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After golf, relax at an Onsen hot spring!
Yamanashi has many Onsen hot springs, and can be considered an Onsen heaven! It has a geological structure that is rare in the world, and 171 hot spring water sources are distributed across the area. There are also many Onsenkyo hot spring villages, as well as many Japanese-style inns and hotels that can be visited for day-trip bathing. There are also golf clubs where it is possible enjoy natural Onsen baths.
Fuji Golf Course has natural Onsen hot spring baths that are drawn from the Lake Yamanakako Onsen “Benifuji-no-Yu,” which are said to have skin-beautifying effects. Kai Hills Chateraise Country Club also has natural Onsen baths that can be enjoyed after playing golf. Kitanomori Country Club has naturally flowing Onsen baths at its hotel facility, and golf players can get rid of their fatigue here.
Enjoying this Onsen hot spring heaven with the whole family is highly recommended. It is possible to visit as a family, and for the mother and children to relax at an Onsen while the father is enjoying a game of golf. How about enjoying a mini vacation including relaxing with a massage or beauty treatment at a facility, tasting delicious foods, and stopping by a roadside station to find a souvenir that is unique to Yamanashi?
Kofu and Shosenkyo Gorge Area
“Yumura Onsenkyo Hot Spring Village” is an Onsen hot spring in Kofu City said to have been established 1,200 years ago by Kobo Daishi (Kukai), and it is famous as one of the “hidden Onsen of Takeda Shingen.” There are many inns here where Showa period literary masters, such as Osamu Dazai, Masuji Ibuse, and Seicho Matsumoto, stayed and wrote, and thus it has a rich background in terms of literature. The hot water here is soft and pleasant to bath in, and it is said that bathers to not experience any “after-bath chilly feeling” after bathing in this water.
Isawa Onsen, Koshu and Winery Area
“Isawa Onsenkyo Hot Spring Village” in Fuefuki City is located almost right in the middle of the Kofu Basin. This Onsengai hot spring town is one of Japan’s top Onsen sightseeing spots, and was awarded third place in a list of the “New 100 Best Sightseeing Spots of Japan.” In the spring, it is possible to see the entire area colored with the pink of cherry and peach blossoms. Also, in early summer, it is possible to enjoy picking peaches and grapes, and the area is bustling with events throughout the year such as the Battle of Kawanakajima Living Picture Scroll Reenactment and a fireworks festival. The water here is from a simple alkaline Onsen hot spring, and is considered to be effective for addressing nerve pain, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, fatigue, and so on.
Yatsugatake Area
The “Masutomi no Yu” Onsen hot spring, which is situated in a beautiful valley between Mt. Kinpu and Mt. Mizugaki, is famous for its water, which boasts abundant radium content. According to legend, this is a hidden Onsen that was discovered long ago by Takeda Shingen during the digging of a gold mine. It is said that bathing in water here at a low temperate of around 30 °C for about 30 minutes improves the body’s internal environment through the capillaries in the skin, raises the metabolism, and promotes the elimination of toxins from the body. It has gained popularity as a medical treatment Onsen that is effective with regard to nerve pain, rheumatism, diabetes, and so on.
Fujisan (Mt. Fuji) and Fujigoko (Fuji Five Lakes) Area
There are many Onsen hot springs in the areas around Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Yamanakako where it is possible to spend a luxurious time of bliss while gazing at nearby Mt. Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak. “Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsenkyo Hot Spring Village” has been blessed by Mt. Fuji with five hot spring water sources. Its chloride spring water is said to be effective for addressing nerve pain, muscle pain, poor circulation, fatigue, and so on.
Minami Alps and Kuonji Temple Area
“Shimobe Onsenkyo Hot Spring Village” is a gorge Onsen hot spring that is known as a hidden Onsen of Takeda Shingen. This is a tranquil Onsen spot located in a quiet mountain village along the Shimobegawa River, which flows into the Fujikawa River. Even among the many hidden Onsen, Shimobe is famous as a medical treatment Onsen, and has been attracting bathers seeking Onsen therapy long ago. The mineral spring water here is highly effective with regard to injuries and gastrointestinal problems, and has a somewhat low temperature of about 32 °C. Not only bathing in the spring water, but also drinking it is said to have significant health promoting effects. In addition, upriver from Hayakawa River, there is “Nishiyama Onsenkyo,” one of Japan’s best old Onsen. This charming Onsen surrounded by mountains provides beautiful views, and its spring water is known for being highly effective with regard to gastrointestinal problems, etc.
Otsuki and Linear Chuo Shinkansen Area
How about getting rid of fatigue at a pleasant and attractive Onsen hot spring such as: “Magi Onsen,” which offers seasonal beauty such as new green leaves and autumn leaves, “Akiyama Onsen,” which has a 100% free-flowing hot spring source, “Doshi no Yu,” which has an open-air bath that reopened after renovations in April 2016 and is popular among persons with poor circulation, and “Basho Tsukimachi no Yu,” which is surrounded by nature and has hot water with a faint sulfur aroma that comforts and soothes bathers.
There are also various Onsen hot springs located throughout the prefecture outside of these Onsenkyo hot spring villages. It is possible to refresh the mind and body by spending a luxurious moment relaxing in the hot water while gazing upon scenery such as majestic Mt. Fuji, beautiful forests, the seasonally-changing mountain scenery of the Minami Alps and Yatsugatake, star-filled skies, and the glittering nightscape of Kofu Basin! There is also an abundance of public Onsen facilities that can be enjoyed for affordable prices, so it is possible to have fun stopping by various Onsen whenever visiting Yamanashi for golf.
