A Complete Guide to Ginzan Onsen, Tohoku’s Premier Hot Spring Destination
Ginzan Onsen is a quaint hot springs town located in the Yamagata Prefecture of Japan’s Tohoku Region. Ginzan Onsen means “Silver Mine Hot Spring,” an accurate name for a town discovered by miners for its silver and thermal waters over 500 years ago. The town quickly flourished due to silver mining but later became a tourist destination where guests could enjoy the soothing hot springs.
Today beautiful Taisho-era buildings and inns adorned with white plaster and wooden details line the town street with the Ginzan River flowing right through the middle. It’s a romantic scene that instantly will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Many people visit Ginzan Onsen each year for this feeling of nostalgia and to relax in a place with a slower pace of life.
When is the Best Time to Visit Ginzan Onsen?
Ginzan Onsen is beautiful all year round but the most popular time to visit Ginzan Onsen is in the winter because of the beautiful, snowy scenery in the town. It’s also a great time to soak in an onsen and sip some local sake. Because winter is the most popular time to visit Ginzan Onsen you’ll want to book your ryokan months in advance! I first visited Ginzan Onsen in late April which was still a great time to visit because the trees had just started to bloom from a long winter.
How to Get to Ginzan Onsen
How to Get to Ginzan Onsen from Tokyo
You can get to Ginzan Onsen from Tokyo by train and bus. The easiest way is to take the Yamagata Shinkansen which you’ll take from Tokyo Station to Oishida Station. This part of the journey takes around 3 hours 30 minutes and costs ¥12,450 one-way or included with the JR Pass. From there you’ll take a local bus to Ginzan Onsen which takes around 40 minutes and costs 1,000 yen one-way. Buses depart every 60-90 minutes.
How to Get to Ginzan Onsen from Sendai
From Sendai you can take the JR Senzan Line to Uzen Chitose Station. From there you’ll transfer to the JR Ou Main Line to Oishida Station which takes around 2 hours and costs ¥1,690 one-way or is included with the JR Pass. From Oishida Station take the local bus to Ginzan Onsen which takes around 40 minutes and costs 1,000 yen. Buses depart every 60-90 minutes.
How to Get to Ginzan Onsen by Car
When we visited Ginzan Onsen we were in the middle of a Tohoku road trip so we drove to Ginzan Onsen. Depending on where you are coming from you’ll take expressways and some backroads to get to Ginzan Onsen. I recommend using Google Maps when driving in Japan and download offline maps in case of spotty cell service.
When coming by car there are designated parking areas just outside of town since Ginzan Onsen is a pedestrian-only town. and cars are not permitted. Most ryokan offer a shuttle service to your hotel from the parking areas. Be sure to check with your ryokan as to which parking lot you need to park in. If you visit Ginzan Onsen for a day trip you will park in the Ginzan Onsen public parking lot.
Where to Stay in Ginzan Onsen
Ginzan Onsen is a tiny ryokan town so there aren’t a lot of places to stay and those places typically only have 4-15 rooms so it’s imperative to book a room at a Ginzan Onsen ryokan months in advance, especially during the winter months. Additionally, most Ginzan Onsen ryokan only allow direct bookings so 3rd-party sites such as TripAdvisor, Booking, and Agoda are not a great option for Ginzan Onsen.
Ginzan-so
When we visited Ginzan Onsen we decided to stay at Ginzan-so which is one of Ginzan Onsen’s historic ryokan located just outside of the town. When we arrived we were greeted by staff and parked our car at their front parking lot. Staff brought our bags inside while we checked in and then showed us around the hotel, helped us pick out our yukata to wear around the hotel and in town, and highlighted the features of our room.
We decided to stay in one of the standard Japanese-style rooms but they do have deluxe Japanese-style rooms that have a private open-air bath. Unfortunately, we didn’t book early enough and the deluxe rooms sell out quickly but I would highly recommend booking a room with a private onsen if you have the chance!
Our room was exceptionally spacious and featured a large bathroom, two seating areas, and room for our futons that were laid out at night. While you don’t get the views of the town from Ginzan-so there is a beautiful mountain view outside each of the rooms. Each day while we were out, the staff would make up our futons and replenish tea and sweets available to purchase in the gift shop.
Speaking of the gift shop, it is located on the first floor of Ginzan-so and has local omiyage, gifts from Ginzan Onsen, and other items to enjoy during your stay such as sake and other souvenirs. Be sure to take some time to peruse the items for sale or buy some sweets to take home.
Of course, one of the best features at Ginzan-so is their hotel onsen. They have two onsen separated by sex that have an indoor and outdoor hot spring. The outdoor hot spring overlooks the mountains so the scenery is ever-changing with the seasons. Additionally, they have a bedrock bath and foot massages that you can book ahead of time for additional relaxation. After soaking in the onsen there is a lounge area just outside with complimentary refreshments including beer on tap, water, juice, and soft drinks available to hotel guests.
