Kaminoyama Onsen: Hot Spring Guide & Visitor Access

Kaminoyama Onsen, spreading through the castle town of Kaminoyama City, is a historic hot spring said to have been discovered in 1458. Legend holds that a monk from Hizen named Gesshu found a crane healing its injured leg in the water, and in old times it was also called Tsuruhagi-no-yu, the crane-shin spring. Counted among the Three Pleasures of Ou together with Yunohama Onsen and Higashiyama Onsen in Fukushima, its inns line up centered on the Tsukioka district.

Highlights

Five free foot baths are set up here and there in the town, easy to drop by on a stroll. The foot baths are scattered through the castle town near Kaminoyama Castle, at the foot of a bridge, and in the Yumachi area, so you can walk in the mood of a bath tour. Kaminoyama Castle, standing on a low hill, has fine views, and its outlook over the Zao mountain range is a highlight, with the interior open as a local history museum. The castle is also known as Tsukioka Castle, and Tsukioka Park at its foot is famous for cherry blossoms. Being able to walk following the foot baths through the calm streetscape of a castle town is a pleasure unique to this hot spring town.

Seasonal Highlights

In spring, cherry blossoms color the castle grounds and Tsukioka Park; in autumn you can taste the local specialties of Kaminoyama wine and grapes. In winter it has the charm of a snow-viewing bath. Orchards spread around the castle town, and seasonal fruit picking can be enjoyed as well.

Access and Basic Information

It is about a 10-minute walk from Kaminoyama Onsen Station, and since the Yamagata Shinkansen stops here, the location is easy to reach without transfers. The water is a mildly alkaline sodium and calcium chloride and sulfate spring, and the temperature is high, about 63 to 69 degrees Celsius, warming the body well. It is said to be colorless, transparent, and gentle on the skin, so you can enjoy the water along with the atmosphere of a castle town.

Practical Travel Notes

A map for foot-bath rounds is available at the tourist information center, so it is best to stop by first and pick one up. With five free foot baths, walking from the station through the castle town and visiting them in order lets you savor the town's charm in about half a day. The cherry blossoms are usually at their best around late April, and from Tsukioka Park you can also look out over the Zao range. Combining a visit to Kaminoyama Castle with the foot baths and a wine direct-sales shop makes for a full day even on a day trip. Since the Yamagata Shinkansen stops here, it is also convenient as a base for Zao Onsen and Yamadera.

A Word of Advice

A map for foot-bath rounds is available at the tourist information center, so it is best to stop by first and pick one up. Since the sights are gathered within walking distance of the station, having easy-to-walk shoes will make strolling go smoothly. Bringing a towel for the foot baths is handy for drying your feet after each visit.