[Sightseeing at Ginzan Onsen, a place you want to visit at least once] 9 recommended spots for a girls' trip without a car

Ginzan Onsen is one of the best hot springs in Tohoku, located in Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. Along the river that runs through the center, historic wooden inns are lined up. The nostalgic scenery is full of elegance and makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time to a different era. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the area, including hot springs, sampling local gourmet food, and walking around tourist attractions. This time, we will introduce recommended spots where you can enjoy a girls' trip without a car.

• Yamagata
• hot spring town
• girls trip
• Classic
• Photogenic
• Walk around the town
• Eating around
• hot spring
• No car

What kind of place is Ginzan Onsen?

Along the Ginzan River, which runs through the center of Ginzan Onsen, one of the best hot springs in the Tohoku region, there are rows of wooden buildings built from the end of the Taisho period to the early Showa period. Winter is especially beautiful. The sight of the snow-covered hot spring town illuminated by soft gas lamps at dusk is truly atmospheric, and many tourists come to see this scenery.
If you want to go to the hot spring town without a car, we recommend using the local bus, which connects Oishida Station to the bus stop Ginzan Onsen in about 40 minutes. Enjoy the Ginzan Onsen area in your own way, such as taking a footbath and eating out in the hot spring town, or taking a step forward to explore nature and ruins.

Airasugena

A shop with a cafe and costume rentals

Airasugena is a cafe stand and costume rental shop located at the foot of Shiroganebashi Bridge, which is the entrance to Ginzan Onsen. At the cafe, you can enjoy coffee, fruit juices such as wild grapes and apples, and Obanazawa's famous watermelon juice. Take a break after a walk during the day, or enjoy a romantic moment at night while looking out at the gas-lit hot spring town. At the costume rental service where you can experience the romance of the Taisho era, the staff will help you with how to change your clothes and how to finish them to look beautiful. Take an unforgettable commemorative photo while blending into the scenery of Ginzan Onsen!

Warashiyu footbath

Take a break in the free footbath

"Warashiyu" is a communal footbath facility located along the Ginzan River just after arriving at the hot spring town. It's free and anyone can feel free to use it.The great thing about it is that the height and position of the benches are designed so that you can sit down and enjoy a leisurely conversation while looking at the river flow and scenery. The hot water is sourced directly from the source, and although it is slightly heated, it is highly effective. It's the perfect place to soothe your tired feet from sightseeing.

Yamanokami Shrine Branch

A branch of Yamanokami Shrine, where the god of family safety, safe childbirth, and marital harmony is enshrined.

Yamanokami Shrine is located about 10 minutes up the mountain path from the hot spring town. This branch is located along the hot spring town, so it's easy to stop by. The shrine's shrine came to be widely worshiped as the god of safe childbirth, and in particular, it was said that borrowing the god's pillow from the shrine would lead to a smooth delivery. For this reason, when a wish comes true, it is customary to visit the shrine with a new pillow. The information board at the branch shrine says that Matsuo Basho visited here during his travels, which shows Ginzan Onsen's long history.

Senshinkyo

A beautiful valley beyond the hot spring town

The entire area upstream of the Ginzan River is called Shirogane Park, and there is a promenade along the river that takes about an hour to go around. The area around the vermilion Sekoi Bridge that spans it is Senshinkyo, about a 10-minute walk upstream along the river from the hot spring town. Lion-no-taki, seen from Sekoi Bridge, is impressive as the mountain stream crashes against the rocks. The mountain stream that descends from the waterfall turns into a clear murmuring stream, and the tranquility of it gives the feeling of washing away the impurities in one's heart, which is why this area of ​​the gorge came to be called Senshin Gorge. It is recommended to take a walk along the nearby Gintan Cave, etc.

Shirogane Falls (inside Shirogane Park)

Two waterfalls at the end of the hot spring town

A walking path around the hot spring town where you can enjoy nature in all four seasons. At the end of the hot spring town, at the entrance to Shirogane Park, is Shirogane Falls. It is said to be a direct waterfall with a height of 22 meters and two waterfalls, one large and one small, but depending on the amount of water, it may appear to be a branch waterfall or a third waterfall. You can walk close to the basin of the waterfall, so you can soak in plenty of negative ions and feel soothed. With fresh greenery in the summer, autumn leaves in the fall, and snowy landscapes in the winter, the scenery is beautiful each season, and you can relax physically and mentally. There is an observation deck on the opposite bank, so why not experience the comfort of the waterfall spray from here?

Nobezawa Ginzan Ruins

You can tour the tunnels of a once-prosperous silver mine.

"Nobesawa Ginzan" is the origin of the name Ginzan Onsen. Mining has been carried out here since the Muromachi era, and it was one of the major silver mines that represented the Edo period. However, the amount of silver gradually decreased, and in 1689 (Genroku 2), a major collapse occurred, and the mountain was abandoned. It has since been revived as a hot spring resort and is now designated as a national historic site. There are also remains of the mine shaft, part of which is open to the public as a silver mining cave. You can tour for free. A pedestrian bridge has been built inside the cave through the dark rock surface, and lighting equipment is also available. It takes about 15 minutes to get there from the hot spring town, so why not feel free to explore?

Taisho Romankan

Convenient for stopping by! retro drive-in

Taisho Romankan, located in front of Ginzan Onsen, is a tourist commercial facility with a shop and restaurant. This drive-in has a retro atmosphere and is equipped with barrier-free restrooms and a rest area, making it a convenient spot to stop by on your way to or from your trip. In addition to the famous zunda, deep-fried bread stuffed with red bean paste, and kura mochi, the shop sells souvenirs unique to Ginzan Onsen and local products. At the restaurant, you can enjoy handmade soba noodles made with locally produced buckwheat flour, traditional Chinese noodles, and freshly made mochi.

Shirogane-yu

A communal bath with a modern atmosphere

Shirogane-yu is a day-trip hot spring facility with a modern exterior located near Shiroganebashi. It was designed by Kengo Kuma, one of Japan's leading architects. It features an exterior wall with traditional Japanese details known as Musou latticework, which blends in with the landscape of the hot spring town while remaining sophisticated. There are bathrooms on the first and second floors, which can be used by men and women alternately. There are no windows on the first floor, giving you the feeling of being in a cave. On the second floor, on the other hand, wide windows and dim light from indirect lighting create a moody space. The water is quite hot, so let your body get used to it before entering.

Izu Kokeshi Workshop Main Store

Kokeshi doll workshop and store

Izu Kokeshi Studio Main Store has a wide selection of original Kokeshi dolls, woodwork products, and other souvenirs from the silver mine. Izu Kokeshi dolls, which became widely known after being featured in a TV drama, are characterized by their wide availability and bobbed hair. You can also try painting kokeshi dolls (reservations required), so why not take part in making memories of your trip? In addition, in recent years, when a baby is born, ``birth kokeshi dolls'', which are made to match the baby's height and weight, have become popular. It's perfect as a souvenir or gift.

in conclusion

Ginzan Onsen's nostalgic townscape gives you a sense of unreality. No matter where you look, the beautiful scenery is perfect for Instagram. If you're thinking about a hot spring trip without a car, why not visit Ginzan Onsen, where you can take a stroll and enjoy the gourmet food and natural attractions.