please refer to Sukayu Onsen

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"Tsuta Onsen, a thousand-year-old hidden hot spring" The bathtub is made of Aomori cypress. Surrounded by a gentle fragrance, you can enjoy the hot spring water welling up from under your feet

a thousand-year-old hidden hot spring , is a single inn surrounded by deep forests, halfway between Lake Towada and the south of Mount Hakkoda, and close to the Oirase Gorge.It has a long history, with documents showing that there was a hot spring hut in the area in 1147 during the late Heian period, and it began operating as a hot spring resort in 1897, during the early Meiji period.

The greatest attraction of Tsuta Onsen is the ability to enjoy the hot spring water that gushes forth directly from beneath your feet into the bathtub. All of the baths in the main building are labeled "source springs," meaning the water fills the bathtub without ever coming into contact with the outside air. There are very few places in Japan where you can bathe in pure hot spring water, a gift from the earth

The spring quality is a sodium-calcium sulfate-bicarbonate-chloride spring (hypotonic, neutral, high temperature spring). The slightly alkaline, colorless, and transparent water is effective for neuralgia, joint pain, rheumatism, sensitivity to cold, recovery from illness, and general health promotion. It is especially popular among women as a skin-beautifying bath

The baths include "Kuyasu no Yu," "Senkyo no Yu," and a private bath (4,000 yen for 50 minutes), all of which are fed directly from the hot spring. The long-standing "Kuyasu no Yu" has only one bathtub, which is taken by turns by men and women. "Senkyo no Yu" is separated by gender, and has a ceiling height of up to 12 meters, giving you a unique sense of spaciousness that is vertically wide

What's even more noteworthy is that the main bath is made from Aomori cypress. The gentle scent of Aomori cypress, combined with the aroma of the hot spring, creates a truly soothing and comfortable bath that you won't find anywhere else

Tsuta Onsen Ryokan will be closed for the winter from early January and will reopen around mid-April. During this time, day-use bathing will also be closed

Tsuta Onsen, a thousand-year-old hidden hot spring

• Facility name: Tsuta Onsen, a thousand-year-old secret hot spring
• Address: 1 Tsutanoyu, Okuse, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0176-74-2311
• Mobile phone: NTT docomo, au are accepted, SoftBank, Rakuten mobile are not accepted
• *Rakuten Mobile is only available on models that use au lines
• *Line status as of January 2026
• Wi-Fi: Available (password required)
• hot spring:
  • Spring quality: Sodium, calcium, sulfate, bicarbonate, chloride spring (hypotonic, neutral, high temperature spring)
  • Efficacy/See text
• Accommodation fees etc.: Please refer to the official website or travel booking site
• Daytime bathing fee: Adults 1,000 yen, elementary school students 400 yen
• URL: Tsuta Onsen, a thousand-year-old secret hot spring
• access:
• Public transportation / Green season: From Shin-Aomori Station on the Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen, take the JR bus bound for Lake Towada for approximately 2 hours 10 to 20 minutes, then get off at the Tsuta Onsen bus stop
• *Suspended during winter
• *There is no direct bus from Aomori Airport
• Car / Green season: Approximately 90 minutes from Towadako IC on the Tohoku Expressway, or approximately 80 minutes from Kuroishi IC
• *The road is completely closed during the winter. Information is required

Google Map

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Lamp no Yado Aoni Onsen: A place far removed from everyday life. The soothing hot spring is made from Aomori cypress

Lamp Inn Aoni Onsen is a long-established hot spring inn consisting of four buildings located along the Aoni Valley at the southwestern foot of Mt. Hakkoda, and has become popular as a lamp inn. Opened in 1929 (Showa 4), you can experience a life far removed from everyday life that relies solely on electricity. There is no smartphone reception (as of 2025).

There are four hot spring baths. " Kenroku no Yu " is made entirely from Aomori cypress, from the bathtub to the bathhouse. The owner built it with confidence, expecting it to last for 200 years. It is a spacious, bright, healing bath where the scent of wood will help you forget about your daily life. The baths are separated by gender, with the women's bath having an open-air bath.

