ARTICLES
Mysterious Patterns Formed by Hot Spring Minerals! Discover the Amazing Floor of Chihasekawa Onsen in Shimamaki Village
Shimamaki Village, facing the Sea of Japan, is a place rich in nature, surrounded by the sea and mountains. And of course, it has wonderful hot springs too. Today, we're introducing "Chihasekawa Onsen." You'll be amazed the moment you step into the bathhouse!
The characters for Chihasekawa (千走川) are read as "Chi-ha-se-ka-wa." This onsen was discovered in 1871. The "Chihasekawa Onsen Ryokan" we visited this time is a long-established inn, founded as a hot spring facility in 1885.
The moment you step from the changing room into the bathing area, you'll first be astonished by the patterns covering the entire floor. These unique geometric shapes are formed by the precipitation of hot spring minerals.
You'll also be surprised by the deep color of the water! Combined with the floor patterns, it truly enhances the onsen experience. The water quality of Chihasekawa Onsen is a Sodium - Bicarbonate/Chloride Spring (hypotonic neutral hot spring).
It was once classified as a "baking soda spring" and is said to be good for skin diseases, burns, and cuts as it softens the surface of the skin.
The spring's temperature is 37.1°C, which is a bit lukewarm. For this reason, it is slightly heated, but this doesn't seem to affect the mineral composition. Although not mentioned in the official water quality description, it contains a small amount of iron, and you can catch a faint scent of iron while soaking in the bath.
In addition to the indoor bath, Chihasekawa Onsen Ryokan also has an open-air bath, but it is closed during autumn when there are many fallen leaves and during the snowy season because it has no roof.
Despite its impactful appearance, the water of Chihasekawa Onsen feels surprisingly smooth on the skin. It's a great place to stop by after visiting Garo Falls (*) or hiking Mt. Kariba to soothe your travel fatigue. Of course, you can also stay overnight at Chihasekawa Onsen Ryokan.
Why not stop by when you visit Shimamaki Village?
*As of the end of November 2021, the walking trail to the falls is closed (due to the risk of collapse).
*If you want to get a better feel for the atmosphere of Chihasekawa Onsen, please check out our YouTube channel, "Howatto Yumeguri Hokkaido"!
＜Chihasekawa Onsen＞
Location: 561 Enoshima, Shimamaki-mura, Shimamaki-gun, Hokkaido
Phone: 0136-74-5409
Official Website: https://www.chihasekawaonsen.com/
The characters for Chihasekawa (千走川) are read as "Chi-ha-se-ka-wa." This onsen was discovered in 1871. The "Chihasekawa Onsen Ryokan" we visited this time is a long-established inn, founded as a hot spring facility in 1885.
The moment you step from the changing room into the bathing area, you'll first be astonished by the patterns covering the entire floor. These unique geometric shapes are formed by the precipitation of hot spring minerals.
You'll also be surprised by the deep color of the water! Combined with the floor patterns, it truly enhances the onsen experience. The water quality of Chihasekawa Onsen is a Sodium - Bicarbonate/Chloride Spring (hypotonic neutral hot spring).
It was once classified as a "baking soda spring" and is said to be good for skin diseases, burns, and cuts as it softens the surface of the skin.
The spring's temperature is 37.1°C, which is a bit lukewarm. For this reason, it is slightly heated, but this doesn't seem to affect the mineral composition. Although not mentioned in the official water quality description, it contains a small amount of iron, and you can catch a faint scent of iron while soaking in the bath.
In addition to the indoor bath, Chihasekawa Onsen Ryokan also has an open-air bath, but it is closed during autumn when there are many fallen leaves and during the snowy season because it has no roof.
Despite its impactful appearance, the water of Chihasekawa Onsen feels surprisingly smooth on the skin. It's a great place to stop by after visiting Garo Falls (*) or hiking Mt. Kariba to soothe your travel fatigue. Of course, you can also stay overnight at Chihasekawa Onsen Ryokan.
Why not stop by when you visit Shimamaki Village?
*As of the end of November 2021, the walking trail to the falls is closed (due to the risk of collapse).
*If you want to get a better feel for the atmosphere of Chihasekawa Onsen, please check out our YouTube channel, "Howatto Yumeguri Hokkaido"!
＜Chihasekawa Onsen＞
Location: 561 Enoshima, Shimamaki-mura, Shimamaki-gun, Hokkaido
Phone: 0136-74-5409
Official Website: https://www.chihasekawaonsen.com/
Writer Profile
Hokkaido Tourism Camera-Writer
Team Buchineko
We are "Team Buchineko," with many connections to tourist spots and facilities in Hokkaido. Even things that seem ordinary to us living in Hokkaido are wonderful resources. We aim to share the charm of this amazing prefecture.
