Ginzan Onsen (Ginzan Hot Spring), Yamagata

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Here are some recommended hot springs for those who are busy with hardly have time to relax days. Ginzan Onsen is located in Yamagata Prefecture. One of the attractions of Ginzan Onsen is the retro feeling of the whole city that can never be felt in the urban bath and spa.
Obanazawa City is located in the northeastern part of Yamagata Prefecture. There is “Ginzan Onsen” in the mountains where you drive a car about 15km west of the city center. A small hot spring town where Western-style wooden multi-layered inns built from the end of the Taisho era to the early Showa era lined up along the banks of the Ginzan River. Not only the building but also the street gas lights and stone pavement, the entire hot spring town is full of “Taisho Roman” and makes you feel nostalgic.
Not only hot springs and dishes, but also the surrounding nature, calm cityscapes, street lamps lined up in the city, each one away from the hustle and bustle of each day, will slowly heal fatigue. If you are healed in the hot springs, why not enjoy the town where there is a feeling.
The recommended tourist spot for enjoying Ginzan Onsen is “Warashiyu” (footbath). When you arrive at Ginzan Onsen, Warashiyu wants you to stop by right away. Warashiyu is a footbath that you can enjoy while gazing at the cityscape as if you were traveling back to the Taisho period. First of all, when you arrive at Ginzan Onsen, let’s relieve your tired feet on your journey. The footbath is free, so you can take a rest slowly. In addition, the scenery of Warashiyu changes greatly between daytime and night. After the sun goes down, the streets lit by lighted lamps are scenery that you can’t taste in the city.
As its name suggests, “Ginzan Onsen” (Ginzan means Silver Miner) is derived from the name “Nobesawa Ginzan”, which prospered as a large silver mine in the early Edo period. In this area where the mine was prosperous, people from various occupations gathered from all over the country, and the town was formed.
The hot spring was discovered around 1600. Eventually, the silver mine declined, but some miners remained on the land and started running “toji inn” (hot spring therapy). Later, it was hit by a natural disaster, but it was reconstructed as a hot spring resort like the present day in the early Showa era.
Introducing access to Ginzan Onsen. Take the Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Oishida Station. Go to Ginzan Onsen from Japan Railway Oishida Station by bonnet bus. This bus has a retro look and has a red carpet inside. You will be excited to imagine what Taisho romance will be before you get to Ginzan Onsen while being swayed by a bus. This is a regular bus that does not require a reservation. You will reach Ginzan Onsen in about 40 minutes.

Many tourist attractions that make you feel the history

“Ginzan Onsen” (Ginzan Hot Spring) where wooden inns built from the end of Taisho to the early Showa era is a popular tourist spot as a retro hot-spring town. There are many tourist attractions that make you feel the history around “Ginzan Onsen” which once had a history of being crowded as a silver mining site. In addition, there are many spots where you can enjoy nature because it is a rich natural land.
This place boasts a deep-rooted popularity as a retro hot-spring town feeling somewhere nostalgic, and it can catch traveling that can not be easily tasted elsewhere.

It was Edo period when Ginzan Onsen opened. People who work at Nobesawa Silver Mine, which was once in this place, are said to be beginning to discover a hot spring that springs into the silver mine. After that, silver mine closed down, but Ginzan Onsen became popular as a hot spring resort. However, during the Taisho Period, the Ginzan Onsen was hit by the flood. Many of the hot spring accommodations have been swept away, the amount of spas discharged dramatically, once it has been closed. However, due to the efforts of local people, a large-scale boring survey was conducted at the beginning of Showa era, and a large amount of hot water was discharged. As a result, Ginzan Onsen has revived as a popular hot spring resort like the present. In addition the inns have been renovated from a traditional three-storied building to a four-story wooden high-rise building, and the romantic cityscape became popular.
There are places of interest other than hot springs. You can enjoy soft drinks with Japanese sweets etc. at sweet dishes “Haikarasan street” in Ginzan hot-spring town. In addition, ramen, soba, curry rice etc. are prepared, and it is also possible to take a relaxing meal. Please enjoy delicious sweets and drinks in a retro style shop suitable for Ginzan hot spring.

Feel nostalgia

The “Ginzan Onsen” (Silver Mine Hot Spring) in Obanazawa-shi, Yamagata is said that it has became a model of “Spirited Away” which is the Japanese famous animated film. A wonderful hot-spring resort feeling nostalgia is spreading out in “Ginzan Onsen”.

Travel back to the Taisho period

This place is a hot spring resorts having good taste that seemed to travel back in time to the Taisho period.
It is famous for a lot of snow and a watermelon of noted product, and known the place where the TV series of “Oshin” was shot. The wooden multilayered hotels form a line and gaslights is burning, it is the place where everyone wants to try to go once.

Lined with historical wooden hotels

Ginzan Onsen is among the green. Along the both sides of the “Ginzan Gawa” (Silver Mine River) flowing through the center of the town are lined with historical wooden hotels which was built from last years of Taisho era to early in the Showa era.

There are many highlights

A vein of silver was discovered in the 16th century, and the Ginzan prospered as “Kogi Yama” (Shogunate Mountain) in the Edo era. It attracts attention now as a hot-spring resort. There are many highlights in the calm and stately cityscape, so people come throughout the year.

Each hotel is lighted up beautifully

Each hotel is lighted up beautifully, too. The contrast with warm color of light and housing parts of the historical wooden building is splendid. Don’t you think it is splendid experience to soak in the hot spring at night while looking at the town with this light?

Information

Name:	Ginzan Onsen (Ginzan Hot Spring)
Adresse:	Ginzanshinhata Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333 Japan
Access:	JR Ohu-honsen Line “Ooishida-eki Station” (30 minutes by car)
Tel:	(+81) 237-28-3933 (Ginzan Onsen Information Desk)
Price / Charge:	There are various hot spring inns, please refer the official web page for details.
Official site:	http://www.ginzanonsen.jp