1. Atsumi Onsen, a hot spring that has been preserved and passed down since ancient times

Atsumi Onsen has been loved and protected by people throughout its long history.

During the Edo period, it flourished as a hot spring resort for the Shonai domain, and the hot spring town we know today was established.

It is said that the name Atsumi Onsen comes from the fact that long ago, the Sea of Japan was warmed by hot water gushing out of the Atsumi River.

Even though I only spent a short time in the footbath, I felt like my body continued to feel warm!

We’ll introduce our recommended footbath spots in more detail later!

① Public bath

Atsumi Onsen has three public baths that are popular with locals.

Anyone can use the Shomen-yu and Shimo-yu baths for a contribution of 300 yen, and the Yunosato Public Bath for a contribution of 200 yen.

The signboard in front of the bathhouse was written by the 28th sumo referee, Kimura Shonosuke, who was born in Tsuruoka City.

The hot spring is a natural hot spring, and the water is a little hot. I would definitely like to try it next time.

② Accommodations that offer day trip baths

Atsumi Onsen also has inns that offer day trip bathing, so you can get a taste of the inn atmosphere even if you’re not staying overnight.

This time, we will introduce three of these inns.

◆ Bankokuya

First up is Bankokuya, a traditional Japanese inn that has been in business for over 300 years and has a magnificent, stately appearance.

In fact, it is a well-established inn that has been one of the “100 Best Japanese Hotels and Inns Selected by Professionals” for over 40 years.

In addition to traditional hospitality, another thing to enjoy is the excellent cuisine, which allows you to savor seasonal produce from the sea, mountains, and rivers.

The Garden Open-air Bath, one of the largest in Shonai, is also a spectacular sight!

◆ Tachibanaya

Next, we would like to introduce Tachibanaya, a relaxing and soothing hot spring inn.

From its appearance, you can tell that the inn is surrounded by soothing greenery.

This is a wonderful inn where you can see the atmospheric Japanese garden from various locations, including the lobby and lounge.

In addition, new guest rooms opened in March 2022.

This Japanese-Western room comes with a bedroom, a Japanese-style living room, and a semi-open-air bath that can be enjoyed by opening the large windows all the way.

In addition, as a baby-friendly inn, it has become the first in Yamagata Prefecture to be certified as a “Welcome Baby Inn” by the Miki House Childrearing Research Institute.

The hotel offers a wide range of facilities and services to accommodate families with babies, such as guest rooms equipped with amenities and safety measures, services such as baby food and bottle cleaning, and the provision of baby baths and special futons, so even those with babies can stay comfortably and with peace of mind.

◆ Takinoyu

The last place we would like to introduce is Takinoyu, an inn with a magnificent wooden gate that exudes a warm atmosphere.

The inn is also famous for being the place where novelist Yokomitsu Riichi, who was active alongside Kawabata Yasunari, stayed.

At night, the warm light of the lamps will relax your mind and body.

Inside the inn, there is also a charming shop that sells Japanese-style accessories.

If you stay overnight, be sure to stop by!

③ Atsumi Onsen Morning Market

If you want to enjoy Atsumi Onsen, it would be a waste to just stay at a ryokan!

Why not visit the Atsumi Onsen Morning Market, which has a 300-year history?

*Quoted from Yamagata Prefecture official tourism website

It’s open every day between April and November, and the stores sell a wide variety of products, from agricultural products and seafood to crafts.

At the back of the venue, there is a place of worship dedicated to the guardian deity of the hot springs and the source of Atsumi Onsen, creating a charming spot with the aroma of hot springs in the air.

It’s close to the hot spring town and is open from 5:30 to 8:30 in the morning, so why not take a walk before breakfast?

2. Atsumi Onsen Day Trip Tour

From here, we will introduce you to a stroll around the town course that you can enjoy even on a day trip.

First, please take a look at the map of Atsumi Onsen’s surrounding area.

