Akita Prefecture 【Doroyu Hot Spring Okuyama Ryokan】Part 5: The charm of "places and hot springs" according to the guardian of a hot spring

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The charm of "THE ONSEN" is revealed!

One of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is the local cuisine, the spectacular scenery that changes with the seasons, and of course, the onsen (hot springs)! Did you know that there are many hot springs in eastern Japan that are called "ji-onsen," or "local hot springs," and have been loved by locals for centuries? Once used as therapeutic hot spring baths, and even today there are many hot spring resorts that continue to heal people. We will introduce the charms of "local hot springs" that warm the body and soul in the form of an interview!

What is a "Yumamori"?

The word "yumori" means "guardian of hot spring water. In other words, a "yumori" is a caretaker of a hot spring. They are in charge of controlling the amount and temperature of the hot water. The traditional hot spring baths that have taken root in each area and are the pride of the yumori of the "local hot springs" introduced in this project have been protected by them throughout their long history.

Doroyu Onsen Okuyama Ryokan, a secluded hot spring in Akita Prefecture, where the legend of the Tengu (Japanese goblin) still remains.

In this fifth installment of our series, "Ask a Yumori-Manager about the Charms of Local Hot Springs," we introduce you to Okuyama Ryokan in Akita Prefecture's Doroyu Hot Springs. We interviewed Mr. Okuyama, the hot spring guardian.

Enjoy the rich nature of Kurikoma Quasi-National Park and experience the changing of the seasons.

Okuyama Ryokan Exterior
Okuyama Ryokan is located in Kurikoma National Park. Surrounded by abundant nature, I imagine there are various views to be enjoyed in each of the four seasons.

Yumori Okuyama
"In spring, it's the fresh greenery. In spring, fresh green leaves appear, just around May, and the mountains turn green with bright green leaves. In autumn, the leaves turn red, which can be seen from the ryokan in mid-October, and the mountains on the way to the ryokan are a must-see. In winter, the mountains look like an ink painting in a silver world, and the trees look fantastic. On a clear day, the sun reflects off the snow and shines brightly.
(Left) Autumn leaves in fall (Right) Snowy scene in winter

Enjoy hot springs from three different sources

Okuyama Ryokan has three different sources of hot spring water, each with its own unique characteristics.

Yumori Okuyama
"All three of our hot springs are naturally gushing, and we have three sources: "Tengu no Yu", "Kawanoyu", and "Arayu". Tengu no Yu" is the source of the men's and women's indoor baths and the mixed bathing open-air baths, and it is a simple sulfur spring. It is mildly acidic, but a little more acidic than the others, and the water itself is characterized by its slightly grayish-white color. The source of the women's open-air bath is "Kawayu," a simple sulfur spring (hydrogen sulfide type). It is the oldest source of hot spring in the hotel and warms the water very much. All three types of hot springs have different qualities, and we hope you will enjoy the differences between them.

The origin of "Tengu no Yu

Mixed bathing open-air bath of "Tengu no Yu
I heard that there is a legend about Tengu no Yu. What is the story?

Yumamori Okuyama
"A long time ago, a maiden was suffering from an illness and wanted to soak in the hot spring, but she was too shy to do so because the water was too clear. The maiden was so happy to soak in the hot spring, and it is said that she recovered and was cured day by day.

Star gazing in the large open-air bath on a clear night

Large open-air bath
The difference in the source of the hot spring water is of course appealing, but so is the fact that each bathtub has its own unique flavor. Can you tell us about the highlights of each one?

Yumori Okuyama
"The open-air baths for mixed bathing are covered so that they can be used even in winter. There is a river flowing in front of the baths, so you can bathe while listening to the murmuring of the river. The large open-air bath is uncovered, so you can enjoy the view of the mountain trees during the day and the star-filled sky on a clear night.

Is there anything difficult about managing the hot water?

Yumori Okuyama
"Muddy hot spring water is muddy, but the spores of the hot water easily clog up the source, so we have to periodically remove the spores called "mud lifting. The "hot spring source of Niiyu" used for the large open-air bath is located in the mountains, so we go into the mountains to check the source the day after a heavy rain.
The hot spring is alive and changes daily depending on the temperature and climate of the day, and we do our best to ensure that you are bathing in a hot spring that is 100 percent spring water."

The inn is filled with traditional Akita crafts!

Lobby
The building itself is new, but it has a lovely old house-like atmosphere. What are some of the highlights of the museum and what are your specialties?

Yumori Okuyama
"As for the highlights of the inn, we place great importance on local products. The lobby, dining room, and guest rooms are furnished with Akita woodwork and Kawaren-nuri furniture so that guests can experience the traditional crafts of Akita and Yuzawa."

The fantastic brand beef "Minase Beef" will surely satisfy your hunger!

Dinner (image)
I hear that you serve meals that use a lot of local ingredients.

Yumori Okuyama
"We serve a fantastic brand of beef called "Minase Beef," of which there is only one producer. It has the original flavor and sweetness of meat, but the fatty part is light and has a good aftertaste, and it is well received by everyone from children to the elderly as being very easy to eat. We also offer nabe dishes using seasonal wild vegetables in the spring and mushrooms in the fall. In particular, our apple gratin, available only in winter, is also very popular.
Breakfast (image)

Yumoro-no-sho's specialties

Open-air bath for women
Lastly, what are Yumori's specialties and recommendations, and what is your message to customers?

Yumori Okuyama
"We do not have TVs or refrigerators in our rooms because the strong sulfur spring water causes appliances to break down easily, but we are located in Kurikoma National Park surrounded by nature and the air is clean, so from summer to autumn you can enjoy the star-filled sky while soaking in our large open-air bath.
We also take thorough infection control measures to ensure that our guests can stay in our hotel with peace of mind. Please come and heal your tired body in the famous hot spring surrounded by nature. We look forward to welcoming you with our cheerful and motivated staff.

Why don't you heal your body and soul with the blessings of the earth, "mud baths"?

How was it? In this article, we asked you about "Muddy Spring Okuyama Ryokan" in detail. Soaking in the rich mud baths and gazing up at the star-filled night sky will soothe your body and soul. Please visit Okuyama Ryokan and enjoy the rich natural environment of Kurikoma National Park.

◆Next notice

We will continue to bring you the charms of eastern Japan's "local hot springs" in our series, "The Charms of Local Hot Springs"! Please look forward to the next installment.
If you would like to know more about "Ji-onsen", please click the link below.
JR East HP "Chi/onsen" (Japanese only)

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