【秘湯】 八甲田・酸ヶ湯～湯瀬温泉～松川温泉 　紅葉に別れを告げ帰路の温泉を巡る

【秘湯】 八甲田・酸ヶ湯～湯瀬温泉～松川温泉 　紅葉に別れを告げ帰路の温泉を巡る

The autumn weather in Hakkoda is finally clear. Hello, this is Channel 8329. After visiting the monument to the Hakkoda Snow March, we continued our counterclockwise tour of the base of Mt. Hakkoda. The Hakkoda Ropeway is extremely popular this season for hiking Mt. Hakkoda and viewing the autumn foliage. The majestic autumn leaves of Hakkoda are definitely worth a visit, but since I already hiked it last year, this time I decided to go. Near the Pass Ropeway base station, there was a sign for Kansuizawa Onsen, but it was closed. If you continue straight, you’ll find Hotel Jokagura at the corner where it intersects with Route 394. It’s a gorgeous, splendid hotel, but I wonder if they offer day-trip bathing? I checked their website and found that they do offer day-trip bathing. Reception is open from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The bathing atmosphere is reminiscent of the Imperial Hotel in Kamikochi, and the surrounding autumn foliage is spectacular. It’s not exactly the kind of place you’d expect to go for a bath. You change your shoes here. The front desk staff were just like you’d expect to find in a luxury hotel, and they treated even day-trippers with the utmost care. The water contains calcium, sodium, and chloride (hypotonic, slightly alkaline, high temperature). The spring temperature is 50.2°C. While the Sukayu Onsen is right nearby, the water quality is completely different: clear, colorless, and slightly alkaline, making it gentle on the skin. The indoor bath uses a recirculating water system, but the outdoor bath uses a spring water source. It’s open year-round and includes the trendy mist sauna and cold bath. There are also women’s facilities, making it perfect for families. I’m sure the father’s reputation would skyrocket if he brought his family to a room like this. Thank you to the staff for your attentive service! Hotel Jogasaki was named after the area itself, apparently inspired by the beauty of the valley, reminiscent of the Chinese moon fairy “Chang’e” (Joga). While in Japan there’s a rabbit on the moon, in China there’s Chang’e, and in Italy there’s a crab. I’ve been to this super-famous Hakkoda spot a few times, so I’ll pass this time. The “Senninburo” bath is so famous, you’ve probably seen this JR photo. The parking lot is always full. While the Senninburo is a mixed-gender bath, bathing suits are allowed, and the changing room is separated by a wall, so many women bathe here. It’s relatively women-friendly compared to other mixed-gender baths. There’s also a separate indoor bath, so you can enjoy the Sukayu hot springs. The gymnasium-like bath, built entirely out of cypress, is impressive, but the rooms and food are excellent, making it a recommended inn. I stayed here last winter, and the most surprising thing was the amount of snow! Officially it’s 8m!! That’s just under the third floor of a building… Anyway, I was so surprised I couldn’t help but laugh. A little further past Sukayu Onsen is the entrance to Hakkoda Hotel. This is a luxury hotel… not a place for someone like me, so I just passed through. Hakkoda Hotel is run by the same group company as Sukayu Onsen Ryokan, which has a 300-year history since its opening. It opened on May 10th, 1991 (Heisei 3), and has also been the venue for the G8 Summit banquet. I ‘ll come back once I’ve saved up some money! Coming up the national highway from Hakkoda Hotel, a crowd gathers around a sign reading “Hell Swamp.” The swamp was formed by the accumulation of hot spring water from a nearby spring in the remains of a former explosive crater. The highly acidic nature of the swamp makes it uninhabitable for fish, and the 90°C boiling water gushing out makes it impossible to enter. The billowing steam and sulfur smell are a veritable hellscape. In autumn, the surrounding leaves turn red, creating a beautiful contrast with Jigoku Swamp. It’s about time to head to our lodging… This is my second time here, and I’m grateful for the affordable access to powered sites. The campground is run by the same company as Sukayu Onsen Ryokan, Sukayu Onsen Co., Ltd. , and is located within Towada-Hakkoda National Park, where they work in cooperation with the national park. It’s a popular