Time Travel with Spirited Away: Ginzan Onsen’s Enchanting Charm Revealed

Japan is home to countless hot springs. It is a beloved destination for hot spring enthusiasts, offering a myriad of different hot springs. Among them, I would like to introduce the hot spring town of Yamagata Prefecture in the northern Tohoku region.

To visit Yamagata, you must take the JR Yamagata Shinkansen “Tsubasa” from Tokyo Station and travel for about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The hot spring village in Yamagata Prefecture is not well-known to foreign tourists. However, it is a beloved local hot spring where you can enjoy a tranquil atmosphere.

One of the most representative hot springs in Yamagata Prefecture is Ginzan Onsen. It is also the most famous hot spring village in Yamagata. About 500 years ago, miners who were mining silver discovered it. Wooden inns started to appear along the river in the 1920s, establishing itself as a hot spring destination.

Ginzan Onsen is mainly famous for being the setting for Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. In Ginzan Onsen, we recommend spending a day staying at a traditional ryokan. It’s an impressive place with scenery that makes you feel like you’ve taken a time machine back to the past.

Notoya Ryokan in Ginzan Onsen is one of the most famous inns. It is the first inn you see when you arrive at Ginzan Onsen. You can also use the free footbath and public bath in the hot spring village.

Hijiori Onsen is a hot spring located in the mountains of northern Yamagata. It is a remote place where you can enjoy the untouched natural landscape. This place is a hot spring with a history of over 1200 years. There are hot spring inns opened by local farmers about 300 years ago and 20 resorts run by families. There are no chain hotels to be found.

At Hijiori Onsen, you can enjoy the rustic scenery of the hot spring village and glimpse the coziness of the morning market, which opens at 5:30 am.5:30 am:30 am is famous for its excellent-efficacy hot spring water.

It takes a long time to visit Hijiori Onsen from Tokyo. You must take the JR Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa from JR Tokyo Station to JR Shinjo Station for about 3 hours and 30 minutes. After getting off, you must take a direct bus to Hijiori Onsen Machiaijo Bus Terminal on the Hijiori Yukemuri Line.

It is where you can feel the traditional hot spring atmosphere, even in Japan.

Atsumi Onsen is the only hot spring village located in the coastal area of Yamagata. It has a long tradition and is located on the Atsumi River. It started to develop as a hot spring resort in the early 1600s and has established itself as one of Japan’s representative hot springs.

When spring comes, flowers bloom from over 300 cherry trees along both sides of the Atsumi River. The cherry blossoms in full bloom stand out in the elegant scenery. You can enjoy the cherry blossoms and use the free foot bath along the river. At night, lights are added, allowing you to enjoy an even more beautiful night view of cherry blossoms.

Various inns are located in Atsumi Onsen village. You will find a great atmosphere and facilities anywhere, making it an excellent place to rest. Fresh seafood is offered for breakfast and dinner, which satisfies the guests.

Yunohama Onsen is a hot spring resort with inns in front of the sea. This place was selected as one of the Top 100 Sunsets in Japan, offering a breathtaking sunset view. Thanks to the vast Yunohama coastline, it’s also great for walking along the sea. At an inn in Yunohama Onsen, you can enjoy fresh seasonal seafood.

You can spend a day in a traditional inn in a beautiful hot spring village overlooking the sea. It’s a place where you can enjoy the open sea and hot springs in one place. Yunohama Onsen is a popular tourist destination among locals.

Zao Onsen is located between the mountains of Yamagata and Miyagi Prefecture. This area is famous for skiing, attracting many tourists in winter. If you visit in winter, you can enjoy skiing and hot springs simultaneously. Zao Hot Springs is renowned for its rich mineral content, relieving fatigue and beautifying skin.

Zao Onsen has a public bath. Three places offer public baths from 6 am to 10 pm. T66 ame i110 pm4 for adults and 400 yen for children, so you can enjoy it without any burden. You can also stay in a Japanese-style inn at Zao Onsen.