*Atsumi Onsen pamphlet (map)

Atsumi Onsen shops are all located within a radius of about 1km, making it a perfect distance for a stroll.

There are plenty of benches and chairs to sit on along the promenades in the hot spring town and along the river.
*Excluding winter period

The sound of the river babbling is soothing, and even just sitting here is relaxing.

We felt that this kind of consideration also reflected Atsumi Onsen’s hospitality!

① Yunosato Bridge drinking fountain

We start at the Yunosato Bridge drinking fountain, located close to the Atsumi Onsen Forestry Center in the Parking Lot.

This is a rare spot where you can actually drink the hot spring water.

The water qualities of Atsumi Onsen are said to have moisturizing and warming effects, but what’s surprising is that drinking it can also be effective against constipation and hives!

As I approached the drinking spring, I could smell a faint scent of sulfur, and when I touched the water, I instinctively pulled my hand away, exclaiming, “It’s hot!” It was hotter than I had expected!

Please be careful when handling it.

② Atsumi Onsen Rose Garden

After enjoying the hot spring waters, we next visited Atsumi Onsen Rose Garden, the only rose garden in Shonai, which boasts an area of 2,204 square meters.

Every year, approximately 90 varieties and 3,000 roses bloom here.

The owner of the rose garden, Mr. Enomoto, started the garden out of a desire to attract many people.

The best time to see the roses is in June when the Rose Garden Festival takes place, but you can enjoy the roses blooming one after another until around October.

From the entrance, I was fascinated by the bright red rose gate and the stylish fountain with beautiful roses floating in it, and I became a camera boy for a while! (lol)

If you go further, you will come to a great view spot where you can get a panoramic view of the hot spring town.

It was a place where you could take a short break and relax just by sitting and staring at the view.

③ Rose Garden Café

Another highlight of the rose garden is the stylish café at the entrance, Rose Garden Café.

They sell a variety of exquisite sweets, including beautiful ice roses that can only be tasted here and luxurious floats that will make you want to take a picture.

The rose ice cream was so similar to the real thing that you could mistake it for the real thing, and it had a very rich fruit flavor that was delicious!

The ice cream on the left is mango flavored, and the one on the right is blackcurrant flavored.

Another great thing about this place is that you can freely borrow tools and equipment to take photogenic pictures!

If you visit Atsumi Onsen, this is another recommended spot you should definitely check out.

There is a small park and restrooms at the back of the café, making it the perfect place to take a break and relax.

④ Footbathcafé Chitto Motche & Footbath Ambeyu

After a leisurely stroll through the rose garden, why not try the Footbath, where you can casually enjoy the hot spring atmosphere?

We’d like to introduce you to some footbath spots that are perfect for people who can’t drop into a regular hot spring but would like to take a quick dip.

The first one is Ambeyu located in the middle of Hazukibashi Street.

The name “Anbe” is a combination of “avenue,” meaning “street or tree-lined avenue,” and “anbe,” which means “health or condition” in the local dialect.

It’s spacious, so you can relax and chat while soaking in the hot water.

In the afternoon, it was seen as a lively place to relax.

The second Footbath is Footbathcafé Chitto Motche, where you can also enjoy lunch and dinner.

“Chitto Motche” means “a little interesting” in the Atsumi dialect.

As the name suggests, you can enjoy cool and delicious sweets while taking a footbath in the Mosshe-yu on the open deck.

For those who don’t like being exposed to the sun, there are also seats under a roof where you can sit and soak in the hot spring water.

If you forget your towel, don’t worry, you can purchase one for 100 yen.

In addition to the café, the store also displays and sells a wide range of Atsumi region folk crafts!

It was a wonderful space where I could easily wander around looking at stylish hair accessories and sophisticated Shinaori crafts, and it was easy to get lost in the selection of souvenirs.

⑤ Night walks are also recommended!

Finally, we recommend strolling around Atsumi Onsen not only during the day but also at night.

*Quoted from the Atsumi Tourism Association official website

It’s also fun to visit during the seasonal illumination periods.

