Enjoy 1,000 years of history and rich nature at Naruko Onsen
Introduction
Naruko Onsenkyo, located in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts. It consists of five hot spring areas: Naruko Onsen, Higashi Naruko Onsen, Kawatata Onsen, Nakayamadaira Onsen, and Onikobe Onsen, each with its own unique spring quality and atmosphere. In this article, we will introduce the charm, history, culture, recommended spots and gourmet information of the Naruko Onsen area, how to get there, and more.
Charm of Naruko Onsen Village
The greatest attraction of Naruko Onsen is its abundant amount of hot water and its diverse qualities. You can choose from sulfur springs, chloride springs, bicarbonate springs, etc., according to your taste and physical condition. You can also enjoy the cloudy hot water with yunohana floating in it and the bedrock bath. Naruko Onsen Village has a wide variety of lodging facilities, both large and small. Toji is a traditional method of improving physical ailments by continuously bathing in the same hot spring for a long period of time. In Naruko Onsen Village, the old-fashioned hot spring cure culture continues.
Another attraction of Naruko Onsen is its natural beauty. There are mountains that change color with the seasons, walking paths along the river, autumn leaves and cherry blossoms. Naruko Gorge is especially famous. It is a deep gorge carved by the Otaki River, which flows from the Ou Mountains, and you can enjoy a spectacular view that stretches for about 2 kilometers. Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in spring, and autumn leaves are beautifully dyed in autumn³.
The history and culture of Naruko Onsen
Naruko Onsen has over 1000 years of history. Hot springs were discovered in the 4th year of Jowa (837). Toriyagamori (Naruko volcano) exploded, and it is said that hot water erupted with a roaring sound. According to one theory, the villagers named the hot spring "Narugo no Yu" because of the roaring sound it made.
You can feel the history and culture of Naruko Onsen. Naruko Onsen Village has traditional crafts such as Naruko Kokeshi dolls and Naruko lacquerware. Naruko Kokeshi dolls are wooden dolls that have been made since the Edo period. Naruko lacquerware is a lacquerware that has been made since the Meiji period, and has beautiful colors such as red and black. These crafts can be seen at souvenir shops and workshops in the hot spring town. You can also experience making your own kokeshi and painting lacquerware.
Naruko Onsen also has festivals and events related to its history and culture. For example, the Naruko Onsenkyo Hot Spring Festival is a hot spring festival held every October. Yunohana is collected at various locations in the hot spring area, and sweets containing yunohana are distributed. The Naruko Gorge Autumn Leaves Festival is an autumn leaves festival held every November. Light up the autumn foliage of Naruko Gorge and ride a foliage boat.
Recommended spots and gourmet information around Naruko Onsen
There are various spots and restaurants around Naruko Onsen. Below are a few.
- Onikobe Peninsula: A peninsula located about 15 minutes by car from Onikobe Onsen. Strangely shaped rocks and caves line the coastline, creating a fantastic scenery. The peninsula has promenades and observatories that are perfect for walking and taking pictures.
- Otakiyama Park: This park is about 10 minutes by car from Higashi-Naruko Onsen. There is a waterfall with a height of 30 meters in the park, and it is impressive when the water is abundant. The park also has playground equipment and a barbecue area, making it popular with families.
- Naruko beef: Kuroge Wagyu beef raised around the Naruko Onsen area. Characterized by marbled meat, tender and juicy
There are four JR stations in Naruko Onsen. They are Naruko Onsen Station, Higashi Naruko Onsen Station, Nakayamadaira Onsen Station, and Onikobe Onsen Station respectively. From these stations, you can access each hot spring area by taxi or bus. Also, from Furukawa Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, you can get to Naruko Onsen in about 40 minutes by bus.
Here is a website where you can obtain detailed information about Naruko Onsenkyo.
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