One of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is the local cuisine, the spectacular scenery that changes with the seasons, and of course, the 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 local people for a long time? 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 "Yumori"?
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.
Hachimantai Gosegake Onsen Ryokan, a therapeutic hot spring surrounded by the natural beauty of Hachimantai
In this seventh installment of our series "Ask a Yumori-no-Morin about the Charms of Local Hot Springs," we introduce Hachimantai Goshogake Onsen Ryokan in Akita Prefecture, where you can enjoy a hot spring bath with the power of Goshogake Onsen. We interviewed Mr. Abe, the hot spring guardian.
Koshokake Onsen overflowing with the energy of the earth
Exterior view Summer What kind of scenery and nature surrounds the ryokan?
Mr. Abe, the Yumamori "Our inn is about 1,000 meters above sea level, surrounded by beech and other forests, where you can enjoy the seasonal scenery of Hachimantai National Park, such as fresh greenery, autumn leaves, and a variety of alpine plants. The area around Kosaikake is one of the most volcanically active areas in Hachimantai, with one of the largest mud volcanoes in Japan, the ever-expanding Oyunuma Swamp, and the Oname Motome, a hot spring with a violent mound, providing an energetic environment where visitors can experience the overflowing energy of the earth up close. A course that circles these areas is maintained as the Gojo-kake Nature Study Path, and visitors can walk along it from early June to late October every year.
The most popular is "Mud Bath" which contains a lot of mud.
Large Public Bath Please tell us about the unique hot spring water and its features and attractions, especially the geothermal power of Gojo-kake Onsen.
Mr. Abe, the hot spring guardian "Our hot spring has grayish-white murky water that contains a lot of mud. The most popular is the "mud bath," which has an excellent effect of warming compresses for the whole body and beautifying the skin. By taking a half-body bath slowly while soaking your skin in the fine mud rich in ingredients from the source, you can warm the affected area gradually like a warm compress, and your skin will feel smooth. Because the mud is thick from the source, those with sensitive skin are advised to try a small amount for a short time.
What is the charm of "Goshogake Ondol," which utilizes natural heat?
Ondol The small baths and ondol (Korean-style wooden flooring) rooms with hot spring water flowing from the source as well as the large baths are also unique. I think it is rare to find a hot spring ryokan with ondol rooms. Please tell us about its charm and how to enjoy it.
Abe Abe, Yumamori "Ondol" is a system in which rooms are heated from the floor up by the abundant geothermal heat and natural steam in the surrounding area. Since everything is heated by natural heat, the facility is friendly to both people and the environment. The temperature inside ondol rooms is over 30°C year-round. The floor is warmed by geothermal heat and steam from the wooden gutters, and the moderate humidity of the room, which contains hot spring water, allows visitors to enjoy a similar effect to that of taking a bath for an extended period of time. In order to let more people know and experience the benefits of Ondol, we have opened "Ondol Mohegi" as a space for day-trippers and ryokan guests to experience Ondol. Please come and experience it for yourself. Black egg
The pleasant hot spring is protected by the hands of the hot spring guardians!
The large bathhouse has various types of hot spring water, and with a small bathhouse and ondol, it must be complicated to manage the hot spring water.
Mr. Abe, the bath keeper "All of the hot spring water and steam used for the hot springs and ondol are naturally flowing and gushing out, so the temperature is not always constant. They are also affected by climate and weather conditions such as temperature, rainfall, snowfall, and so on. It is difficult to achieve perfection because we are dealing with nature, but we do our best to adjust and manage our facilities to make them as comfortable and pleasant to use as possible."
The meal that you can feel Akita, "Kiritanpo" is a must-try!
Dinner (image) The meals are also very appealing, with a lineup of seasonal dishes made with local ingredients! Please tell us about the points you are particular about and the reactions of your customers.
