【秘湯】 北へ北へ 国道4号沿い湯めぐりの旅　恐山の湯を目指して

【秘湯】 北へ北へ 国道4号沿い湯めぐりの旅　恐山の湯を目指して

Let’s head north ! A town of steaming hot springs . Let’s take a dip in the hot springs and relax on the Shimokita Peninsula . Hello , this is “Channel 8329.” Summer vacation is in full swing in 2025, and even in Iwate, temperatures have been over 30 degrees every day. At times like these, it’s best to head north! So, we’re heading north from Iwate. Up until now, we’ve headed northwest toward Mount Iwaki and Lake Towada, but this time we’ll head northeast. Heading north on National Route 4, we somehow find ourselves heading northeast. Along the way, we come across a sign that reads “The Source of the Kitakami River.” It seems the source is located inside a temple called Shintsuhoji Shokakuin. The temple’s gate is imposing and beautiful. It’s said to have been built as a place of prayer by Shogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro in the early Heian period, and opened by his family member, the monk Ryokei. Each leaf shone through the light, sparkling as it swayed in the breeze. It seemed as though pure water was gushing forth from this legendary spring . During the Zenkunen no Eki (Battle of the Nine Years) in the late Heian period, Minamoto no Hachiman Taro Yoshiie struck a rock head with a yuhazu (a bow and arrow) and clear water gushed forth, saving the soldiers suffering in the scorching sun . This is the source of the Kitakami River, a perfect place for a rest stop. It was about 500 meters from National Route 4. Why not stop by for a rest? Kitakami River Source, Yuhazu Spring, 〒028-4306. I headed for the large sunflower fields near Mido 3-jiwari 9, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate Prefecture, but they had already disappeared . So I continued north on Route 4 and arrived near Ninohe. I discovered a lovely retro drive-in along Route 4! But it seems to be closed during the Obon holidays. Google Maps shows it as closed, but I wonder if that’s true? It’s definitely a place worth visiting . There are plenty of sights to see around Ichinohe and Ninohe. Tendaiji Temple, where the honorary chief priest, Jakucho Setouchi, lived, is a wonderful place worth visiting at least once . Torigoe Kannon Temple was the most mind-blowing of all the shrines and temples I’ve visited. It was founded by Jikaku Daishi, and the Kannon statue was placed in a cave in a 50-meter cliff. The road to get there is amazing. There are also other places like Donka Inari Shrine and Mount Tsumeori, famous for its fireflies, but I’ve been there before, so I just passed them by this time. Finally, after coming all the way here, you can enjoy the hot springs. This is Ryokufuso, famous for its zashiki-warashi spirit , Kamemaro. This inn is known as the home of the zashiki-warashi spirit, Kamemaro, and is said to bring magical experiences and good fortune to visitors. Ryokufuso opened in 1950, and the zashiki-warashi spirit is said to be a resident of the inn. The legend of this place has been passed down since ancient times. Fujiwara no Ason Fujifusa, who served Emperor Godaigo of the Southern Court, was defeated in the Nanboku-cho War and fled to Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture. His son Kamemaro fell ill and is said to have died saying, “I will protect our family for generations to come.” After that, Kamemaro is said to have begun appearing in the inner parlor of Ryokufuso. Zashiki-warashi are said to bring good fortune to the homes they live in and to those who witness them, and the list of these witnesses is incredible: Konosuke Matsushita , Takashi Ujihara (19th Prime Minister of Japan), Mitsumasa Yonai (37th Prime Minister of Japan), Takeo Fukuda (637th Prime Minister of Japan), writers Shusaku Endo and Tetsuro Miura, manga artists Shigeru Mizuki and Jiro Tsunoda, singers like Yuzu, and sumo wrestler Mitoizumi , among other illustrious names. It seems that everyone has been promoted after encountering a zashiki-warashi. Ryokufuso, which opened in 1955, gained national recognition in 1971 with the success of “Yuta and His Mysterious Friends,” a novel written by author Tetsuro Miura about the zashiki-warashi of Ryokufuso . However, in 2009, it was completely destroyed by fire, leaving only a small shrine dedicated to the zashiki-warashi in the courtyard. Despite many twists and turns, the inn was rebuilt and reopened in 2016. While the current Ryokufuso doesn’t have the kind of atmosphere that would suggest a zashiki-warashi, it seems possible to encounter one. If a zashiki-warashi takes a liking to you, they’ll appear anywhere in the