[2025 Teshikaga ] Travel Guide for Kawayuonsen (Updated Jul)

Hokkaido: Walking around Kawayu Onsen in winter, Mt. Iou, and Lake Mashu❗️ Hokkaido is a recommended tourist spot in Eastern Hokkaido ✅Kawayu Onsen ✅Mt. Iou ✅Lake Mashu There are many great places to visit! ✅Kawayu Onsen →It's a hot spring with sulfur springs and the water is very nice. Even if you don't stay at the hot spring, you can take a day trip to bathe and enjoy a foot bath, so I recommend it! ✅Mt. Iou →Sulfur is spewing out! Frankly speaking, it's dangerous! lol You can get pretty close, but be careful You can feel the breath of nature❗️ ✅Lake Mashu →It's often said that Lake Mashu is foggy, but it's rare for it to be covered in fog. This time it looked beautiful❗️ #Snowscape#Kawayu Onsen#Mt. Iou#Lake Mashu#Hokkaido Tourism#Hokkaido Trip#Eastern Hokkaido Tourism#Eastern Hokkaido Trip

Shiretoko Five Lakes, Amanoko Road, Kamiko Pond, Rima Shu Observation Deck, Kussharo Lake Sand Bath, Kawayu Hot Spring, Ojuku Xinki Hot Spring, Bettei Honeysuckle The #Shiretoko Five Lakes, a must-visit spot when visiting #Shiretoko National Park, is also a World Natural Heritage Site. I visited it again after seven years and missed it very much. Last time I only walked the "elevated wooden path", this time I walked the "#abovegroundwalk". The ticket was 250 yen, and I had to fill out an application, attend a lecture and watch a video before I could hike freely. The route is divided into a small circle and a large circle, both of which are one-way. I walked the large circle, including taking photos, and walked back along the elevated wooden path. It took about 1.5 hours. There were quite a lot of tourists hiking, and some even hired guides. Maybe because there were so many people and the weather was cold, we didn't encounter any bears. The red leaves along the way have not yet fully bloomed. I found that the elevated wooden path is more beautiful this time. The lake view along the way is actually okay, but not as good as the highlands or the hiking spots last week. At noon, I had lunch at the "#Utoro Fishery Association Women's Department Canteen", which is a popular food with a long queue. Fortunately, I arrived early and didn't have to wait too long. After five minutes, a long queue started to form. After lunch, we drove for half an hour to "#天に続く道", which is truly the road to heaven. The observatory can also take pictures of the sunflower fields below. Another hour's drive brought us to the long-awaited secret spot "#神の子池". The regrets of 2017 were finally fulfilled today. Although the stone road was narrow, turning the car back was not a problem. It took less than a minute to walk from the parking lot to the wooden boardwalk, and we could quickly take pictures of the stunning scenery. It was much easier than the Biei Blue Pond, Aomori Jujuko Blue Pond, and Yamagata Maru Pond, and it was very easy to take pictures. This will be my regular spot in the future. After about ten minutes, we arrived at the "#RiMashu Observatory". Although the air was turbid, the visibility of Lake Mashu was high and the scenery was beautiful. Finally, we came to "Lake Kussharo" after seven years. We didn't take a bath in the "Sand Bath", but the sunset was beautiful and the atmosphere was like being in Europe. We arrived at "#お宿心喜浴二庭壬冬" at 17:00 in the evening. It is very close to "Kusharoko Sand Bath". It is a high-end hotel that was converted from an old facility. The main building "お宿心喜浴" is nearby, and you can take a bath in the main building for free. The room is not big, it is a Japanese style twin room, and it is comfortable to sleep in. The lobby is elegantly decorated, and the "Restrom Haspo Japanese-Yochu Buffet" buffet, which offers two meals per night, is highly rated. The all-you-can-drink dinner and the lounge area in the lobby are worth it. The crab legs, crab miso soup, and freshly made sushi for dinner are all good. The "Kawayu Onsen Village" is filled with the aroma of sulfur, the hiking trail outside is under construction, and the atmosphere of the stream smoking is great! There are many hot springs with the same or similar names in Japan. One of the three most beautiful hot springs in Japan is Yunokawa Onsen in Shimane Prefecture. One of the three most beautiful night views in Japan is the famous Hokkaido hot spring "Kawanoyu Onsen". Near the Ioyama Mountain in Eastern Hokkaido is the Kawayu Onsen in Teshikaga Town; Near the Kumano Kodo is the Kawayu Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture; At the border of Akita Prefecture is the "Yukawa Onsen" in Iwate Prefecture; There is also a hot spring with the same name in Ishikawa Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture called "Yukawa Onsen". Including tonight's accommodation, I have stayed in three places so far. I stayed in Hokkaido's "Kawanoyu Onsen" in May 2015 and Wakayama's "Kawayu Onsen" in March 2023. "Kawayu Onsen" located in the "#AkanMashuNationalPark" used to be a hot spring treatment site. It is adjacent to Lake Mashu to the east and Lake Kussharo to the west. The strongly acidic hydrogen sulfide contains bright and green springs, which are one of the few springs in Japan with volcanic characteristics. It has been a therapeutic spring since ancient times and has a high bactericidal effect. The spring quality is "acidic sulfur-containing iron-natrium-sulfate-halide spring (hydrogen sulfide type)". The electrical appliances here usually only last three years because they will be corroded by acid, so the hotel cost is relatively high. It is similar to the Aomori Sukayu Onsen, Akita Gosokake Onsen, which I visited earlier this month, and Tamagawa Onsen, which I will visit next week. They are also my favorite sulfur springs. After soaking in the large public bath at night, I walked to the main hotel in the morning to soak in the hot spring. The open-air bath has baths of different temperatures, and there are beautiful red maple leaves to take pictures along the way.