campground for car campers like us and hikers to Hakkoda. The caretaker is there until evening, leaving only a few campers to enjoy a quiet night. Today, I bought a camper. The bamboo shoots we bought at Dasake were amazing ! A long-awaited, clear day! The snow on the mountaintop created a beautiful contrast. Unfortunately, today was the day I had to return to Iwate, so I decided to drive back clockwise. Sukayu Onsen was bustling as always, especially this time of year. The Tashiro Plateau, which was overcast yesterday, was also sunny. The colors of the trees changed as we descended, making for a fun drive. This time, I decided to head down to Oirase Keiryu Onsen, a place I’d never been to before. I couldn’t find a day trip spot, so I wandered around. I went to an inn whose exterior I liked and asked about day trips, but it was closed, and they were a little hysterical and said they didn’t allow photos of the exterior. I was surprised, so I left. I later found out that the inn had been in the midst of some controversy, so I guess I was just being nervous. Anyway, I decided to just pass this place this time. Are there any good inns? If you know, please let me know. I passed Oirase and headed down to Oyu Onsen. So far, I’ve encountered foxes twice. The second time, it was actually a construction site. I’ve returned to the Oyu Onsen area, and here I’ll take a look at some famous ruins. Located in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, this large-scale ruin dates back to the Late Jomon period (approximately 4,000 years ago). It’s comprised of two stone circles, the Manza Stone Circle and the Nonakado Stone Circle. Since their discovery in 1931 (Showa 6), research and preservation efforts have been ongoing. We were taught about the Jomon period rather carelessly in elementary school, but recently, various discoveries have been made and it seems we’re beginning to understand that it’s not the same as the image we have of the Gyatorzu. What about our ancestors from long ago? Where did they come from and what did they do? No matter how much research we do, we may never find out. Perhaps it’s precisely because we don’t know that it’s romantic and continues to attract people’s attention. Heading south on National Route 282 to return to Iwate , Yuze Onsen is said to have been named after the hot springs that gushed forth from the river’s rapids. It’s said to be one of Japan’s three great beauty hot springs! It’s said that bathing once will make you two years younger, which is amazing! Yuze Onsen’s history dates back over 800 years, and it was a resort for the Nanbu clan, and was so highly acclaimed that it even made it onto the hot spring rankings. The Yuze Fureai Center sounds like a facility for the elderly, but it’s actually a public bath. I wonder if it’s okay for me, a non-resident, to go in? I decided to go to the entrance anyway. The parking lot is at the back of the building, just as you approach from the entrance. There’s a sign prohibiting street parking, so I imagine many people park on the street without noticing. I checked at the entrance, and was kindly told, “Anyone can bathe, please come in.” What’s more, bathing is only 100 yen for those over 60. “I’m not a resident here, is that okay?” I asked, and it was still 100 yen. I’m shocked at this price these days; this is a hot spring facility operated by Kazuno City. Kazuno City is amazing! The hot spring is a simple alkaline hot spring sourced from “Karako no Yu,” which is gentle on the body and known as “beautiful skin water.” It’s colorless, transparent, tasteless, and odorless, and has a smooth texture. The city’s website also states, “Anyone can bathe in this water.” The lobby near the entrance displays information about Kazuno City’s history and serves as a public relations tool. Yuze Onsen is home to hotels like “Akita’s Four Seasons Yuze Hotel” and “Kamenoi Hotel Akita Yuze,” both of which are renowned for their scenic views and delicious cuisine. I was driving home to Iwate, but I was feeling a bit unsatisfied . “Oh, let’s stop by Matsukawa Onsen!” I suddenly thought, and popped into a nearby campsite. What a great name! Apparently there is a surname called “Tsuma no Kami” (Tsumagami), which is a kanji version of the folk god Sainokami , and there may be a connection. I don’t