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湯瀬温泉郷
Historical Background
Historical Background
Yuze onsenkyo (湯瀬温泉郷) is an onsen centered village outside of Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture. Yuze onsen itself is a natural hot spring and is famous for it's beauty enhancing qualities.
The area Yuze Onsenkyo is located has been settled since the Joumon period. During the Edo period, it was a part of the ancient Mutsu Province. It later became a part of Akita Prefecture during the Meiji period.
The onsen officially opened in 1909. Not much else is known about the establishment of Yuze Onsenkyo.
The kanji for yuze (湯瀬) means hot water (湯) rapids (瀬). However the kanji for 'ze' is pronounced 'se' in japanese, but is spelled with a z in romaji.
The surrounding town is very forested, and is highly recommended for those who enjoy hiking. There are 3 main lodging options.
Amenities
Amenities
The Four Seasons, otherwise known as Yuze Hotel, in the most popular hotel as the water is known to promote healthy skin and other beauty effects.
As for the onsen, they offer various amenities including:
'Beauty's bath' for women (美人の湯)
Senjin's hot spring for men (仙人の湯）
An open air bath (seseragi no yu kazu)
Private baths (reservation only)
A quiet bath that is adults only (18+)
Characteristics
Characteristics
The quality of the spring water is alkaline simple spring, meaning that the water contains a mass of dissolved ingredients at 1000mg or less. Simple alkaline water is non-damaging for all skin types and causes less irritation. The temperature of the water varies per bath, but the standard temperature at Yuze Onsen is 59.1C. The pH level is 9.1.
The bath offers relief for the following mental ailments:
General nervous system instability
Insomnia
Depression
And offers relief for the following physical ailments:
Chronic muscle or join pain
Stiffness, poor circulation
Gastrointestinal issues
Hypertension
Diabetes
Asthma
Increased recovery from illness
Reduction of fatigue
Health promotion
The baths unfortunately do not allow people with tattoos in. The open air bath, private baths, and quiet bath are all mixed gender, allowing for both men and women to bathe in them. Of course, separate gender baths are available as well.
Other Activities
Other Activities
explorekazuno.jp/tourizm/ooyu/nakataki/
Hiking
Hiking
Hiking through Hachimantai trails is popular during summer. There are many waterfalls and alpine plants to observe. Many of the trails are open year round and offer a glimpse into the beauty of the surrounding area.
https://www.city.kazuno.lg.jp/kanko_bunka_sports/kankojoho/8/2/3027.html
Foods
Foods
Kazuno, the larger city containing Yuze Onsenkyo, is the birthplace of Kiritanpo. Kiritanpo is a specialty rice dish local to Akita prefecture. They offer an opportunity to make your own Kiritanpo at Antora (あんとら) Roadside Station.
Directions
Directions
Yuze Onsenkyo can be reached conveniently by car, train, and taxi. On the map is marked Yuze Onsenkyo station, the hotel is a short 3 minute drive (or 10 minute walk) from the station.
It is inadvisable to travel to Yuze Onsenkyo on foot, but it is possible if you are located in the surrounding towns.
Direct Voice from Maya Hicks
Direct Voice from Maya Hicks
Yuze Onsenkyo is a very quaint little town with one of the most underrated onsens in Japan. In America, we don't have any onsens so being able to see them in Japan, for me, is very interesting. Bathing in America is a very private act and is something we say not to do in the presence of other people. But in Japan, public bath houses are very common and come with many benefits. The culture and etiquette surrounding them is quite fascinating and is well worth your time to research. While I unfortunately didn't have the time to visit Yuze Onsenkyo due to college, I have been to an onsen during my time in Japan. It is an absolutely wonderful experience and I would love to go again.
From all the testimonials I've had the pleasure to read, I've learned how impactful this onsen has been. One of the challenges not mentioned here is the rapidly declining population and low tourism rates in this area. I truly hope that this place never dies out. Yuze onsen is a wonderful place that should be highlighted more for tourism, even if it is domestic tourism. The onsen offers various affects that others may not offer and the surrounding town has many activities that appeal to all ages and interests. If you have extra time, or live in the area, I implore you to take a day trip to Yuze Onsenkyo!
-Maya Hicks
More Information
More Information
This is a video of Yuze Hotel and the surrounding area. It describes the scenery of the area. The audio is in English with Japanese subtitles!
This is a video of the town on Yuze, including various shops and activities. The later half of the video includes and interview with someone who works at Yuze Hotel (and the onsen). This is Japanese only!
This is a video showing the various amenities at Yuze Hotel. It includes food and drink services available at the hotel. This video has no speech, but there are Japanese subtitles!
References
References
Akita Prefecture. (n.d.). Yuze Hot Spring Village (Onsen kyo). Stay Akita. https://stayakita.com/things-to-do/things-to-do-96
Arukikata. (2025). Yuze Onsenkyo. Good Luck Trip. https://www.gltjp.com/en/directory/item/16040/#anc-photo
Dive Inc. (2024). The best onsen in Akita 2024. Onsenista. https://onsenista.com/prefecture/akita/
Kazuno DMO. (2025, March 29). [Yuze Onsenkyo] Osusume no hoteru, ryokan o shokai! Yuze onsen no tokucho wa? [Introducing recommended hotels and inns in Yuze Onsenkyo! What are the characteristics of Yuze Onsen?]. Explore Kazuno. https://explorekazuno.jp/pickup/yuzeonsen-miryoku/
OnsenK.com. (n.d.). Explanations by spring quality. Onsen Search. https://www.onsen-k.com/en/onsenguide-1.html
Yuze Hotel. (n.d.). Shiki irodori Akita zukushi [Four seasons of colorful Akita style]. https://www.yuzehotel.jp/hot_spring.html
By Maya Hicks
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