inn, and white lights called orbs will appear in photos. While you don’t necessarily need to be promoted this year, it would be nice to see one. Ryokufuso’s spring water is a simple hot spring, a weakly alkaline simple spring, and a hypotonic, weakly alkaline spring . The water is colorless, transparent, odorless, and thick and soft. The water felt smooth on the skin. I’ve been talking about Zashiki-warashi a lot lately, but the hot spring was really thick and comfortable. It might be nice to stay overnight and relax while enjoying the hot water and waiting for the Zashiki-warashi… Ryokufuso 41 Nagakawa, Kindaichi, Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture 028-5711 I’m heading further north from Ryokufuso I’ve started a stamp rally, so I’ll collect stamps at roadside stations wherever I can. Apparently, the author of the “11 Animals Series” is an honorary citizen of this place… My wife used to work with children, so she seems quite familiar with it and was very impressed. I liked it so much that I bought it as a souvenir, partly out of spite, and was surprised at how delicious it was. It seems there are also limited edition “11 Animals Series” items that can only be purchased here. Roadside Station Sanhe 039-0141 Further north from Ryokufuso , entering Sannohe, is Koma Onsen, a hot spring. It closed in 2022 and reopened two years later. Due to high boiling points and other factors, the hot spring was forced to close, but the current owner resurrected it. As the only public bath in Sannohe, it seems there was a lot of demand from residents. A sauna has also been added, making it popular. The water is a sodium chloride spring, heated at 25 degrees Celsius. I had just been in the hot spring, so I couldn’t take a dip here, but it looked nice . Apple Village Koma Onsen (formerly Koma Onsen Bathhouse) Address: 46-1 Suzumedate, Kawamorita, Sannohe-cho, Sannohe-gun, Aomori Prefecture Opening hours: 8:00-22:00 Heading north from Koma Onsen on Route 4 for another hour, you will come to Tohoku Town, Kamikita District, where there is another hot spring. The hot springs in Tohoku Town have alkaline simple springs, and all of the hot springs, which use 32 hot springs, are luxuriously fed directly from the source! The Tohoku Town website lists the hot springs as “Moor Hot Springs Ogawara Lake Hot Springs.” So there are moor hot springs too ! The website also has a list of hot spring facilities in Tohoku Town: Hot Spring Inn Suimei, Natural Hot Spring Matsunoyu, Sakura Onsen, Hakko Onsen, Anedogawa Onsen, Hiba no Yu Popura, and Tohoku Onsen. Since it is impossible to enter all of them, let’s pick out some and take a bath. Facing the prefectural road that runs along the Tohoku Main Line, this public bathhouse with an inn and drive-in is a lovely hot spring with a rustic feel. Another nice feature is that the “ji” in radium is turned into a “chi” with a voiced consonant. The inn and drive-in are attached, and the inn costs 4,500 yen with two meals included! A night’s stay is 3,000 yen, and a day trip is just 200 yen for adults! Is this a business? There’s no one at the entrance; you put money in a box and bathe as you please. A notice with information about the effects of the bath is posted in front of the changing room. The bathroom isn’t particularly large, with a single L-shaped bath that can accommodate 15-16 people. Apparently, radium ore is embedded at the back of the spout . The water is alkaline, simple hot spring water. While it looks black from a distance, it’s actually brownish. It was warm and comfortable. After a long soak, I started to feel hungry, so I went to the drive-in next door to get something , but the chef was out, so I couldn’t get anything. The restaurant is open and has its curtain up, but… It’s peaceful. I’ll definitely stop by again next time. Located in front of JR Ogawara Station along Prefectural Route 8, this is the warmest hot spring in town. Apparently it’s perfect for a long soak and doesn’t cool down too quickly. The water poured from the bath is a simple alkaline hot spring, and the amount is just right. I was already feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I just passed by this place. I’ll visit it next time, along with other hot springs. North of Hakko Onsen is Tohoku Onsen, but I missed it this time. Looking back, I saw that it’s the “blackest moor hot spring in Japan.” What a shame. I’m finally heading to the Shimokita Peninsula, but it’s already getting dark. Anyway, I’m going to spend the night in my car near Yokohama Town, famous for its rapeseed flowers. I’ve always wanted to go to a campsite. It’s in a great location with a panoramic view of Mutsu Bay. I made a reservation once before, but couldn’t make it due to circumstances. