Kunimi Onsen: Hot Spring Guide & Visitor Access (Iwate)

Rising on a highland about 850 meters above sea level, close to the trailhead of Akita-Komagatake, Kunimi Onsen is a hidden spring celebrated for its strikingly green water. Set at high elevation, it stays wrapped in cool air even in summer. Hikers and lovers of hot springs climb the mountain road in search of this rare colored bath.

Highlights

What catches the eye above all is the emerald-like green of the water. Depending on the weather and sunlight it can appear lemon-toned or deep green, and though clear as it first emerges, it shifts into its distinctive color over time in a way that feels almost mysterious. A sulfur-bearing bicarbonate spring with a strong scent, it is reputed to warm you to the core and draws many who come for its healing qualities. Two inns, Ishizuka Ryokan and Moriyama-so, keep the waters as self-catering healing lodges.

Enjoying the Seasons

On this late-blooming highland, fresh greenery appears in early summer, and the season brings a welcome coolness as a mountain retreat. Autumn offers splendid foliage around Komagatake, pairing hiking with a soak. In winter the road is closed by snow and the spring operates only in the snow-free months.

Access and Basic Information

Set within Towada-Hachimantai National Park in the mountains of Shizukuishi Town, it is about fifty minutes by car from the Morioka interchange on the Tohoku Expressway by way of the national road, up a mountain route. Day bathing is available, and many stop by before or after climbing Akita-Komagatake.

Practical Travel Notes

The green water is rich in sulfur, so to avoid tarnishing it is safer to leave rings, necklaces, and other precious metals behind. At this elevation mornings and evenings turn cold, so bring an extra layer even in summer. In winter the road closes and the inns shut, so always confirm the operating period before you visit. Combining the trip with Akita-Komagatake or the Lake Tazawa area lets you enjoy a full day of highland nature. Budget a few hundred to around a thousand yen for day bathing.

A Quick Tip

The color of the water changes moment by moment with the play of light, so it is a delight to watch it at intervals. If you are not used to mountain driving, planning the round trip during daylight is reassuring.

📚 Sources

This article is based on publicly available information from Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture, and the local tourism association about Kunimi Onsen, publicly released explanations of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park and climbing Akita-Komagatake, and the public information of the inns (Ishizuka Ryokan and Moriyama-so) and on-site guidance. The sulfur-containing bicarbonate spring known for its green water and the fact that operation is limited to the snow-free season are based on such materials, but the operating period and day-use reception vary by year. Operating periods, fees, bathing hours, and access are subject to change, so please check the official information from each inn, the local government, and the tourism association before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: One to two hours for a day-use bath alone; allow a full day if combined with climbing Akita-Komagatake to enjoy the highland nature.
• What to bring / prepare: The elevation is high and mornings and evenings are cool even in summer, so bring a layer; the sulfur content is strong, so remove rings and necklaces and other precious metals to avoid discoloration.
• Bathing notes: The vivid green water changes moment to moment with the light. Viewing it after some time is one of its pleasures.
• Suggested route: Close to the Akita-Komagatake trailhead, pairing it with climbing or the Lake Tazawa area lets you enjoy the highland nature all day.
• Timing and road notes: In winter the road is closed by snow and the inns shut down. Be sure to confirm the operating period before visiting, and if unused to mountain-road driving, aim to travel in daylight.