A secret hot spring accessible from Zao: The charm of Naruko Onsen (Onikobe), one of the three most famous hot springs in Oshu

• Table of Contents
• A review of the charms of Zao, a place of healing in the great outdoors
• Another relaxing spot near Zao: Naruko Onsen
• 2 Activities You Can Enjoy at Naruko Onsen
• Savor the local flavors! 5 gourmet choices in Naruko Onsen
• How to get to Naruko Onsen
• If you're staying at Naruko Onsen, enjoy a special stay at Hotel WAMARE Onikobe

A review of the charms of Zao, a place of healing in the great outdoors

Zao is a tourist destination with a long history nurtured by nature. From summer to autumn, trekking and leaf-viewing are popular activities, and in winter it is a famous winter sports spot for skiing, snowboarding, and other activities.

Zao Onsen, which has a long history dating back more than 1900 years, is also a popular tourist spot. The symbol of Zao is the crater lake "Okama", surrounded by the Zao mountain range. The emerald green lake is so captivating that you will be drawn in just by looking at it.

Another relaxing spot near Zao: Naruko Onsen

Another healing spot around Zao is Naruko Onsen, one of the three great hot springs in Oshu. Naruko Onsen first opened in 837 AD and has a history of over 1,000 years. It is also famous for the legend of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Matsuo Basho's "Oku no Hosomichi."

On this page, we will introduce two of the attractions of Naruko Onsen.

Advantage #1: Enjoy five hot spring resorts at once

Naruko Onsenkyo is a collective name for the following five hot spring areas:

● Naruko Onsen

● Nakayamadaira Onsen

● Higashi Naruko Onsen

● Kawado Onsen

● Onikobe Onsen

The appeal of Naruko Onsen is that you can enjoy all five of these hot spring resorts at once.

Naruko Onsenkyo has around 370 hot springs, with seven of the ten types of spring quality classified under Japan's new spring quality classification.

Attraction 2: Experience the grandeur of nature

One of the great attractions of Naruko Onsen is being able to experience the grandeur of nature. Naruko Onsen has many beautiful spots, including Naruko Gorge, famous for its magnificent 360-degree panorama, Shiraito Falls, known for its beauty resembling white threads, and Kawado Promenade, where you can enjoy seasonal flowers and bird songs.

There are also many tourist attractions unique to hot spring resorts, such as Benten, which shoots up hot water geysers up to a height of 15 meters, and Katayama Jigoku, where steam spews out.

2 Activities You Can Enjoy at Naruko Onsen

Naruko Onsen, with its long history and rich nature, offers a variety of leisure activities that make the most of the region's characteristics.

Here we will introduce two of the most popular activities that you can enjoy at Naruko Onsen.

Activity 1: Blueberry picking at a tourist farm

Blueberries are widely cultivated in Naruko Onsen, and there are blueberry farms and fruit workshops within the town, including one where you can experience picking and eating as many blueberries as you like.

Bottled blueberry jam is a known specialty of Naruko and is one of the most popular souvenirs sold in souvenir shops.

Activity 2: Outdoor activities at Onikobe Ski Resort

For those who want to enjoy the outdoors, Onikobe Ski Resort is also popular, where you can exercise while enjoying the nature of the four seasons. During the green season from April to November, you can enjoy cycling, go-karting, paragliding, putt-putt golf, and more.

During the winter season from December to March, skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports become popular. It is a popular spot with tourists as it has a variety of challenging courses for beginners and families with children, as well as intermediate and advanced skiers.

Savor the local flavors! 5 gourmet choices in Naruko Onsen

We will introduce five gourmet dishes from Naruko Onsen that are representative of the local flavors.

● Chestnut dumplings

● Shiso rolls

● Blueberry jam

● Low-malt beer "Naruko no Kaze"

● Doburoku "Yukimusubi"

At Naruko Onsen, you can enjoy a wide variety of gourmet foods, from sweet treats to dry alcoholic drinks, so many people will be satisfied, regardless of age or gender.

How to get to Naruko Onsen

[Shinkansen (from Tokyo)]

Tokyo - [Tohoku Shinkansen] - Sendai - [Tohoku Shinkansen] - Furukawa - [Rikuu East Line Rapid] - Naruko Onsen

[By car (from Urawa IC)]

Urawa IC - [Tohoku Expressway] - Sendai IC - [Tohoku Expressway] - Furukawa IC - [National Route 47] - Naruko Onsen

[By plane (Sendai Airport)]

Sendai Airport - [Sendai Airport Access Railway] - Sendai - [Tohoku Shinkansen] - Furukawa - [Rikuuto Line Rapid] - Naruko Onsen

[By plane (Yamagata Airport)]

Yamagata Airport - [Taxi] - Tendo - [Yamagata Shinkansen] - Shinjo - [Rikuuto Line] - Naruko Onsen

Please note that the schedule may change depending on the operation status, weather, and traffic conditions on the day. Night buses to Furukawa Station also depart from the Yaesu South Exit of JR Tokyo Station.

If you're staying at Naruko Onsen, enjoy a special stay at Hotel WAMARE Onikobe

Hotel WAMARE Onikobe in Onikobe is a ryokan where you can rent out the entire building, so it has the appeal of allowing you to spend a relaxing time with your family or friends without having to worry about the other guests.

The building's concept is "modern Japanese," so even those familiar with foreign cultures can enjoy Japanese culture in a modern space that is easy to use. There are five Japanese-style rooms with different styles available for guests to stay in, so you can choose the room you like.

It is also popular with long-term foreign visitors to Japan, as it has a kitchen space for long-term stays and a space to enjoy barbecues. If you would like to spend some relaxing time with your close friends, why not consider staying at Hotel WAMARE Onikobe?