A New Scorching Spring City With a Lengthy Historical past

Kawarayu Onsen is a sizzling spring city that’s virtually a thousand years outdated in Agatsuma District in Gunma Prefecture. It was first found in 1193 by Japan’s first shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo (源頼朝), the founding father of the Kamakura shogunate. As a result of Kawarayu Onsen is near Kusatsu Onsen, the city thrived as its Agariyu (上がり湯), the place vacationers would cease by to neutralize Kusatsu’s robust acidic sizzling spring.

Nevertheless, the Kawarayu Onsen has turn out to be part of Yamba Dam (八ッ場ダム) since its completion in late 2019. However the nice information is the new spring city is relocated to the dam lake’s shore due to the newly found sizzling spring supply! So should you love sizzling springs, how about visiting this newly created onsen city with a protracted historical past?

The Points of interest in Kawarayu Onsen

Kawarayu Onsen Play Base NOA (川原湯温泉あそびの基地NOA)

Simply in entrance of JR Kawarayu Onsen Station, Kawarayu Onsen Play Base NOA is a multi-purpose leisure facility geared up with a campground, a public bathhouse, and a restaurant. It additionally gives water exercise excursions at Yamba Dam Lake and has barbeque amenities. Should you haven’t obtained something deliberate for the day, the vacationer data counter on the primary ground can tremendously assist.

The campsite and the barbeque facility are simply by the lake shore. One of the best factor about Kawarayu Onseneki Campsite is the tents, and every thing else are arrange for you. Relying on the plans chosen, you may even come empty-handed! In case you are a vegan/vegetarian, it’s best to deliver your favourite greens or mushrooms.

Kawarayu Onseneki Campsite’s Scorching Spring Facility and Accessible Companies

A bonus of renting a campsite in a sizzling spring city is you may get pleasure from each the outside adventurous vibe and the good onsen. When you should rejuvenate, head to Sasayu (笹湯) to get pleasure from Kawarayu Onsen’s sizzling spring. Though it isn’t a free facility, the price is affordable. The new spring at Sasayu is sourced from the onsen supply constantly. As it’s not circulated, chemical compounds to disinfect the water aren’t used.

Notice it’s best to deliver your towel and toiletry set, as solely cleaning soap is obtainable.

Apart from the general public bathhouse, renting a wood-fired outside tub and a sauna tent can also be attainable.

Tip: You’ll get a reduction for Sasayu’s admission payment should you additionally lease out the tent web site or barbeque facility.

Kawarayu Onsen Play Base NOA additionally gives bicycle rental companies. As an alternative of relying in your foot, how about renting a bicycle and biking between Kawarayu Onsen’s points of interest? Should you love water sports activities, you may both be a part of a SUP or canoe tour or lease the gear from the ability.

For extra details about the ability, seek advice from the official web site HERE and translate it utilizing Google Chrome’s translation operate on the proper of the deal with bar.

Kawarayu Shrine (川原湯神社)

Kawarayu Shrine is the guardian shrine of the new spring city. Initially, the sacred web site was a temple enshrining the Therapeutic Buddha, constructed above Kawarayu Shrine’s spring sauce. Magically, its new location can also be subsequent to Kawarayu Onsen’s newly found onsen supply!

You may discover the constructing is comparatively new in comparison with different shrines in Japan. Whereas the shrine already existed within the Edo interval, it suffered from repetitive fireplace hazards, and the final time it was burnt down was in 2001. As an alternative of reconstructing the shrine in its unique location, it was constructed on the sizzling spring city’s new location in 2017. Because of this it’s weirdly sandwiched between the motorway and the embankment of the mountain.

Though the torii gate and the shrine constructing have been misplaced within the fireplace hazard in 2001, the stone Buddha and God statues lined the method have been carved a whole bunch of years in the past.

Easy methods to Get to Kawarayu Shrine

Ōyu Scorching Spring (王湯)

Ōyu was one of many three public bathhouses within the outdated Kawarayu Onsen and is the one public bathhouse that was relocated. Whether or not you might be after a sizzling spring session or not, go to it as it’s the image of the new spring city. It’s also the place you may see the Minamoto household crest shaped by bamboo grass and gentians (笹竜胆).

The onsen within the bathing tub is a impartial spring with a pH of seven.2 and is mild on the pores and skin. Though it has a light-weight sulfur odor like Kusatsu Onsen, you may soak within the onsen for an prolonged period of time with out hurting your pores and skin. It’s stated the new spring is sweet for neuralgia, rheumatism, gastrointestinal ailments, girls’s ailments, and extra. Because the landmark of Kawarayu Onsen, folks would go to Ōyu even when they’re an onsen ryokan visitor!

