August 2017 – One of the highlights of our trip to Japan was the Takaragawa Onsen (hot springs), located in the wider Minakami area. The Onsen has a unique touch which gives a feeling of traditional Japan as soon as you arrive. The energy of this little piece of paradise made me feel like a weight was lifted off my chest when I walked in. The staff was very welcoming, respectful and polite! If you have visited any part of Japan you know exactly what I mean. I wouldn’t expect anything less. When we checked in we were given yukata (a casual version of kimonos) and zori (Japanese sandals) to wear throughout our stay there. Truth be told that was the first time during our trip we had a chance to feel like locals.

The baths

Lush, mesmerizing sceneries, breathtaking views. We decided to visit the baths very early in the morning (6 a.m.) so we had them all for ourselves. The Onsen has four outdoor baths, three mixed gender and one for women only. There are also separate indoor baths for men and women. The Onsen staff will give you instructions as to what to wear in the baths. From our experience there, women wear a dress robe in the baths (provided by the Onsen) whilst men are not required to wear anything in the baths. They can, however, cover themselves using a small towel (provided by the Onsen).

Tattoos

It seems that the Onsen is tattoo friendly, it would be a good idea to cover your tattoos, however, prior entering the baths. Generally in Japanese hot springs access is restricted to customers with tattoos. The reason for this, is that people with tattoos are associated with members of Japanese organized crime (Yakuza) so before accessing any other Onsen be sure to do your research for any restrictions.

The rooms and the food

The rooms were very comfortable and traditional. People always ask me about the food and local cuisine. Those of you who know me well enough you’ll know that I am clueless when it comes to food tasting. Luckily, I had an amazing crew that absolutely loves Japanese cuisine, thus I can confidently say that the food was amazing. Being a vegetarian was not a problem at all, we enjoyed a tasty traditional buffet dinner.
If you want to feel the lifestyle of traditional Japanese this is your answer.

How to get there

From Tokyo get to the Jomo-Koegen train station (takes approximately 1.5 hours). From the Jomo-Koegen station you can get by bus to the Onsen. We bought the Minakami 3-days pass (costs ¥2100 approximately €15) and in approximately 1 hour you will get to the Onsen.

Tip no.1: Contact the Onsen in advance as they may offer a free ride from the station to the Onsen and back.

Tip no 2: To check the availability, pricing and timing of trains and other transportation means in Japan use the site hyperdia.com. We were impressed by the punctuality of all transportation means so be there on time.

When to get there

We visited the Onsen during August and the weather was just perfect (not cold and not hot either). If you love winter sceneries though you can definitely visit the Onsen during Autumn or Winter as well. Judging by what my friends said when they visited the Onsen in April, it will definitely feel like walking into a fairytale as everything will be covered in snow.

Sincere thanks to my cousin Leda and my friends Maria and Stefania for providing some captures from this wonderful adventure. Together with Ashley and Qeoni you made this a very unique adventure for me. Special thanks to the welcoming locals that shared their stories and made us feel like home.

Thank you ” Arigatōgozaimasu” in Japanese- (ありがとうございます)

What are you waiting for, book your stay at Takaragawa Onsen, you won’t regret it. The video below has been published on the Onsen’s official website.

But that’s not all we did in the Minakami area, we also did Bungee Jumping in a river near by. I will tell you more about this story later though.

You know what? I want to go back and explore more aspects of the Minakami area. I’ve done my research and it’s at the top of my bucket list.

Hint: Snow monkeys