Tozawa Onsen

At the entrance of Higashiyama Onsen Town, there is the "Higashiyama Onsen Tourism Association," and it's recommended to start your tour of the hot spring town from here. The area around the "Yugawa" river that flows through the hot spring town is surrounded by greenery and offers a beautiful view. Walk along the river and enjoy the retro townscape and rich nature. The scenery of hot spring inns lining the river is full of charm. It's also attractive to be able to enjoy different views depending on the season.

Just a short walk from the Higashiyama Onsen Tourist Association, there is a foot bath area that anyone can enjoy for free. The foot bath, which is about 4 meters wide and sourced from natural hot springs, is said to have benefits for chronic women's diseases and arteriosclerosis, and also has stress-relieving effects from gently warming the feet. The temperature is not too hot or too cold, and you can relax in the comfortable warmth for as long as you like. Why not spend a leisurely time listening to the babbling of the nearby river?

In the hot spring town, there is a traditional shooting gallery operated by the tourist association. The fee is 500 yen for 7 shots. If you aim and shoot with an air gun and hit the target, you can win a prize. Even beginners can easily aim for prizes if they grasp the technique, so feel free to challenge yourself. The Higashiyama Onsen Shooting Gallery is a rare place where you can enjoy shooting, which has become less common even at festivals. Let's get excited with the whole family with this nostalgic game!

Walking upstream from the Yuyawa River in the Higashiyama Onsen district, you will find a monument to Yosano Akiko and Takehisa Yumeji's poems. The monument to Yosano Akiko features a poem she wrote about her memories of traveling with her husband, Yosano Tekkan. Meanwhile, the monument to Takehisa Yumeji, known for his beautiful paintings of geisha, features his poem "Yoi Matsukusa" which begins with the line "Matedo kurasedo..." and is accompanied by an illustration. By viewing these monuments, you can feel the atmosphere of Higashiyama Onsen, which was loved by literati and artists.

The Higashiyama Bon Dance is a "summer tradition" in Higashiyama Onsen. It's an event where hot spring guests and citizens gather around a tower built on the Yukawa River and enjoy Bon dancing together. The dance is performed to the folk song "Aizu Bandaisan" and accompaniment, but hot spring proprietresses, geisha, and local company employees serve as models, so even those who don't know the Higashiyama Bon Dance can enjoy it easily. It's a festival where you can feel the connections and kindness among people, so if you visit Higashiyama Onsen in the summer, be sure to actively participate!

Hagurosan Yudono Shrine is a shrine founded by Gyoki about 1,300 years ago. It is famous for its deep connection with the Haguro Shrine in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, and both shrines enshrine the same deity, Kuraokami-no-kami. To reach the shrine, you must climb a total of 1,225 steps, which takes about an hour round trip. Every year, from New Year's Eve to New Year's Day, a "Genshomyo" pilgrimage is held, and many citizens and tourists visit the shrine in the snow. There are blessings for safety and good health, so if you are confident in your physical strength, climb up to the main hall and pay your respects.