Iizaka Onsen and Fukushima City Walk: Itinerary

Iizaka Onsen is counted among the three famous hot springs of the old northern provinces. This relaxed one-day course pairs bathhouse hopping at historic public baths with a walk through central Fukushima city.

Course Route

10:00 Start at Iizaka Onsen Station From the terminus of the Fukushima Kotsu Iizaka Line, head into the hot spring town. Begin the walk at the foot of Totsunabashi bridge over the Surikami River. Iizaka Onsen is counted, along with Naruko and Akiu in Miyagi, among the three famous hot springs of the old northern provinces, and it is said that in 1689 the poet Basho and his disciple Sora also visited here.

10:30 Bathhouse hopping At the old public bath called Saba-ko-yu, soak slowly in the hot water to ease the fatigue of travel. Admission is a modest 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for children, and the spring is a gentle simple hot spring. It is closed on Mondays, so mind the day of your visit.

12:00 A local lunch in the spa town Try Fukushima specialties such as enban gyoza and wander the retro streets. The spa town also has eateries and sweet shops here and there, good for a rest after a bath.

14:00 Move to central Fukushima Return by train to Fukushima Station and explore the downtown shopping streets and fruit dessert shops. Fukushima is known as a fruit-growing area, and parfaits and sweets made with seasonal fruit are popular.

Highlights

The graceful bathhouse architecture of Saba-ko-yu, said to have been visited by the poet Basho, and the mood of the spa town along the Surikami River are the main draws. In the wooden bathhouses and stone-paved lanes the air of an old healing spa still remains.

Practical Travel Notes

Time needed Bathhouse hopping and a stroll around the spa town fill the morning, and a walk through central Fukushima fills the afternoon, in a relaxed half-day to full-day plan. At the public baths, dividing your soak into a few short sessions lets you enjoy the hopping without overheating.

Getting around The base is JR Fukushima Station. From Fukushima Station to Iizaka Onsen it is about 23 minutes on the Fukushima Kotsu Iizaka Line, a single ride away. The spa town is compact, so you can reach the public baths and eateries from the station on foot.

Avoiding crowds The public baths grow busier with local users in the evening, so the daytime hours allow a more relaxed soak. From summer to autumn nearby orchards are in their busy season, so planning around peach and pear picking is also recommended.

Budget sense Admission to the public baths is a modest few hundred yen, and with transport, lunch, and fruit sweets, one adult can enjoy the day for a few thousand yen.

A Quick Tip

Bringing a towel and small coins makes bathhouse hopping smooth. From summer to autumn you can also pick peaches and pears at nearby orchards.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• The former Horikiri Residence (Iizaka Onsen's tourism and cultural exchange facility): 9:00-21:00, admission free, open every day (occasional temporary closures). It has an adjoining hand bath and footbath that can be used from a wheelchair
• Hakoyu (an Iizaka Onsen communal bath): 6:00-21:00 (last entry 20 minutes before closing). Closed on Tuesdays (open when Tuesday is a public holiday). Bathing costs 500 yen for those aged 12 and over
• Parking: 4 spaces in front of Hakoyu (including 1 priority space), and 24 spaces at the Hakoyu and former Horikiri Residence visitor car park, a 3-minute walk away. The Wakabacho car park, the former Iizaka Branch Office car park and the Palse Iizaka car park can also be used free of charge
• Enquiries: 024-542-8188 (former Horikiri Residence) / 024-542-5223 (Hakoyu)
• Official information: the official Fukushima City website pages for the Former Horikiri Residence and Hakoyu (Iizaka Onsen communal bath) / the official former Horikiri Residence website / the official Iizaka Onsen communal baths website (Fukushima City Kanko Kaihatsu Co., Ltd.)

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Hours and fees may change, so please check the official information before you set out.