Tsuta Onsen

蔦温泉

4.3Est. 150¥¥Towada, Tohoku

Local Pick

Overview

A 1,000-year-old hidden onsen where hot spring water bubbles up directly through the wooden floor of the bath, one of Japan's rarest bathing experiences.

One of Japan's few remaining 'tachi-yu' (standing bath) hot springs, where mineral water percolates up through beech planks lining the bottom of the bath, meaning the water has never touched air before reaching your skin. The ryokan sits in primeval beech forest between the Hakkoda Mountains and Oirase Gorge, and records of bathing here date to 1147. Day bathing is available, and the building itself is a registered cultural property.

Local tips

Step gently into the bath and stand still. You can feel the warm water bubbling up between the wooden slats beneath your feet. The sensation is unlike any other onsen in Japan.

Practical info

Japanese name: 蔦温泉
Nearest station: Aomori Station (JR Tohoku Shinkansen, bus transfer)
Payment: Cash only

Accessibility

Wheelchair parking

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