Ginzan Onsen Hot Spring Village in winter – with the snow falling – may be the most magical sight in Japan, especially at night. It has become one of Japan’s most popular hot springs and the Ryokan, Traditional Japanese Inns lining the Ginzan River are all top notch accommodations with Kaiseki dinner course and breakfast. WIth the snow falling, we’ll first stay at Kozankaku’s riverside room, visit the nearby Shirogane-yu public bath. We’ll end with 2 nights at Notoya Ryokan, welcoming guests since it opened in 1925. It looks like a scene from a Ghibli-film after dark.
HISTORY of Ginzan Onsen
Ginzan was originally a silver mine in the 16th century until the silver was mined out. It changed to a hot spring town in the 17th century, hidden in the mountains, a long one-day walk from Obanazawa. In 1913, a flood destroyed the town but with local investment, they quickly rebuilt into the village we know today. It has maintained it’s Taisho era feel with gas lamps and old wooden architecture, foot bridges crossing all along the Ginzan River.
00:00 Start
01:22 Kozankaku Ryokan
02:00 Ginzan Onsen at Night
02:33 Shirogane-yu Public Bath
03:47 Konzankaku Bath & Dinner
04:53 Where is Ginzan Onsen?
05:20 History of Ginzan Onsen
07:34 Notoya Ryokan Stay
10:50 Notoya Kaiseki Dinner
13:07 Japanese Breakfast
14:30 Kote-e Art
14:54 Kokeshi Factory
17:18 Ginzan Foot Bath
How to get to Ginzan Onsen:
Catch the JR Akita Shinkansen yo Oishida Station. If you are staying at a ryokan, they will have a bus to pick you up.
