Nishiawakura Village - 西粟倉村
(Awakura Onsen - あわくら温泉)
Yutopia Ougon Onsen (Awakura Onsen)
Yutopia Ougon Onsen (Awakura Onsen)
Japanese Name: ゆ〜とぴあ 黄金温泉Prefecture: OkayamaCity: Nishiawakura (Awakura Onsen)Address: 〒707-0503 岡山県英田郡西粟倉村影石2072‐6Access: Chizukyuko Railway, Awakura Onsen Station / 智頭急行 あわくら温泉駅 (20min walk)Category: Hot Spring FacilityWebpage: https://awakura-gr.com/ougonsen/Price: ¥700Holiday: TuesdayHours: 10:00-21:00
Review:I found this onsen looking around maps of train lines. Any station with onsen in the name needs to be investigated. There appear to be two facilities that use Awakura Onsen up in the middle of nowhere along the Okayama and Tottori border. This is a beautiful and very rural section of Japan. The station is about 15 to 20 minutes walk from the location, but we were driving. If you come by train also be aware that trains only come once an hour or less. Time your trip! A bit south of the station is a michi no eki (roadside station) with a restaurant, omiyage store, and local produce stand. If you spend ¥500 or more you can get a discount coupon for the hot spring, which I did. The hot spring is common rural dayspring looking in the entrance hall. Changing room is a bit stoic also, but the baths are large and the outdoor area is well designed. This is radioactive cold water spring that is heated. The spring is only somewhat noticeable on the skin but it has that air of freshness that you can get from radioactive springs. There is a single municipal water cold water bath that has a tanuki shaped tub. It is quite popular with the sauna users but makes sure to get a turn in it. There are only a few showers for washing off in this facility. There are some outdoor areas but Okayama Prefecture changed the laws to make outdoor bathing areas illegal and they had to be shut off. So strange as outdoor bathing areas are rare but seemingly fine in Hyogo. It is an interesting and pretty rare spot. If you happen to be in the area, check it out!
Visit Date: August 2020 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Radioactive spring - 放射能泉Well Temperature: 14.6°CTemperature Type: Cold spring - 冷鉱泉pH:pH Type: Weak alkaline - 弱アルカリ性Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性Well Name: Awakura Onsen - あわくら温泉
Review:I found this onsen looking around maps of train lines. Any station with onsen in the name needs to be investigated. There appear to be two facilities that use Awakura Onsen up in the middle of nowhere along the Okayama and Tottori border. This is a beautiful and very rural section of Japan. The station is about 15 to 20 minutes walk from the location, but we were driving. If you come by train also be aware that trains only come once an hour or less. Time your trip! A bit south of the station is a michi no eki (roadside station) with a restaurant, omiyage store, and local produce stand. If you spend ¥500 or more you can get a discount coupon for the hot spring, which I did. The hot spring is common rural dayspring looking in the entrance hall. Changing room is a bit stoic also, but the baths are large and the outdoor area is well designed. This is radioactive cold water spring that is heated. The spring is only somewhat noticeable on the skin but it has that air of freshness that you can get from radioactive springs. There is a single municipal water cold water bath that has a tanuki shaped tub. It is quite popular with the sauna users but makes sure to get a turn in it. There are only a few showers for washing off in this facility. There are some outdoor areas but Okayama Prefecture changed the laws to make outdoor bathing areas illegal and they had to be shut off. So strange as outdoor bathing areas are rare but seemingly fine in Hyogo. It is an interesting and pretty rare spot. If you happen to be in the area, check it out!
Visit Date: August 2020 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Radioactive spring - 放射能泉Well Temperature: 14.6°CTemperature Type: Cold spring - 冷鉱泉pH:pH Type: Weak alkaline - 弱アルカリ性Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性Well Name: Awakura Onsen - あわくら温泉