Ōyu’s location is great. From the outside sizzling spring pool, you may adore the gorgeous Yamba Agatsuma Lake (八ツ場あがつま湖) and the mountains surrounding it.

Notice that the new spring tubs are small. The open-air pool has a capability of round 5 folks, and the indoor pool can match round 10 folks. So on weekends and public holidays, you may want to attend for the bathe facility and even enter the new spring swimming pools.

Ideas:
☛ Small free coin-operated lockers can be found. The bigger ones aren’t free.
☛ There’s a spacious tatami mat-covered resting room on the second ground so that you can chill at after a sizzling spring session.
☛ Merchandising machines promoting drinks and snacks can be found.

Ōyu Scorching Spring’s Enterprise Hours, Admission Charges, and Entry Data

Roadside Station Yamba Furusato-kan (道の駅 八ッ場ふるさと館)

Should you plan to drive from Kusatsu Onsen, the Roadside Station Yamba Furusato-kan is at Kawarayu Onsen’s entrance. Like different roadside stations in Japan, it’s the place you may supply recent elements and native specialties. The candy cabbage bought right here is particularly beneficial. Roadside Station Yamba Furusato-kan additionally has a foot spa. Should you want a towel to dry your ft afterwards, it may be bought from the roadside station.

The roadside station additionally sells freshly baked breads. Should you eat eggs and dairy, get a Damyaki (ダム焼き). The dam-shaped cake has both custard cream or purple bean paste. The Asama Kogen Milk Comfortable Serve (浅間高原牛乳ソフト) is one other must-try if you’re a candy tooth.

For a particular memento, get a pack of Shio Ama Nattō (塩あま納豆). Scarlet runner bean (Hanamame, 花豆) is Gunma Prefecture’s specialty. The confectionery made utilizing the beans is often present in Gunma, however you may hardly discover the salted sweetened dried beans.

Apart from purchasing and eating, you may as well accumulate Yamba Dam’s dam card from the roadside station. It’s a card with the dam’s picture printed on one facet and its profile on the opposite.

Furthermore, electric-assisted bicycles will be rented from Roadside Station Yamba Furusato-kan between 9 am and 4:30 pm. The price of a bicycle rental is 1,000 yen for two hours or 2,000 yen per day. You can too return the bicycle to Kawarayu Onsen Play Base NOA. Seek advice from HERE for the beneficial route.

Lastly, you should purchase a ticket from Roadside Station Yamba Furusato-kan to board the Yamba Nygaten-gō (八ッ場にゃがてん号). It’s a bus that may drive on regular roads and cruise Yamba Agatsuma Lake!

Roadside Station Yamba Furusato-kan’s Opening Hours and Entry Data

Fudoo Bridge (不動大橋) and Fudō Falls (不動の滝)

Fudoo Bridge is without doubt one of the three bridges which are part of Yamba Dam’s development. The 590-meter-long bridge is the world’s first extradosed bridge from metal and concrete composite truss.

Coming from the Roadside Station Yamba Furusato-kan, the 90m Fudō Falls and Yamba Agatsuma Lake (八ツ場あがつま湖) from Fudoo Bridge are the primary two pure scenic views of the new spring city. The waterfall often has a big quantity of water coming down the cliff. Though it’s onerous to inform from Fudoo Bridge, the Fudō Falls is a three-tier waterfall. The a part of the Fudō Falls that’s seen from the bridge is the underside a part of it.

The distinction between the purple leaves and the white waterfall is gorgeous in autumn. In winter, it’s possible that the Fudō Falls will turn out to be an icefall, supplying you with one more reason to go to Kawarayu Onsen. As Fudō Falls and Fodoo Bridge are inside strolling distance from JR Kawarayu Onsen Station (川原湯温泉駅) and the new spring city, cease by throughout your keep!

On the opposite finish of Fudoo Bridge, there’s a small temple known as Kawarayu Fudōdō (川原湯不動堂), enshrining the Fudō Myōō (不動明王) or Immovable Knowledge King in English. Should you plan to drive, the temple’s small car parking zone has a capability of three automobiles. Kawarayu Fudōdō has greater than 700 years of historical past. It was additionally relocated from the outdated Kawarayu Onsen web site. Fudō Falls will also be seen near the temple. Contained in the temple, there are lots of swords and tin plates. They have been provided by pilgrims within the Meiji and Showa intervals to hope for victory in wars.