know if this is true, but it’s a name that makes you feel a bit embarrassed… Reservations aren’t accepted, and you pay a fee at the management building before entering. The best part is that the fees are cheap: 1,000 yen for the site plus 300 yen per person. There’s no power, but it’s enough for sleeping in your car. It was a great campsite, where you could splash around in the Matsukawa River that flows next to it and enjoy the magnificent views of Hachimantai. The next morning, we headed for Matsukawa Onsen via the Iwate-san Panorama Line. After Matsukawa Onsen, we should be able to get to Hachimantai via the Jukai Line . Huh? All the way to Matsukawa Onsen? The Jukai Line had been closed due to a landslide, but I didn’t realize it hadn’t been restored yet. First, let’s go to Matsukawa Onsen. Going down from here, you will reach Matsukawa Onsen Matsukawaso. It’s a difficult spot in winter, where vehicles often get stuck. Drivers sometimes come here without snow tires in the middle of winter, making rescues difficult. The beautiful autumn foliage of Matsukawa Onsen is located at an altitude of about 850m. It is also the trailhead for the Ura-Iwate Traverse Route (commonly known as the Horseshoe Course), a traverse route to Mitsuishi, Genta-dake, etc. In autumn, the mountains are beautifully painted with colorful autumn leaves, and in winter you can soak in the snow-covered open-air bath. Electricity and steam are supplied from the nearby geothermal power plant and used for heating and snow melting. Pipes are run around the inn, and steam spews out everywhere. Matsukawa Onsen opened in 1743, and Matsukawa-so opened in 1960, making it a rare place in Hachimantai where you can enjoy a hot spring even in winter. We came here soon after waking up at the campsite, so it might still be a little early , but according to the website, day-use bathing starts at 8:00 AM, but it is currently 7:45 AM, so we were given an early start! The spring quality is simple sulfur spring, and the spring is colorless and transparent when it bubbles up, but apparently changes to a milky white color the moment it comes into contact with the air. There is an indoor bath, a mixed outdoor bath, and a women-only outdoor bath, and it is covered so you can bathe even on rainy days. The way the water overflows tells you how much water there is. The outdoor bath is a beautiful bluish milky white color, and has a well-balanced design with a large rock in the center. It makes you feel like you are melting into nature. It was a great bath to start the morning off with . We then went to the nearby Kyounso… photography inside the building is not permitted. You can also leave your smartphone at the reception before entering the bath. This former village-run “national guesthouse” was purchased from the village in 1980 and reopened as “Kyouunso,” and is apparently run by the same people as Matsukawaso. The hot springs are also very similar to Matsukawaso’s, as you’d expect, since they share the same management and hot spring source. This is also a great inn, and I’d love to come back for a snow-viewing bath when it snows. There used to be a popular inn called Shofuso, known for its cave bath, but it’s closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I’d really liked to go in and see it. Heading back down the mountain, I spotted this sign. I’d only passed it by before and never noticed, but it’s a beautiful place with the autumn leaves reflected in the marsh. While I’m there, I’ll also go see Matsukawa Valley. It’s said to be a famous spot for autumn leaves, but I’ve never been there. Considering it’s a famous spot , the road is very rustic. It’s not well maintained, but the bumpy road is so rough it makes me smile. Quite a view. I was surprised! I thought it was a bear, but it was a tree. Next time, I’ll be heading to Fukushima Prefecture. Please watch again. 8329Channel How to Walk Japan

曇天だった昨日とはうって変わって晴天の朝、 冠雪した八甲田の山々と紅葉の見事なコントラストに目を見張る 八甲田の湯を楽しんだ後は下山途中の観光地や湯を楽しみながら帰路に着く 縄文時代の謎を数十年も探求している博物館や 100円で入浴できる温泉施設など 最後は地元の温泉に浸かってほっとする・・・

#温泉へ行こう
#温泉
#秘湯
#混浴
#紅葉
#温泉湯瀬
#共同浴場
#奥入瀬渓流
#温泉松川
#八甲田山
#田酒
#東北旅
#温泉旅

00:00 スタート
00:42 ホテル城ヶ倉
03:12 酸ヶ湯温泉
04:18 八甲田ホテル
04:58 地獄沼
05:39 酸ヶ湯キャンプ場
07:28 奥入瀬渓流温泉郷
08:40 大湯環状列石
09:45 湯瀬ふれあいセンター
12:28 妻の神オートキャンプ場
13:28 岩手山パノラマライン
14:13 松川温泉 松川荘
18:50 松川渓谷