Tamagawa Onsen (玉川温泉) in Akita Prefecture is a special hot spring resort. It consists of two ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) nestled in the mountains of Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Why is it special? Because it is ranked number one for both the acidity of the spring at pH1.2 and the amount of spring water gushing out […]
Tamagawa Onsen – Japan’s Best Onsen Town for Recuperation Read More »
For anyone out there who wants to be at the summit of a mountain the lazy way but doesn’t want to splurge on some fancy transportation mode (i.e., a gondola lift), check out Mt. Akita-Komagatake (秋田駒ヶ岳) in Akita Prefecture! Although you have to hike a bit longer than Mt. Iwaki in Aomori Prefecture, it only
The Best Guide to Mt. Akita-Komagatake and the Moomin Valley Read More »
Nyūtō Onsen (乳頭温泉郷) is a rural hot spring resort in Akita Prefecture (秋田県) that consists of six ryokans and one hotel, each having its history, style, and spring quality. Listed as one of the 100 Japan Hidden Scenic Spots (日本の秘境100選), the resort is quietly nestled deep in the mountain at the base of Mt. Nyūtō.
Nyūtō Onsen and the 7 Unique Ryokans Deep in the Mountain Read More »
Kyūkamura Nyūtō Onsenkyō (渡假村 乳頭溫泉鄉) is one of the 37 hotels owned by the National Park Resort Chain. Although the hotel itself doesn’t have the secrecy element like the other six ryokans in Nyūtō Onsen, the facilities in Kyūkamura are suitable for families or the elderly due to its level of service, modern facilities, and
Kyūkamura: The Only Western-Style Hotel in Nyūtō Onsen Read More »
If comfortability is more important to you when staying in a hot spring town, consider spending a night at Tae-no-Yu (妙乃湯). The luxurious ryokan offers high-quality service and facility. Soon after you enter this ryokan, you should be able to smell a strong woody aroma from its wooden interior decoration, making it popular amongst female
Tae no Yu and the Luxurious Onsen Experience in Nyūtō Onsen Read More »
If you plan to visit Nyūtō Onsen, one of the top hot spring towns in Akita Prefecture, we highly recommend booking a night with Tsuru no Yu (鶴之湯). It is the oldest ryokan in town and was once a spa for the lords of the Akita domain. Thus, besides the guestrooms and public baths, a
Tsuru no Yu: Nyūtō Onsen’s Oldest But Most Popular Ryokan Read More »
Kakunodate, or Kakunodatemachi (角館町), is a town in Akita Prefecture that is known as “Michinoku no ko Kyoto (みちのくの小京都)”, or “Northeastern’s Little Kyoto”. The town used to be the home of the samurai stationed at Kakunodate Castle back in the Edo period (1603 – 1868). Even now, traces of the presence of the samurai remain
Kakunodate Town – The Little Kyoto of Northeastern Japan Read More »
While Kakunodate isn’t the most well-known cherry blossom destination in the Tōhoku Region, it is highly recommended. In addition to the cherry blossom in the town center, the cherry trees also lined the Kinokinai River (桧木内川) for two kilometers! Moreover, the cherry trees’ foliage also paints the town in vivid color when the temperature starts
The Cherry Blossom and Fall Foliage Spots in Kakunodate Read More »
When people visit Semboku City in Akita Prefecture for leisure, their preferred natural destinations will most likely either be Nyūtō Onsen (乳頭温泉郷), Lake Tazawa (田沢湖), or Tamagawa Onsen (玉川温泉). While those spots are definitely worthwhile places to visit, we would recommend that you also drop by the Dakigaeri Valley (抱返り渓谷) close to Kakunodate (角館) as
Dakigaeri Valley And Its Mystical Turquoise Mountain Stream Read More »
Lake Tazawa (田沢湖) in Semboku City in Akita Prefecture, with a depth of 422.4 meters, is the deepest lake in Japan. The 6 kilometers wide caldera lake was formed due to a volcanic eruption. Because of its depth, the lake can absorb a lot of heat in summer that even in the snowy winter, its
Lake Tazawa – An Unfrozen Beautiful Azure Lake Read More »