“Take a dip in an open-air hot spring at the beach while watching the red sunset, or in a deep snow-covered mountain valley. “Train travel is the best way to visit Japanese hot springs hidden in every nook and cranny.”
Writer Park Seung-woo (pictured), who has traveled to Japan more than 160 times over 30 years, says, “Don’t go on a package tour to Japanese hot springs.” In his recently published book, ‘50 Japanese Hot Springs to Enjoy by JR Train’ (Deokju), he introduced a hot spring trip that can be enjoyed as a free train ride.
“Japan, which belongs to the Pacific Rim volcanic belt, has approximately 3,000 hot springs across the country. You can enjoy unexplored scenery such as enjoying an open-air hot spring at a beach hot spring while looking at the sunset over the open sea, an open-air hot spring in late fall with floating red maple leaves, a beautiful snowy plateau covered in heavy snow, or an open-air hot spring with snow falling in a deep valley in the mountains. “There are hot springs scattered throughout the area.”
Writer Park says, “However, if you go to a hot spring on a package tour, the places you can go are limited.” It is very difficult to get to the famous hot springs around the airport, such as Noboribetsu Hot Springs in Hokkaido, Hakone Hot Springs in Tokyo, and Beppu Hot Springs.
He says, “Even though transportation is expensive in Japan, you can visit various hot springs in every corner by using the rail pass for foreigners.” Japan has a JR railway network spanning 20,000 km from Hokkaido in the northernmost part to Kagoshima in the southernmost part. They sell a total of 12 JR passes that allow unlimited rides, and it is said that you can travel economically by purchasing a 3-day or 5-day pass for each region.
“Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, which can be reached in about 2 hours by limited express train from Tokyo, is completely unknown in Korea even though it has been selected as the best hot spring in Japan for 20 years. Most national highways in Japan have two lanes and the speed limit is 60 km/h, so it takes more than 4 hours from Tokyo to get there by bus. That’s why most local people take domestic package tours by train.”
Koganezaki Furofushi Hot Springs on the coast of Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Provided by author Park Seung-wooWhen I asked him to choose the best hot springs he had ever been to, he said that in addition to Kusatsu Onsen, △Koganezaki Furofushi Hot Springs on the seaside △Manza Kogen Hot Springs with open-air baths of 8 colors and ingredients on a 1800m plateau △Only two sedimentary deposits in the world I chose Tokachigawa Onsen in Hokkaido, a vegetable hot spring (Moor).
JR train leaving for hot springs. Provided by author Park Seung-woo“Koganezaki Furofushi Onsen must be reached by taking the sea train from Akita to Aomori. Hot spring water gushes out from a rock just 20 to 30 meters away from the beach with huge waves. There are waves crashing next to you, and when you soak in a hot spring bath dug into the rocks, the feeling of your heart opening up feels a little unrealistic.”
Author Park said, “One of the joys of traveling by train in Japan is eating over 3,000 types of ‘ekiben’ (train station lunch boxes) made and sold using regional specialties on each railway line,” and talked about various foods that can be enjoyed with a trip to hot springs. also introduced.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.