Yutagawa Onsen [Yamagata]

【Yutagawa Onsen Summary】

Yudonosan Shrine【Yamagata]

羽黒山 出羽三山神社(五重塔までの道のり)【山形県】

羽黒山 出羽三山神社(山頂)【山形県】

【Yutagawa Onsen Yuzusame Shrine】

An ancient shrine protecting Yudagawa Hot Springs, it is an indispensable presence in this hot spring town.

Yuzusame Shrine【Yamagata]

【Yutagawa Onsen Front Hot Spring】

The Front Bath derives its name from its location directly in front of Yuzusame Shrine. It is a public bathhouse boasting one of the highest rates of fresh hot spring water inflow.

【Yutagawa Onsen Koi Pond】

It was once called “Water Lily Pond,” but now it seems to serve as a fire prevention reservoir for the hot spring town.

Koi have been released into the pond, and you can buy feed at the nearby shop “Paros Yudagawa.”

【Yutagawa Onsen Kuhe Ryokan】

This time, I stayed at Kyubei Ryokan, a small hot spring inn with just 13 rooms featuring a Japanese garden dating back to the mid-Edo period. It’s a renovated inn in the Yudagawa Onsen district, with clean and well-maintained toilets, showers, and all water facilities. The staff’s hospitality was outstanding, and they went above and beyond to make guests feel welcome.

In the garden, koi swim gracefully, a delight to watch. Incidentally, this hot spring is also associated with the author Shuhei Fujisawa, and you can borrow books and DVDs here. Perhaps some works were born while gazing at the Japanese garden where koi swim so elegantly.

The hot springs feature separate large baths for men and women on the first floor, and a private cypress bath on the third floor. The private bath in particular offers a hotter bath with water flowing directly from the source.

Additionally, guests staying at Kyubei Ryokan can also use the baths at the annex “Tamaya” and at the sister inn “Masuya” Ryokan.

Meals were served in private rooms with dedicated waitstaff, featuring high-quality ingredients and a variety of creatively prepared dishes. Everything from the sashimi to the sea bream rice was delicious. The photo shows breakfast, where Yamagata’s nationally renowned brand rice, “Tsuyahime,” was delicious and paired well with the side dishes.

By the way, as I drove around Yudagawa Onsen, I was surrounded by rice paddies and kept wondering, “Is there really a hot spring here?”…

【Yutagawa Onsen Nearby attractions】

Yuzusame Shrine, Chido Museum, Shonai Shrine, Shonai Domain School Chidokan, Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium, Mount Haguro, Dewa Sanzan Shrine

Yuzusame Shrine【Yamagata]

庄内藩校 致道館【山形県】

荘内神社と鶴岡公園【山形県】

致道博物館【山形県】

鶴岡市立加茂水族館【山形県】

羽黒山 出羽三山神社(五重塔までの道のり)【山形県】

羽黒山 出羽三山神社(山頂)【山形県】

【Yutagawa Onsen Access】

Manager’s Comments

As a hot spring town, it’s small in scale and lacks major attractions, but it remains quiet with few foreign visitors, preserving a quintessentially Japanese atmosphere. The night sky is beautiful with stars, and even if snow prevents sightseeing, relaxing with good food and lodging seems enjoyable. From mid-June to early July, you can stroll through the nearby “Firefly Village,” so I’d like to revisit during a different season.

Yutagawa Onsen

997-0752 Yudagawa Onsen, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

※Kyubei Ryokan has its own parking lot. There is also a free Yudagawa Onsen public parking lot available.

Approximately 20 minutes by Shonai Kotsu bus from JR Uetsu Main Line “Tsuruoka Station”

参考

湯田川温泉観光協会｜鶴岡の温泉、旅館の宿泊、観光情報も

湯田川温泉観光協会｜鶴岡の温泉、旅館の宿泊、観光情報も

関連投稿(Related Posts):

Yuzusame Shrine【Yamagata] Yudonosan Shrine【Yamagata] Motoki Stone Torii and Shōi-i Torii Inari Shrine [Yamagata] Beppu Itsukushima Shrine and Beppu Benten Pond [Yamaguchi]