8 Best Onsen in Yamagata | Relaxing Onsen with Great Landscape

Located in the Tohoku region of Japan, Yamagata Prefecture is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding. Being so cold, there are many onsen hot spring resorts to warm up in.

Since Yamagata is close to the mountains and the sea, you can bathe while enjoying a magnificent view of nature.

In this article, we will introduce our favorite 8 onsen resorts in Yamagata prefecture.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

1. Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉)
2. Zao Onsen (蔵王温泉)
3. Atsumi Onsen (あつみ温泉)
4. Hijiori Onsen (肘折温泉)
5. Ubayu Onsen (姥湯温泉)
6. Kaminoyama Onsen (かみのやま温泉)
7. Tendo Onsen (天童温泉)
8. Akayu Onsen (赤湯温泉)
9. Conclusion

Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉)

Ginzan Onsen is a hot spring resort that has existed for many years since the Edo period, and is characterized by the onsen hot springs, ryokan, and hotel facilities lining the Ginzan River. When the sun sets, the town is lit up by old lamps and a mysterious atmosphere can be enjoyed.

There are many onsen hot springs in Ginzan Onsen that can be used for one-day trips. There are a variety of onsen hot spring facilities available, including open-air baths, indoor baths, and footbaths. The view of greenery and the Ginzan River from the hot springs is very relaxing, and is recommended to relieve fatigue from traveling.

The literal translation of the word “Ginzan” is “silver mountain,” but it means that it is an area where silver is mined. The silver mining process uncovered the hot springs source, which led to the birth of the present-day Ginzan Onsen (silver mine hot springs). At this historic site, visitors can take a tour of the mine shafts of the Enzawa Silver Mine and enjoy a sense of exploration by crossing a footbridge that leads underground. At the end of the hot spring resort area is a sightseeing spot called “Nobusawa Ginzan Ruins”.

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Zao Onsen (蔵王温泉)

Zao is famous as a mountain resort with everything, but it is also renowned as a hot spring resort boasting more than 50 hot spring sources. The hot spring resort is located on a plateau surrounded by Mt. Zao and is about a 40-minute bus ride from Yamagata Station.

Zao Onsen has three public onsen bathhouses, three onsen footbaths, and five onsen day spa facilities. The most famous of these is the Zao Onsen Grand Open-air Bath, where visitors can bathe while listening to the murmuring of the mountain stream and the chirping of birds. The hot springs in the Zao area are perfect for those who want to feel the healing effects of hot springs, as the highly acidic water has many medicinal properties for beautiful skin and good health.

Another famous spot in Zao Onsen is the volcanic lake called “Okama”. It’s a rare and beautiful lake where the color of the water changes from emerald green to light blue depending on the sunlight. Visitors can enjoy the richness of nature using the lifts or trekking to the mountain tops to view the scenery of Zao.

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Atsumi Onsen (あつみ温泉)

Atsumi Onsen is a hot spring resort located near the Sea of Japan, about 40 minutes from Tokyo by plane and car. The Onumi River flows through the center of the town, where visitors can enjoy fishing and footbaths. In April and May, the nighttime cherry blossoms along the river are lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

Atsumi Onsen also has seven lodging facilities and three public onsen bathhouses where visitors can take a day trip to the hot springs. There are three footbaths and various cafes where visitors can enjoy a meal while soaking their feet. These unique hot spring experiences will give you a different kind of hot spring travel experience.

In addition to the onsen hot springs, the Atsumi Onsen Rose Garden is also a great place to visit. The park has over 3,000 roses of about 90 varieties, and the view from the hill overlooking the hot spring resort is a great viewing spot.

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Hijiori Onsen (肘折温泉)

Hijiori Onsen is a hot spring resort located in a heavy snowfall area. In the winter months, the snowfall regularly exceeds 3 meters. Many snow events are held in Hijiori, such as the “Fantasy Snow Corridor,” in which candles are lit on the snow walls, and the “Groundwork Competition,” in which visitors compete in digging out snow with shovels. In addition, there is a campaign in which hotel and ryokan rates are discounted the more it snows, so visitors can enjoy the excitement of heading to their destinations while hoping for heavy snowfall.