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make it this time, so I didn’t make a reservation. Anyway, I decided to go. The weather was beautiful, and I could see the spectacular view of Mutsu Bay. The sense of openness was incredible! It really made me feel the roundness of the earth . This is the campsite. I think about five tents would be just right. Apparently there was a time when it was only for solo visitors, but now it seems they accept up to two people. Unfortunately, the reception is closed today due to the Obon holiday, so I’ll be sleeping in my car in the parking lot in front. I feel like my soul is relaxing as I gaze blankly at the setting sun. Finally, the sun came out for a moment. This campsite is located behind a souvenir shop called Travel Plaza Sunshine, which is run by the shop. They have a wide variety of souvenirs, especially scallops, apples, and rapeseed flowers. They also sell fresh scallops, which you can buy and enjoy at the campsite. The owner even sells rare whiskey by weight, which is a hobby of his! It’s like a dream! There seems to be a restaurant with over 50 years of history, but it was closed today and not open. But don’t worry! There is a Lawson on the campsite grounds, so you can do most of your shopping there. We will be relying on Lawson tonight. The microwave is quite convenient for sleeping in a car. Although it was a high-calorie dinner for our age, it was delicious! At night, the starry sky and the lights of Mutsu town are beautiful. In silence, the day comes to an end. It’s a beautiful day again, and I can see the town of Mutsu across the clear blue sea. After walking my dog ​​Moko, I continue heading north again today, to a place I’ve always wanted to go to. I heard that the largest sand dunes in Japan are nearby, and I’ve always wanted to go. It’s located near the top right corner of the Shimokita Peninsula, and is a Self-Defense Force shooting range. It seems that the general public is not allowed to enter, but I heard that there are some parts that can be seen, so I headed there. It’s just a straight, empty road that stretches on and on. Iwate is a rural area, so I’m used to empty roads, but the atmosphere here is completely different, it feels a little dangerous. Still, I follow the navigation instructions and continue on… there are sand dunes as far as the eye can see . I wonder if I can get down from here? It’s a (Self-Defense Force) shooting range, so yeah, that’s probably impossible. Or rather, it’s more like a sand dune or a sandy beach lol. Yeah, it’s difficult, that’s the difference WW. There were other spots where you could see a little bit, but it still had a strong sandy beach feel . I guess I had too high expectations… And then, going further north… I’m heading for Shiriyasaki Lighthouse on the Shimokita Peninsula. Here too, the road continues straight and empty for a while, but after passing through a gate and going a little further, you’ll come out onto the road along the coast. This lighthouse was completed in 1876 (Meiji 9) as the first Western-style lighthouse in the Tohoku region , and took 3 years and 4 months to build. It is a historic lighthouse made of brick and is the tallest in Japan . From the image, I thought it would be on a steep cliff, but it’s actually on flat ground. A pleasant view spreads out before you with the Tsugaru Strait in view. This is also a protected pasture for the Kandachime horses. Kandachime are descended from the Nanbu horse, a native Japanese horse whose purebred is now extinct. They are small, but have strong legs and a physique that makes them look like they could do heavy work. Their numbers have decreased significantly, so they are well-cared for. Even so, it’s a beautiful view. Isn’t there any other place where the white lighthouse stands out so well? Heading inland from here, there should be plenty of hot springs… but! That’s all for today. See you next time! Next time, we’ll be heading to Osorezan Onsen! 8329Channel How to Walk Japan

2025年　余りに熱いので取り敢えず北へ向かう。 下北半島は神秘的な憧れの地。恐山に近ずくにつれ、印象的な湯がどんどんと出てくる・・・。　妻と愛犬、私の3人の湯めぐり車中泊の旅です。
国道4号線をどこまでも北上し北を目指します、最終目的地は恐山。今回は青森の東側の温泉を巡り下北半島の根元までの部分、ドライブの休憩ポイントや絶景キャンプ場なども交え良さげな温泉を紹介していきます。

#温泉
#秘湯
#夫婦旅行
#東北旅
#国道4号線
#温泉巡り
#湯めぐり
#東北温泉
#秘湯巡り
#温泉好き

00:00　スタート
00:37　道の駅にしね
01:01　北上川源流
02:59　鳥越旅館
04:18　緑風荘
08;02　道の駅 三戸
08:58　三戸に入ると温泉が有りました
10:03　東北町の温泉たち
10:48　八甲ラヂウム温泉
12;20　姉戸川温泉
13:09　621野営場
16:47　AM6:00
18:04　猿ケ森砂丘ビューポイント
19:29　尻屋埼灯台