Room and board at Ginzan-so includes dinner and breakfast for each day of your stay. Dinner is kaiseki-style which is a multi-course meal with seasonal, local ingredients. You can choose to have their standard meal or upgrade to a seafood dinner or a double wagyu beef dinner. We opted for their standard meal during our stay which came with tofu, various pickled vegetables, chawanmushi (a savory egg custard, fresh sashimi, Yamagata beef, sesame pudding, and other small plates.
Breakfast at Ginzan-so is served in a bento box with seasonal small plates of fish, vegetables, and pickles, alongside miso soup, a steamed dish, grilled fish, hot spring egg, and rice. It was the perfect balanced breakfast for a day of exploring.
I also wanted to mention my experience staying at Ginzan-so with food allergies. When searching for where to stay in Ginzan Onsen, I noticed that some inns stated on their website that they cannot accommodate food allergies or dietary restrictions. I emailed the hotel staff at Ginzan-so in advance to inform them about my food allergies and ask if accommodations could be made. Ginzan-so informed me that they could omit ingredients I am allergic to and had a special sign at my table with my allergens listed so staff would also know.
I’ve stayed at a lot of ryokan in Japan, all of which have been very accommodating for my food allergies. But in saying this, I want to be clear that if you have food allergies there is still a risk of contact when staying at a ryokan since all food is prepared in the same place. For those who are vegan, vegetarian, or gluten intolerant you may have a difficult time dining at a ryokan because this is not usually accommodated.
After staying at Ginzan-so I can confidently recommend this Ginzan Onsen ryokan. Although the rooms and the hotel are a little dated, they are in the process of remodeling their deluxe rooms and I think it’s important to keep in mind that like all of the ryokan in Ginzan Onsen, it is a historic inn.
Additionally, Ginzan-so is not located directly in town but it is only a short 3-5 minute walk into town from the hotel. This may be a negative for some people but we liked that it was outside of town because we were able to park our car at the hotel and still enjoy the town activities without having to schedule a hotel shuttle.
Last, we found the staff at Ginzan Onsen to be extremely helpful, accommodating, and engaging and the hotel facilities were really lovely. I especially enjoyed that they offer both an indoor and outdoor public onsen. Reservations at Ginzan-so can be made up to 6 months in advance on their website.
Additional Places to Stay in Ginzan Onsen
- Fujiya: Perhaps the most “modern” of the Ginzan Onsen ryokan this 100-year-old inn was redesigned by Kengo Kume, a world-renowned Japanese architect. Modern elements create the perfect balance of old plus new in this 10,000 sq. ft space making it one of the premier Ginzan Onsen ryokan. // MAP
- Showakan: A family-owned inn that is located in the middle of a former silver mines. // MAP
- Kosekiya (Annex and Main Building): A 500-year-old inn that features 100% natural hot springs waters, delicious seasonal cuisine, and beautiful mountain and town views. // MAP
Things to Do in Ginzan Onsen
Get A Stamp from the Ginzan Onsen Tourist Information Center
When arriving in Ginzan Onsen one of your first stops should be to the Ginzan Onsen Tourist Information Center. There you can get lots of information about Ginzan Onsen and get a tourist destination stamp! Many places in Japan have tourist destination stamps so make sure to bring or purchase a small notebook so you can fill it up with free souvenirs.
Location: 429 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Enjoy Relaxing in an Onsen
When visiting Ginzan Onsen you can’t miss staying at a ryokan if not for the experience and local dining, but to also enjoy the soothing onsen waters. Each Ginzan Onsen ryokan has public baths for hotel guests but if you happen to be doing a day trip to Ginzan Onsen there are two public baths that anyone can enjoy. The first is Shiroganeyu which costs 500 yen per person. The second public bath is Omokage-yu which has the regular public onsen but also a private onsen you can rent for 50 minutes (2,000 yen).
During the day various Ginzan Onsen ryokan open their baths to the public for a few hours. Before visiting, check the hours for each ryokan because time slots vary by season. Most hotels charge somewhere between 500-1,500 yen per person.
READ MORE: A Quick Guide to Japanese Onsen Etiquette
Take Time to Soak Your Feet in the Town’s Foot Baths
In addition to visiting one of the public baths in Ginzan Onsen, take a moment to soak your feet in one of the free foot baths known as warashi-yu. After all, if you are visiting Japan for any time you’re bound to walk at LEAST 15,000 steps a day. The foot baths are the perfect place to slow down from the busy pace of life and rejuvenate your aching feet.
