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.

Bessho Onsen, Nagano

Bessho Onsen village is home to the oldest hot springs in the Nagano prefecture. There are at least four hot springs in the village, all within easy walking distance from each other. With some very beautiful temples and wonderful old shops, the walk is thoroughly enjoyable.

Should your feet tire from walking there is a free outdoor footbath for you to enjoy as well.

Access to Bessho is via JR Ueda Station. Go up the escalator to the Ueda Bessho line. Return tickets with access to two onsen are available for Y1250. The train takes approximately 27 minutes to reach Bessho from Ueda.

Daishi Yu

Entry Y150

Open 6am to 10pm

Closed every 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month


Daishi Yu is a simple, no nonsense sento like onsen. The tiles are a lovely retro blue that reminded me of dragon scales, and the local elderly were very friendly. The front attendant also handed us maps on entry, and showed us where other onsen were in relation to Daishi Yu. Overall it was a positive experience, but not a highly memorable one.


Oh Yu

Entry Y 150

Open 6am to 10pm

Closed every 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

A lovely temple like façade welcomes you to the Oh Yu Onsen. The facility is large and the inside bath could hold at least 15 people, however I was told by a local that the inside bath is not onsen water, unlike the outside bath which is a naturally occurring hot spring.

The mineral content of the water is said to be good for the complexion, and the friendly locals certainly seemed to have wonderful clear skin.

Oh Yu is famed for its healing powers, ever since a wounded samouri soldier bathed there and his wounds miraculously healed some hundreds of years ago.

The outoor bath was great, the water has a special quality that does indeed seem to affect the skin straight away. I could feel my skin tighten upon entering the water, which I am sure why the Nagano onsens are known as ‘The hot springs of beauty’.

I could have stayed longer in this bath, mosty due to the wonderful friendliness of the local townspeople, with whom I was thoroughly enjoying an entertaining conversation.