Takanoyu Onsen
Encyclopedia
Takanoyu Onsen
(♨鷹の湯温泉) is one of several hot spring resorts in the Akinomiya Hot Spring Resort area of Yuzawa
, a town in southern Akita Prefecture
. The onsen is nestled in a small gorge along the banks of the Yakunai River. Because of its secluded location, it is referred to as a Hitou, or hidden hot spring.
Takanoyu Onsen has its own hot spring, which wells up directly adjacent to the inn on the east bank of the Yakunai River. The water temperature at the spring source is 72°C (162°F). Only about ten percent of all hot spring facilities in Japan have water flowing directly from their own environmentally safe and pure source as recommended by the Japan Offspring Fund. Its medicinal benefits are recommended for neuralgia, rheumatism, and skin disorders.
(足湯). There are three, mixed bathing
indoor baths of varying temperature, one of which a person can soak standing up in water 130 cm deep, and a women's bath. There are three mixed bathing rotenburo, one of which is located on the bank of the Yakunai River, and a women's rotenburo. All the rotenburo are roofed, except the one on the river bank.
and sleeps in a futon
on tatami mats. Onsen food is typically Kaiseki
style that reflects the season and region. In Akita Prefecture, the inns typically serve sansai
, or local wild vegetables, wild and cultivated mushrooms, and grilled mountain stream trout for dinner, and onsen tamago for breakfast.
.
Akinomiya and southern Akita Prefecture are also accessible by rail. Yokobori Station
is served by the JR East Ōu Main Line
serving Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima Prefectures. From Tokyo, southern Akita is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen
(Furukawa Station
) or the Yamagata Shinkansen
(Shinjo Station
).
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
(♨鷹の湯温泉) is one of several hot spring resorts in the Akinomiya Hot Spring Resort area of Yuzawa
Yuzawa, Akita
is a city located in Akita, Japan. In 2011 the city had an estimated population of 50,902. The total area was 790.72 km².- History :The city was founded on March 31, 1954....
, a town in southern Akita Prefecture
Akita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....
. The onsen is nestled in a small gorge along the banks of the Yakunai River. Because of its secluded location, it is referred to as a Hitou, or hidden hot spring.
History
Legend has it that the Akinomiya Hot Springs, the oldest in Akita Prefecture, were found 1,200 years ago. Local legend also has it that Takanoyu, or Falcon's Hot Spring, got its name when a falcon led a hunter to the spring, giving the onsen its eponymous name. The onsens in Akinomiya were officially recognized by the Akita Clan in the Edo period (1603–1868).Water quality
The various hot springs in the immediate area are referred to as the Akinomiya Geothermal Area and are situated along the western base of Mount Kurikoma.Takanoyu Onsen has its own hot spring, which wells up directly adjacent to the inn on the east bank of the Yakunai River. The water temperature at the spring source is 72°C (162°F). Only about ten percent of all hot spring facilities in Japan have water flowing directly from their own environmentally safe and pure source as recommended by the Japan Offspring Fund. Its medicinal benefits are recommended for neuralgia, rheumatism, and skin disorders.
Baths
Takanoyu has indoor baths, or ofuro (お風呂), outdoor baths, or rotenburo (露天風呂), and a foot bath, or ashiyuAshiyu
An ' is a Japanese public bath where people can bathe their feet. The majority of ashiyu are free.- External links :*...
(足湯). There are three, mixed bathing
Mixed bathing
Mixed bathing is a term that refers to members of the opposite gender swimming together in the same pool. In ancient Rome, mixed bathing was never the rule in public installations, although it did occur in private facilities. Today, in Japan, the practice is not common...
indoor baths of varying temperature, one of which a person can soak standing up in water 130 cm deep, and a women's bath. There are three mixed bathing rotenburo, one of which is located on the bank of the Yakunai River, and a women's rotenburo. All the rotenburo are roofed, except the one on the river bank.
Onsen culture
Besides soaking in a spring fed ofuro, visiting an onsen provides an opportunity to experience several aspects of traditional Japanese culture, including the Japanese love of nature. Many hot springs are located in rural mountainous areas, and visiting an onsen allows one to leave the city and commune with nature throughout the four seasons, especially in the fall when trees are ablaze in color. Onsen inns are typically in the traditional Japanese ryokan (Japanese inn) style where one dons a yukataYukata
A is a Japanese garment, a casual summer kimono usually made of cotton. People wearing yukata are a common sight in Japan at fireworks displays, bon-odori festivals, and other summer events. The yukata is also frequently worn after bathing at traditional Japanese inns...
and sleeps in a futon
Futon
Futon is an English word derived from Japanese , a term generally referring to the traditional style of Japanese bedding consisting of padded mattresses and quilts pliable enough to be folded and stored away during the day, allowing the room to serve for purposes other than as a bedroom...
on tatami mats. Onsen food is typically Kaiseki
Kaiseki
or is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner. The term also refers to the collection of skills and techniques that allow the preparation of such meals, and are analogous to Western haute cuisine....
style that reflects the season and region. In Akita Prefecture, the inns typically serve sansai
Sansai
is a Japanese word literally meaning "mountain vegetables", originally referring to vegetables that grew naturally in the wild and were not cultivated. However in modern times, the distinction is somewhat blurred, as some sansai such as warabi have been successfully cultivated...
, or local wild vegetables, wild and cultivated mushrooms, and grilled mountain stream trout for dinner, and onsen tamago for breakfast.
Transportation
Akinomiya is located on highway route 108 approximately 30 minutes by car south from Yokobori, Akita, or 45 minutes by car north from Naruko, MiyagiNaruko, Miyagi
is a former town located in Tamatsukuri District, Miyagi, Japan.On March 31, 2006, Naruko was merged with the town of Iwadeyama, from Tamatsukuri District, the towns of Kashimadai, Matsuyama and Sanbongi, all from Shida District, the town of Tajiri, from Tōda District, and the city of Furukawa to...
.
Akinomiya and southern Akita Prefecture are also accessible by rail. Yokobori Station
Yokobori Station
is a JR East railway station located in southern Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, Japan.-Surrounding area:Yokobori is home to the Komachido temple. This celebrates the female poet of the Heian Period, Ono no Komachi, who died here...
is served by the JR East Ōu Main Line
Ou Main Line
The is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It runs from Fukushima Station in Fukushima, Fukushima through Akita Station in Akita, Akita to Aomori Station in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture...
serving Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima Prefectures. From Tokyo, southern Akita is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
(Furukawa Station
Furukawa Station
is an East Japan Railway Company railway station located in Ōsaki, Miyagi, Japan.-History:*April 20, 1913: Station is opened.*June 11, 1915: Station name is changed to Rikuzen-Furukawa Station....
) or the Yamagata Shinkansen
Yamagata Shinkansen
The is a Mini-shinkansen route in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It provides service between Tokyo and Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture over the tracks of the Tōhoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line....
(Shinjo Station
Shinjo Station
is a JR East railway station located in Shinjō, Yamagata, Japan.-History:*1903-06-11: Station begins operation.*1913-12-07: Ōu Line service towards Ōmagari is started.*1915-11-01: Ōu Line service towards Fukushima is started....
).