The indoor baths in the main building, which were renovated in 2014, are also made from Aomori cypress. The "Takimi no Yu" indoor baths, which are separated by gender and have an open-air bath, were newly built in 2005 (Heisei 17), and offer a view of Ryujin Falls. In addition to these, there is one other rock-made open-air bath, which has a ladies' time setting

The spring quality is simple hot spring water. It is clear, colorless, tasteless and odorless, and contains many components evenly distributed, so it has a wide range of effects, including relieving various pains, stiffness, chronic digestive disorders, sensitivity to cold, fatigue recovery, and promoting health

Aoni Onsen is open all year round despite being located in a snowy area. However, from December to March, private cars are not permitted. Only the hotel's shuttle bus can be used

Lamp no Yado Aoni Onsen Information

• Facility name: Lamp no Yado Aoni Onsen
• Address: 1-7, Aonisawatakinoue, Okiura, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0172-54-8588
• Mobile phone: Calls cannot be made to any carrier
• hot spring:
  • Spring quality: Simple hot spring (colorless, transparent, tasteless and odorless)
  • Efficacy/See text
• Accommodation fees etc.: Please refer to the official website or travel booking site
• Day trip bathing fee: 600 yen + meal fee
• URL: Lamp Inn Aoni Onsen
• access:
• public transport/
  • April 1st to November 30th: Transfer to the Konan Railway at JR Ou Main Line Hirosaki Station, get off at Kuroishi Station, take a local bus to the roadside station "Niji no Lake" and use the shuttle bus
  • December 1st to March 31st: Get off at Kuroishi Station on the Konan Railway and use the shuttle bus
  • By car: Approximately 25 minutes from Kuroishi IC on the Tohoku Expressway
• In winter (when snow has accumulated), the road in front of the inn is closed, so a shuttle bus is available from the roadside station "Niji no Lake" parking lot (contact Aoni Onsen is required)

Google Map

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The entire bathtub is made from Aomori cypress. "Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts" operated by Hoshino Resorts

" Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts " is a hot spring inn located in Misawa City on the Pacific coast of Aomori Prefecture, where you can fully enjoy Aomori culture, including festivals and dialects, based on the concept of "Nore Sore Aomori - People's Stories." The inn hosts seasonal events that allow you to enjoy Aomori culture throughout the year, and lanterns made using Nebuta techniques are displayed, making you feel as if you've entered the middle of a festival. The sound of the Tsugaru shamisen will make your heart leap.

The building is divided into the main building, east building, and west building, and the large indoor bath "Hiba-yu" in the main building, which is separated for men and women, is made entirely from Aomori cypress, not just the bathtubs but also the ceiling and walls. Relaxing in the bath, surrounded by the scent of cypress that fills the bath, is so comfortable that it feels like all your daily fatigue and frustrations are being released from your body. Both the men's and women's indoor baths are also equipped with open-air baths called "Uki-yu."

The water is a simple alkaline hot spring with a thick texture. It is gentle on the skin, so anyone, regardless of age or gender, can enjoy bathing in the water with peace of mind. It is said to be effective in easing neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, sensitivity to cold, fatigue recovery, and promoting health. It is also known as a skin-beautifying bath

There is a promenade around the pond located close to the accommodation building, where you can take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the foot bath, the Fureai Ranch, the Nanbu Magariya traditional house that is unique to the Tohoku region, the Yawatauma Lounge , and the Ukimido observation deck overlooking the pond.In addition , guests can bathe for free at the retro-style public bathhouse Motoyu, located about a 10-minute walk from the accommodation building, where you can enjoy a hot spring with a different atmosphere.

*" Noresore " is a Tsugaru dialect word that means "with all your might," "to the best of your ability," or "trying your hardest."

Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts Information

• Facility name: Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts
• Address: 56 Furamakiyama, Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 050-3134-8094
• Mobile phone: Calls accepted (NTTdocomo, au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile)
• Wi-Fi: Free
• hot spring:
  • Spring quality: alkaline simple hot spring
  • Spring temperature: 43.4℃
  • Efficacy/See text
• URL: Aomoriya by Hoshino Resorts
• *For details on accommodations, hot springs, rates, access, etc., please refer to the website or reservation site
• Day use:
• Only the original water
• Bathing fee: Adults 450 yen, elementary school students 150 yen, children 4 years old and over 60 yen
• access:
  • Public transportation: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen or JR Hachinohe Line to Aoimori Railway, or the Ou Main Line to Aomori Station, then take the Aoimori Railway to Misawa Station, then take the free shuttle bus for about 3 minutes. From Misawa Airport, take the free shuttle bus for about 20 minutes
  • By car: Approximately 3 minutes from Rokunohe JCT via the Hachinohe Expressway and the Second Michinoku Toll Road