Abe Yumori "Here in Kazuno, we are the birthplace of kiritanpo. The Kiritanpo hot pot made with our chef's homemade Hinai Jidori chicken soup and "tampo," which we buy fresh every morning, is very popular and is now served all year round. The Hachimantai area is a treasure trove of natural blessings. In addition to tempura and soaked vegetables, seasonal wild vegetables and wild plants are sometimes steamed or grilled. The "kenge-wappa" made of Akita cedar, a specialty of the neighboring city of Odate, is both functional and pretty. Please enjoy the dishes as well. Popular Kiritanpo hot pot (image)
Gosegake Onsen continues to heal many people as a therapeutic hot spring.
The history of the hotel can be felt in the fact that it is not only a regular ryokan but also has a hot-spring cure section. Please tell us about the charm of a hot-spring cure at Goseikake Onsen.
Abe Abe, the bath keeper: "As the phrase, 'Come on horseback, return on geta,' (a person who comes here on horseback because of physical or mental problems will be cured after a long soak in the hot water and recuperation, so much so that he/she will return on the mountain path wearing geta), goes, Gosegake Onsen has been a popular hot spring for about 300 years for people from the surrounding areas to cure illness and injury. It is said that this hot spring has been popular as a therapeutic hot spring for people in the surrounding area for about 300 years. The hot spring, ondol, and the rich natural surroundings are all part of the traditional healing environment. I believe that the combination of these factors is the reason why this area has been popular as a therapeutic hot spring since long ago.
Cafes and original souvenirs are also worth a visit!
Mud pack Mud soap While there are aspects of the spa that remind us of its history, I also get the impression that the spa is actively involved in new initiatives, such as a fashionable café and the sale of original products using mud from the hot spring! What do you recommend and how did you come about it?
Abe Yumori "Last year, the old dining hall was renovated into the Gosho Cafe. This spring, we opened the Ondol place, Moegi. We wanted to maintain the historic hot spring and make it an inn that people of all ages can enjoy and become familiar with. Soba rice ball set Burger set Mr. Abe, Yumamori "At the cafe, we recommend the black Gosho-Cafe burger made with local Hachimantai pork, medicinal curry with onsen eggs boiled in our onsen, and wappa soba noodles made with magewappa, a type of buckwheat noodles with a unique sauce made from Hinai chicken used in Kiritanpo (a traditional Japanese soup stock).
The original "Mud Soap" and "Mud Pack" sold at the store are kneaded with mud from the source and are popular as souvenirs. (Left)Interior view of Gosho Cafe (Right)Interior view of the store
Yumori-no-Mori's Recommendations How to spend summer and autumn?
How do you expect things to change around the ryokan in the coming summer and fall seasons? Also, what are your recommendations for spending time in the area?
Mr. Abe, Yumori "From now through summer, alpine flora is in full bloom. Onuma, which is not far from the inn, is one of Hachimantai's most famous spots for alpine flora. Together with the Gosegake Nature Study Trail, it is an ideal walking course. Autumn foliage is from early to mid-October. This is the most beautiful and lively season of the year in Hachimantai. We also recommend a short stay in a hot-spring cure, such as a short stroll in the area to work up a sweat in fine weather, and a morning, afternoon, and evening hot-spring bath and ondol experience in the event of rain. (Left)Interior image of the building (Right)Example of a guest room 8 tatami Japanese-style room
Recharge your energy with the power of Gosegake Onsen!
What did you think? In this article, we asked about "Hachimantai Goshogake Onsen Ryokan" in detail. Please visit Hachimantai Goshogake Onsen Ryokan, where you can fully enjoy the benefits of the hot spring and the power of the earth, and experience a hot-spring cure. Small bath
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In the Hachimantai Aza Kumazawa National Forest, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture
Access
From Tazawako Station, take the bus bound for Kazuno Hanawa Station (approx. 1 hr. 42 min.),
Get off at the Aspite Line entrance, About 10 minutes by the facility's shuttle bus (reservation required)
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.
Next time
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 and beyond. For more information about "Ji-onsen", please click the link below.JR East HP "Places and Onsen" Interviewed by: Hachimantaira Goshogake Onsen Ryokan
