Yunohama Onsen: Hot Spring Guide & Visitor Access

Yunohama Onsen, facing the Japan Sea in Tsuruoka City, is an old hot spring said to have been found in the Tenki era (around the mid-11th century) when a turtle was seen bathing on the shore. Counted among the Three Pleasures of Ou together with Kaminoyama Onsen and Higashiyama Onsen in Fukushima, its inns line the coast, and from many rooms and baths you can look out over the horizon. It has long been cherished as a seaside hot spring.

Highlights

The greatest appeal is the sun setting into the Japan Sea. Bathing while gazing at the sea dyed orange is exceptional, and in summer it grows lively as a swimming beach. The town has public bathhouses in the upper and lower districts and a foot bath, and the fresh seafood of the Shonai coast is another pleasure. On the shore stands a monument marking the birthplace of surfing, and it is known as a coast with deep ties to the sport. Making use of its seaside setting, you can enjoy strolling to the sound of the waves.

Seasonal Highlights

Summer brings sea bathing and fireworks, and from autumn into winter you can taste seasonal seafood such as fatty winter cod and rock oysters. The rough Japan Sea in winter is also worth seeing. In the summer swimming season it bustles with families, and in winter, bathing while gazing at the high-waved Japan Sea gains a special charm.

Access and Basic Information

From JR Tsuruoka Station it is about 25 minutes toward Yunohama Onsen by Shonai Kotsu bus. The water is a sodium and calcium chloride spring and a simple spring, colorless and transparent, with a temperature of about 40 to 63 degrees Celsius and said to have a high heat-retaining effect. Water is drawn from several sources, blessing the town with abundant flow. There are two public bathhouses, in the upper and lower districts.

Practical Travel Notes

The time of sunset changes with the season, so it is best to check with your inn and time your bath in a sea-view bath. Combined with nearby sights such as the Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium known for its jellyfish displays, Yura Onsen, and Zenpo-ji temple, you can tour the Japan Sea coast over a full day. Sea bathing is only in summer, and seasonal seafood such as rock oysters and winter cod is limited in season, so choosing the season you wish to taste raises the satisfaction. Shonai Airport is also nearby, so using a plane makes access from the metropolitan area convenient.

A Word of Advice

The time of sunset changes with the season, so it is best to check with your inn and time your bath in a sea-view bath. Since the Japan Sea in winter can have windy days, having a windproof layer makes a shoreline stroll more comfortable. If you are aiming for the sunset, look up the sunset time in advance and head to the bath with time to spare.