Tsuru no Yu Onsen, Akita

Tsuru no Yu 鶴の湯 (秋田県)
仙北郡田沢湖町田沢字先達沢国有林50　
Entry: 500 yen
Telephone:0187-46-2139
Open: 10am to 3pm
http://www.tsurunoyu.com/english.html

Tsuru no Yu in Akita prefecture is an onsen well worth a visit.
Its traditional bathhouses, still standing after hundreds of years, and the perfect location beside a river hidden in the Nyutou Onsen region makes it a worthwhile escape.

There are many bathing options within the complex.
Pictured above, the mixed bathing onsen

For women, there are two outside baths, each with their own separate bathhouse with an internal bath as well. Men have the same facilities, and then there is the large mixed bathing pool.


The outdoor women's only onsen

The women's bath inside the bathhouse area

The second women's only onsen


The water is perfectly milky white, with almost zero visibility. Unlike most onsen in Japan, it is not impolite for women to wear a towel while entering or in the communal bath. The men follow the usual tradition of placing their towels on their heads, but many women wore towels for modesty.

Being one of Japan's top ten onsen, there is a distinct possibility that Tsuru no Yu could get crowded. I recommend going in the off-peak season or mid week when you can enjoy the kind of tranquility that we experienced. An early arrival will ensure you get some quiet time before the inevitable busload of tourists arrives.
Pictured above: The rustic shower, still using the same mechanism as hundreds of years ago

Tsuru no Yu is one of the oldest onsen in the Nyutou Onseko in Akita prefecture, dating back as far as 1638, and in operation as a public facility since 1688.

Legend has it that a local hunter saw a crane healing it's wounds in the white water baths, and since that time it became known as the crane bath or "Tsuru no Yu". There is a fertility shrine in the women's only bath, which is said to assist women in all things fertile.

The attached ryokan which has been operational for over 1200 years is authentic and beautiful with lovely old style rooms that provide privacy and also a sense of harmony with the natural environment.

The main building for the ryokan.