From mid-April until the leaves start to bloom, the cherry blossoms are lit up from sunset until around 11pm.

The rows of cherry blossoms reflected on the surface of the river are truly fantastic!

If you are staying at a hotel during this time, be sure to take an evening stroll.

3. Atsumi Onsen Food and Souvenirs

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite after exploring the hot spring town, let’s introduce you to the food at Atsumi Onsen!

① Specialty Ramen Kyuta

While strolling around this time, I stopped by Ramen Kyuta, located at the entrance to Atsumi Onsen.

At the time of our visit, the restaurant was already full to capacity, and there was a line of customers outside, proving just how popular it is!

When I looked at the menu, everything looked delicious and I had a hard time deciding, but I ended up ordering the classic chuka soba.

The light soy sauce flavored soup with the aroma of dried sardine stock was a taste that I never got tired of, and I finished it all in no time!

All of the menu items are “chemical-free,” and the flavors of chicken, grilled and dried fish, fruits, and vegetables are all concentrated in one bowl…!” It’s so delicious you’ll be amazed.

Other dishes that have captured my heart and made me want to return again and again include the popular sesame miso dandan noodles and rich ramen.

Be sure to try this exquisite bowl of ramen, made with a rich, flavorful, chemical-free soup made from natural ingredients and silky noodles!

While walking around the hot spring town, we came across some other foods to try, which we’d like to introduce to you.

② Oyasumi Dokoro Shozaemon

First up is Oyasumi Dokoro Shozaemon, a takeaway restaurant located in front of Kashiwaya Ryokan.

During the Rose Garden Festival, it is open from 11:00 to 14:00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The photo shows a strawberry chocolate cream crepe.

The batter is baked after the order is placed, resulting in moist, soft and chewy crepes that go perfectly with the sweet and sour strawberries and rich fresh cream!

If you feel a bit thirsty, you can enjoy soft drinks and draft beer at the shop.

Be sure to stop by during your stroll.

➂ Genroku mochi

The most famous sweet that represents Atsumi Onsen is Genroku Mochi.

Available in two flavors, plain and macha green tea, this mellow rice cake snack is made with premium rice flour and keeps well.

The soft texture and gentle sweetness when you take a bite are irresistible!

This time, I stopped by Yamatoya Kashiho, located near the entrance to Atsumi Onsen, but you can also purchase this snack at other stores, so be sure to check them out.

4. Parking Lot & Access

① Parking Lot

Atsumi Onsen has two free parking lots: the Atsumi Onsen Forestry Center and the Atsumi Onsen Customer Parking Lot (entering to the left from Yamatoya Kashiho there is a multi-story parking lot with space for 10 cars on the second floor).

② Access

<Car>
About 40 minutes from Shonai Airport About 2 hours 45 minutes from Murata JCT About 1 hour 50 minutes from Niigata Chuo JCT
About 2 hours from Yamagata City

<Train>
From Tsuruoka Station <Uetsu Main Line Inaho> Approx. 20 minutes From Niigata Station <Uetsu Main Line Inaho> Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes From Akita Station <Uetsu Main Line Inaho> Approx. 2 hours

5. Summary

We visited Atsumi Onsen in June when the roses are in full bloom, but you can enjoy the changing seasonal scenery at any time of the year.

In spring, you can enjoy illuminated cherry blossoms along the Atsumi River, in summer you can enjoy walking events around the city in yukata, in autumn you can see salmon swimming up the river and autumn leaves, and in winter you can enjoy pure white snow scenery.

This is a famous spot in Yamagata that you should visit at least once, where you can experience the extraordinary from various angles!

It would be nice to drop in to take a bath in the footbath and then take a stroll around the hot spring town on your day off.

*Quoted from the Atsumi Tourism Association official website

Shared taxis and buses are also available to get to the hot spring town.

Atsumi has long flourished as a hot spring resort, and I felt that it was a hot spring town overflowing with hospitality to its customers.

Please come and visit us.