Historical background

Tamagawa Onsen (玉川温泉) is one of the famous hot springs located in Senboku City (仙北市), Akita Prefecture, which gushes out at the foot of Hachimantai's Yakeyama Mountain on the Akita-Iwate border. Tamagawa Hot Springs was discovered in 1680 by a local huntsman. Tamagawa Hot Spring was called “Deer Hot Spring (鹿の湯、鹿湯)” in the old era since, at the time when he discovered the hot springs, deers were using Hot Springs. Before 1885, when Tamagawa Hot Spring was opened as ”Sika Yu,” only miners and local huntsmen used it. After 1929, the Tamagawa Hot Spring gradually became popular because of its efficacies, and after 1932, the Hot Spring was finally named Tamagawa Onsen and became more popular in Japan. 

In 1959, it was designated as a "National Recreational Hot Spring Resort (国民保養温泉地)" as part of the "Hachimantai Hot Spring Village (八幡平温泉郷)" along with Goshogake Onsen (後生掛温泉), Hukenoyu Onsen (蒸ノ湯温泉), Onuma Onsen (大沼温泉), and Ohuka Onsen (大深温泉) in Akita Prefecture, and Toushichi Onsen (藤七温泉) in Iwate Prefecture. 

Characteristics

Tamagawa Onsen, located at the foot of Mt. Yake (Yake Yama), is one of the best hot springs in Japan, boasting the most enormous volume of spring water in Japan at 9,000 liters per minute from a single location and the most highly acidic hot spring water (pH 1.2 at 98°C) in Japan. It is also patronized by people all over Japan as a "hot spring for medical treatment and healing" due to its various beneficial effects. There are 8 varieties of hot springs in Tamagawa Hot Spring. 

1. Bath with Water 50% from the Spring Source

It is recommended to slowly immerse the body in the hot water up to the base of the chin and ears to acclimate the body to the hot spring.

2. Bath with Water 100% from the Spring Source

The temperature is set slightly lower because the highly acidic water is very irritating to the skin. This is the hot spring that the effects of the hot spring water can be expected to be most effective.

3. The Warm Bath with Spring Source 50%

This is a lukewarm bathtub made of 50% spring water and is suitable for people with heart disease and high blood pressure. It is recommended not to soak up to the shoulders but rather take a half-body bath to the chest, sometimes pouring hot water over the shoulders.

4. Waterfall Shower

By dropping hot water from a high position and applying it to the affected area, the pressure and temperature of the hot water have a muscle-massaging effect and promote blood circulation.

5. Head Soaking Bath and Sleep Bath

Lie down in a warm, shallow bathtub and soak your head. It is effective for stress reduction, sedation, and insomnia and also promotes brain activation.

6. Steam Bathing / Steam Box Bathing                   

The temperature of the hot spring is around 50°C. It promotes perspiration and metabolism. Effective for neuralgia and weight loss. Steam inhalation is also effective for bronchitis and asthma.

7. Mildly Acidic Bath

It is the least acidic of the large baths and is recommended for those who want to take their time to enjoy the hot spring and for those with sensitive skin.

8. Bubble Bath

The ultrasonic waves generated when air bubbles break in the water have a stimulating massage effect, and the abundant negative ions are expected to enhance natural healing power. 

(Tamagawa Onsen,Shin-Tamagawa Onsen Akita Prefecture│Japan Tohoku New Toji Style, n.d.)

In addition, as the efficacy of Tamagawa Onsen, onsen therapy is considered to have the following five overall effects.

1. Stimulation therapy by the quality of the hot spring

2. Therapy by Climate Stimulation

3. Physical therapy by bathing

4. Thermotherapy by geothermal heat

5. Psychological care among customers of Tamagawa Hot Spring

There is not only the usual enjoyment of soaking in hot spring water; there is also the therapy of drinking hot spring water, called Insen (飲泉). It is expected to have an effect on the stomach and other organs.

To know more!

More information

• Official site of Tamagawa Hot Spring

• A staff blog of Tamagawa Hot Spring 

Current Activities

There are some tours that you can enjoy, not only at Tamagawa Hot Spring but also at other host springs nearby. To attend those tours, you must go to the Tamagawa Onsen website (https://www.tamagawa-onsen.jp/) and apply beforehand.