Winter Fun! Experience the same hot springs as in Spirited Away at Ginzan Onsen

Ginzan Onsen is located in the heart of Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. It was discovered about 400 years ago during the mining of silver, and since then, it has been used as a long-term therapeutic hot spring with a long history. The spring water is milky white, with temperatures exceeding 55 degrees Celsius, and is said to be effective in relieving fatigue, soothing tension, and alleviating symptoms of cold hands and feet. ▫️ Suitable for a two-day, one-night happy journey, it's hard to book a hotel, so be sure to stay there for one night if you have the chance. If you're coming for photography, you'll need to catch the last bus at 6 pm, which is a bit tight on time. Driving on snowy mountain roads at night is also unsafe, so staying overnight is recommended. 📍 Yamagata Prefecture, Oishida Town, Ginzan ▫️ Transportation: From JR Oishida Station, take a shuttle bus to Ginzan Onsen Station, about a 40-minute ride. ❄️ The most famous 'Notoya Ryokan' was built in 1921 and has been registered as a Japanese national cultural property. The traditional and elegant atmosphere permeates the wooden four-story main building. The exterior of the bathhouse and the red bridge extending in front of the building have become dreamy photo spots for many tourists and photographers. In recent years, Ginzan Onsen Street has become even more famous for resembling the animated scenes in Spirited Away. 🏨 How to Book a Hotel Be sure to book your hotel in advance. Generally, booking about three months in advance is best. Last-minute bookings can be difficult. Search for Ginzan Onsen on Google, and many ryokans will appear. Choose according to your preferences. The most famous are Notoya and Fujiya, which are very hard to book. Attention ⚠️ The winter season at Ginzan Onsen lasts from mid-December to March of the following year, with the peak from early January to mid-February. Be sure to keep warm with scarves, gloves🧤, and snow boots👢. Try a foot bath or a day trip to the hot springs on the hot spring street, which is also very interesting. * The best time for a stroll on Ginzan Onsen Street is in the evening when the temperature drops at night, so bring warm clothing. * The Zao region has strong UV rays during the day, and the ground is mostly covered with white snow, so it's recommended to bring sunglasses. Ginzan Onsen! Recommended Play Ginzan Onsen + Zao Wonders Tokyo - Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi - Ginzan Onsen Street - Stay in the Zao area or a hot spring hotel Zao Tree Ice - Zao Fox Village - Return to Tokyo It's best to plan two or three days to fully enjoy the experience. In winter, the Zao Mountains form a spectacular display of ice trees. From November to December each year, the conifers on Mount Zao begin to ice over❄️; by January, the strong cold winds cause the ice trees to grow in size and shape; February is the most spectacular period for the ice trees❄️. Whether viewed from afar or up close, the sight is breathtaking. You can take a cable car for a 360-degree aerial view of the frozen wonderland; or ride the 'Snow Monster' snowmobile through the vast white expanse of ice trees. * Miyagi Zao Fox Village, The Fox Village🦊 is a village in the northwestern part of Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, known for its foxes🦊. The Fox Village is a magical place with 6️⃣ types and over 100 foxes🦊, where visitors can have close encounters, feed them, or even pet them. Capture the fun of finding foxes in the woods or feeding them, and you might even get the chance to hold a fox. * Fukushima Ouchi-juku is the 'Shirakawa-go' of the Kanto region, preserving the architectural style of the Edo period. With its strong Japanese atmosphere, it becomes a fairy-tale world in the snow, just like 'Shirakawa-go'. Nikko Toshogu Shrine It is a shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the last shogun of the Edo shogunate in Japan. In December 1999, including Nikko Toshogu Shrine, 'Shrines and Temples of Nikko' were registered as a World Heritage Site. After Tokugawa Ieyasu's reign, he conquered the territories of various warlords with military force, unifying all of Japan. After his death, he was revered as the guardian deity of the Edo shogunate, Toshogu, hence the name Toshogu Shrine.