To escape the cold, Hijiori Onsen offers six outside hot springs. At a day-trip hot spring facility called Caldera Onsenkan, visitors can enjoy open-air baths and a cold carbonated spring with a temperature of 9°C, which is rare in Japan.

In Hijiori, there is an amazing spot called the “Shigamura no tanada” (terraced rice fields in the four villages). Terraced rice fields are rice paddies built in large steps on the slopes of mountains. In the summer, a traditional “Hotarubi” concert is held here, and in the winter, you can watch the snow cover the area and create a silver world.

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Ubayu Onsen (姥湯温泉)

Ubayu Onsen is a hot spring resort located in a valley and is known as a secluded place away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is located about 30 minutes by train from Fukushima Station.

The most famous onsen hot spring spot in Ubayu Onsen is “Yamamba no Yu” at Ubayu Onsen Masugataya. Here, visitors can take a one-day open-air bath and enjoy the unique experience of bathing on a cliff surrounded by rocks at an altitude of 1,300 meters above sea level. Especially in October and November, you can enjoy bathing while the leaves change colors, which is said to have an amazing healing effect.

A 10-minute drive from Ubayu Onsen is a waterfall called Namegawa Great Falls. Selected as one of the “100 best waterfalls in Japan,” this attraction requires a 30-minute climb, but you will feel a sense of accomplishment when you see the spectacular view along with the waterfall.

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Kaminoyama Onsen (かみのやま温泉)

Kaminoyama Onsen is a castle town (a city that developed around a castle) where many samurai warriors lived about 500 years ago. Kaminoyama is a town where visitors can experience the unique culture and history of Japan’s samurai by visiting Kaminoyama Castle, which was a battlefield between warlords, and touring the mansions where the warriors of the time lived.

Footbaths are set up throughout the town, and among them, the footbath in the facilities of Kaminoyama Castle is recommended as it offers a spectacular view of Kaminoyama City and the Zao area. There are also six public bathhouses, and if you participate in a walking tour called “Onsen Quaalto,” you can get free tickets to the public bathhouses.

In Kaminoyama, a traditional folk event called “Kasedori” is held in winter. The event is to pray for family safety and business prosperity by pouring water on young people wearing straw coats (rain gear made of woven tree bark), who chirp like birds. Tourists can also participate in the Kasei-dori event, so please take this opportunity to experience this event.

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Tendo Onsen (天童温泉)

Tendo Onsen is a slightly unusual hot spring resort known for its shogi (a traditional Japanese game, similar to chess) pieces scattered throughout the town. Fruit picking and winery tours are available in combination with the hot springs, and there are plenty of other events to enhance your trip in addition to the hot springs. Tendo Onsen is also located in the center of Yamagata Prefecture and is easily accessible to other hot spring resorts.

In Tendo Onsen, a public hot spring facility called “Tendo Onsen Hanakoma-so” has been built recently. It is recommended to those who want to relieve their fatigue during the trip for its individual resting rooms and low-cost hot spring baths.

Every year in April, an event called “Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival Human Shogi” is held. Visitors can enjoy seeing people playing shogi as real-life pieces.

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Akayu Onsen (赤湯温泉)

Akayu Onsen is a hot spring resort that flourished as a gotenyu (a royal bathhouse) more than 900 years ago. It is said that warriors in the old days bathed there to heal their wounds after battles. Today, it is a hot spring resort known not only for its hot springs but also for its wine and ramen noodles, and is a hot spring town where visitors can enjoy walking around town.

Akayu Onsen has three public bathhouses and one footbath spa facility, and in June 2022 a new day spa facility called “Yukotto” was built. The outdoor and indoor baths feature free-flowing hot-spring water, making it the perfect place to heal your body with natural hot spring water.

A spot called “Nanyo Sky Park” in Akayu Onsen lets you experience hang gliding and paragliding. You can see the spectacular view of Akayu from above, and if you are lucky, you can see the sea of clouds up close.

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Conclusion

Have you found an onsen hot spring resort that you like? There are many different types of resorts across Yamagata Prefecture, so pick which onsen will suit you best.

Yamagata has many towns where samurai warriors and their retainers lived in the olden days of Japan, and there are many sightseeing areas where you can experience different aspects of traditional Japanese culture. Many hot spring resorts go well with the cold weather, so be sure to visit them to relieve your travel fatigue.

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