Google Map

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A rare seaside sulfur spring. Shimoburo Onsen Kaikyo no Yu is a day-trip bathing facility that boasts a bathtub made from Aomori cypress from the Shimokita Peninsula

Shimofuro Onsenkyo is a historic hot spring located in Kazamaura Village on the northern coast of the Shimokita Peninsula, dating back to the Muromachi period. What makes it unique is that, although it is a coastal hot spring, it is fed by sulfur springs, which are common in volcanic areas, and it is known for being able to see the fishing lights of squid fishing boats offshore at night while soaking in the mountain hot springs (sulfur springs)

The Shimokita Peninsula, along with the Tsugaru Peninsula, is home to many natural forests of Aomori cypress, which is why many of the accommodations in Shimoburo Onsenkyo have bathrooms made with Aomori cypress. Among these, the day-use bathing facility Kaikyo no Yu, which opened in 2020 (Reiwa 2), has gained a reputation for its bathrooms that make generous use of Aomori cypress

Shimofuro Onsenkyo used to have two day-trip hot spring facilities, "Oyu" and "Arayu," which used different hot spring sources, but "Umikyo no Yu" was opened as a merger of these two. The hot springs used at "Oyu" and "Arayu" are now used as is, making it a facility where you can enjoy hot springs that use two separate sources in one place

The bathroom is not only made of bathtub, but also of Aomori cypress for the walls, buckets, chairs and even nameplates, allowing you to relax in the fresh, gentle scent of wood

The spring quality of Oyu is an acidic, sulfuric acid-containing, sodium chloride, sulfate spring (hydrogen sulfide type), and is slightly cloudy, while the spring quality of Shinyu is a colorless, transparent sulfuric acid-containing, sodium chloride spring (hydrogen sulfide type).While they are both sulfur springs, you can enjoy the hot springs with different atmospheres.They are said to be effective for cuts, burns, chronic skin diseases, diabetes, muscle and joint pain, etc

Shimofuro Onsen Kaikyo no Yu Information

• Facility name: Shimoburo Onsen Kaikyo no Yu
• Address: 71-1 Shimofuro, Shimofuro, Kazamaura Village, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture
• Phone number: 0175-33-2116
• Mobile phone: Calls accepted (NTTdocomo, au, SoftBank, Rakuten Mobile)
• Wi-Fi: Free
• hot spring:
• Spring quality: Oyu = Acidic, sulfuric acid-containing, sodium chloride, sulfate spring (hydrogen sulfide type); Shinyu = Sulfuric acid-containing, sodium chloride spring (hydrogen sulfide type)
• Efficacy/See text
• Day-trip bathing fee:
• Day-trip bathing fee:
• Regular ticket: 450 yen (for those aged 15 and over, excluding junior high school students who are not village residents), Villager ticket: 150 yen (for Kazamaura villagers aged 15 to 70, excluding junior high school students), Villager Senior Citizen ticket: 100 yen (for Kazamaura villagers aged 70 and over), Elementary school students: 50 yen (100 yen from April 1, 2026), Junior high school students: 100 yen (150 yen from April 1, 2026), Free for preschool children
• Opening hours:
  • April to October: 7:00 to 20:30 (last admission 20:00)
  • November to March: 8:00 to 20:30 (last admission 20:00)
  • Closed: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, January 1st
• URL: Shimoburo Onsen Kaikyo no Yu
• access:
  • Public transportation: Get off at Shimokita Station on the JR Ominato Line, take the Shimokita Kotsu Bus Sai Line for approximately 70 minutes, and get off at Shimoburo Onsen, or take a taxi from Shimokita Station
  • By car: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes from Hyakuseki IC on the Tohoku Expressway via National Route 338 and National Route 279

Google Map

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In addition to the hot spring facilities introduced above, Aomori Prefecture has many other hot spring inns with baths made using Aomori cypress. Each inn is unique and charming. Please enjoy the benefits of Aomori cypress

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