Location: Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Shop for Souvenirs at the Local Shops
No trip to Ginzan Onsen would be complete without a little souvenir shopping. Most inns, restaurants, and shops in Ginzan Onsen have small gift and souvenir areas but my favorite shop for Ginzan Onsen souvenirs is, Edoya. Edoya has a little of everything including onsen bath salts, small arts and crafts, snacks, sweets, onsen towels, and more. While there I purchased a few of my favorite onsen towels, a small magnet, and some postcards to send home!
Location: 410 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Purchase Some Local Sake from Yagihashi Shoten
Yamagata Prefecture is quite famous for its sake. In fact, Yamagata is the only prefecture designated to have an official Geographic Indication (GI) making it recognized by The World Trade Federation! GI certifies the product origin, quality, brand reputation, and features of the products sold. Think of it like champagne, to be considered champagne the wine can only be produced in the Champagne region of France with grapes from that region, otherwise it’s just sparkling wine. Similar regulations apply to Yamagata sake breweries.
That’s why when in Ginzan Onsen I recommend you go to Yagihashi Shoten to do a sake tasting and purchase some Yamagata sake to enjoy at your ryokan or take home! We bought four bottles of sake from Yagihashi Shoten with help from the owner who made recommendations based on our preferences. We gave one as a gift but the other three we purchased we enjoyed at Ginzan-so and home. They were all delicious!
Location: 448 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Try Curry Bread from Meiyuu
Meiyuu is a small snack bar in Ginzan Onsen that sells manju, kakigori (Japanese shave ice), curry bread, and other snacks. Japanese curry is one of our favorite dishes and this combines savory curry with a delicious piece of bread that is fluffy on the inside and has crunchy tempura texture on the outside. You can choose to enjoy your snack inside the small shop or take it with you to-go.
Location: 438-2 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Try Fresh Tofu from Ganso Tofu-ya
Another place to get a snack in Ginzan Onsen is Ganso Tofu-ya which serves soft and fried tofu available cold or hot. The tofu is made fresh daily and pairs perfectly with a local cider or Yamagata Beer which you can enjoy at one of the nearby tables along the river. Head there early because they close up for the day once they sell out!
Location: 427 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Buy A Postcard and Send it From the Ginzan Onsen Post Box
One of my favorite souvenirs to buy when traveling is postcards! They’re inexpensive, don’t take up space, and are always fun to look back on. While in Ginzan Onsen I recommend buying a postcard or two from a souvenir shop and some postage if you like! After writing your message, mail it to a friend, family member, or even yourself! The Ginzan Onsen Post Box has been a longstanding place to mail postcards from visitors around the world.
Location: 422 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Walk Along the Town Street in A Yukata at Night
Ginzan Onsen is beautiful during the day and busy with day trip tourists and overnight guests shopping and enjoying the scenic views but my favorite time to enjoy Ginzan Onsen is at night. As the sun sets, gas lamps are lit creating a picturesque view of the white plaster and slatted wooden buildings. Many people liken this Ginzan Onsen scenery to the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away. Although others are often strolling the street at night, it’s always peaceful and far less crowded than during the day so head out for a quick stroll or foot bath before turning in for the night.
Get A Hot Drink & Dessert from Sake Sabo Kurie
If you are looking for something sweet while strolling around Ginzan Onsen stop by Sake Sabo Kurie. This tiny cafe serves delicious desserts and you can enjoy a town view while you dine. Get a coffee or the signature hot chocolate with marshmallows and one of their many desserts such as purin (pudding) or a yummy chiffon cake.
Location: 410 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Enjoy A Bowl of Soba from Izu no Hana
One of the best meals to get on a cold day in Ginzan Onsen is a bowl of hot soba. This comforting dish has a rich, dashi-based broth with fresh soba noodles. You can get it hot or cold, both are terrific. One of the specialties at Izu no Hana is tempura nasu (eggplant) which has sliced pieces of lightly fried eggplant on top of the bowl of noodles. If you get it as a set it is also served with a bowl of rice, Japanese pickles, and grated daikon radish with shiso.
Location: 440 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Take the Windy Path into the Silver Mine Cave
It only makes sense to pay homage to the start of Ginzan Onsen by stopping by the place where the town began, the Silver Mine Cave. Although these mines are no longer operational, you can walk partly through the illuminated tunnel. If you want to see more of the silver mine you can venture 10-15 minutes more on the nature trail to see one of the mine shafts. Keep in mind that the Ginzan Onsen silver mine is often closed for hazardous conditions and closes early winter through late spring due to snow conditions.
Location: 362 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
Visit Ginzan Onsen’s Shirogane Falls
Towards the end of town is Senshinkyo Gorge. The scenery is ever-changing by the season making the dramatic landscape something you can’t miss. One of the top highlights in this area is Shirogane Falls, a 22-meter waterfall surrounded by seasonal foliage. The path to get there is flat but can be slippery depending on the time of year so be sure to use caution on the trail.
Location: 450-1 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan // MAP
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