Yamakikan (山木館)

One factor that many worldwide vacationers would like to expertise in Japan is staying at a conventional ryokan. While you go to Kawarayu Onsen, Yamakikan, with greater than 350 years of historical past, is the very best ryokan on the town for a style of the standard Japanese ambiance. On prime of the wood construction from a number of centuries in the past, Yamakikan is embellished with numerous outdated posters and city maps, supplying you with a clearer thought of how the onsen city used to look. As well as, Yamakikan has a personal onsen tub and a library renovated from conventional storage!

For extra data, seek advice from our article on Yamakikan!

Yamba Ohashi Bridge (八ッ場大橋) and Bungy Japan Yamba Bungy (八ッ場バンジー)

Yamba Ohashi Bridge, accomplished in 2014, is without doubt one of the three bridges crossing the Agatsuma River as part of the Yamba Dam development undertaking. The bridge closest to Yamba Dam gives a panoramic view of the dam lake.

As it’s between Fudoo Bridge and Yamba Dam, Yamba Ohashi Bridge is a good spot for a photograph of Kawarayu Onsen‘s two fashionable vacationer spots. There may even be a number of monkeys crossing the bridge while you get there (^_-)-☆.

In case you are after some thrill, go to Bungy Japan Yamba Bungy, near Yamba Ohashi Bridge. In any case setups are accomplished, you’ll soar off the bridge 45 meters above the water!

For extra details about bungy soar, seek advice from the official web site HERE.

Yamba Dam and the Surrounding Points of interest

Yamba Dam (八ッ場ダム) on the south finish of the Agatsuma Gorge is undoubtedly the outstanding landmark of Kawarayu Onsen. It will probably even be stated that the development of Yamba Dam made the new spring city well-known. So when planning your go to to the new spring city, bear in mind to allocate an hour or two to this scenic and spectacular spot!

For what to anticipate on the day, seek advice from our article on Yamba Dam and the Surrounding Points of interest!

Mugi no Kaori (うどん専科 麦の香り)

Should you don’t thoughts the broth/dipping sauce isn’t vegetarian, cease Mugi no Kaori while you go to Yamba Dam. It is without doubt one of the hottest eating places in Kawara Onsen. The restaurant has a welcoming and homey ambiance, and the pricing at Mugi no Kaori is affordable, making it a hidden gem within the sizzling spring city.

Sanuki udon is served on the restaurant, so the noodles are chewier than standard. Apparently, the proprietor was skilled in eating places within the northern Shikoku area the place Sanuki udon originated. For a facet dish, the crispy tempura is wonderful! Combining the 2, order a bowl of vegetable tempura udon (野菜天うどん)! However bear in mind to let the workers know to take away the bonito flakes if you’re a vegetarian/vegan.

Mugi no Kaori has a number of several types of seating, together with the Japanese-style low tables. When the climate is sweet, the terrace seats are beneficial. You may encounter different buyer’s pretty canine there too!

Ideas:
☛ Arrive earlier than midday is beneficial to keep away from queueing up for a desk. Particularly on weekends and public holidays, Mugi no Kaori will be practically full quickly after it opens.
☛ Ordering a big serving is healthier for individuals who are inclined to eat rather a lot.

Mugi no Kaori’s Enterprise Hours and Entry Data

Agatsuma Gorge (吾妻渓谷)

Agatsuma Gorge is a must-visit scenic spot in Kawarayu Onsen. The gorgeous gorge tucked away within the mountains of Gunma is a designed Nationwide Place of Scencry Magnificence. Particularly in the course of the autumn leaves and recent inexperienced seasons, the sheer valley is so lovely that it’s buried in purple and inexperienced bushes!

So seek advice from our Agatsuma Gorge article for what to anticipate on the day!

Yamba Tenmeideiryu Museum (やんば天明泥流ミュージアム)

Deiryū (泥流) is the Japanese for mudflow. In 1783, Mt. Asama erupted. Because of this, a large mudflow buried the villages in Yamba. Taking the chance of Yamba Dam’s development work, excavation of the ruins web site happened, and the result’s recorded in Yamba Tenmeideiryu Museum. On the identical web site is a part of the previous Naganohara City Daiichi Elementary College constructing. It is without doubt one of the oldest wood college buildings in Gunma Prefecture and was positioned from the submerged web site of the Yamba Dam.

The movie is performed at 15 to 20-minute intervals.

Yamba Tenmeideiryu Museum’s Exhibition Areas

Yamba Tenmeideiryu Museum’s Opening Hours, Admission Charges, and Entry Data

Yukake Competition (湯かけ祭り)