1. Event Overview From March to April every year, cherry blossoms bloom in Japan. As a World Heritage Site, the Kumano Kodo Trail, with its unique charm of "beautiful scenery and few crowds," becomes an excellent choice for hiking during cherry blossom season. It not only integrates the mystery of the thousand-year-old pilgrimage route but also perfectly interweaves pink cherry blossoms, ancient temples, hot springs, and mountain and sea scenery in spring. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced hiker, you can find a suitable route. Stroll through the cherry blossom forest during the day, and enjoy hot springs and stargazing at night, immersing yourself in the double gifts of nature and culture. 2. Itinerary (Two Routes Recommended) Route 1: Classic 20KM Light Hike + Cultural Exploration (5 Days and 4 Nights) Hiking Difficulty: ⭐ Total Mileage: 20KM Highlights: D1: Osaka → Wakayama City Hotel (Warm-up itinerary, experience Kansai style) D2: Okunoin Temple → Kongobuji Temple → Danjo Garan Temple → Kawayu Onsen (Cherry blossom viewing spots: cherry blossoms on the approach to Okunoin Temple, ancient temple cherry blossom shadows in Danjo Garan Temple) D3: Hosshinmon-oji Shrine → Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine → Tenryu Daigongen Shrine → Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine (Core section, cherry blossom forests and shrines complement each other) D4: Oji-no-hama Beach → Koya-saka Coastal Hike → Osaka (Coastal cherry blossoms framed by the blue Pacific Ocean) D5: Free time in Osaka, disband (Recommended to visit Osaka Castle Park night cherry blossoms) Route 2: Nakahechi Route 36KM In-depth Hike (6 Days and 5 Nights) Hiking Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Total Mileage: 36KM (Sections: D2-14KM / D3-12KM / D4-7KM / D5-3KM) Cumulative Ascent: 1,600m Highlights: D1: Gather in Tanabe City (Check in to a selected hotel in Tanabe City and experience the local culture) D2: Yunomine Onsen → Gyuba-doji Statue → Chikatsuyu-oji Shrine (Cherry blossom viewing spots: cherry blossoms at the Kumano Shrine stamp point on the plateau, cherry blossom forest on the Chikatsuyu Duck River bank) D3: Hosshinmon-oji Shrine → Oyugawara (Enjoy cherry blossoms under the world's largest torii gate, check in at the same location as in "Detective Conan") D4: Kamikura Jinja Shrine → Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine → Nachi Falls (Steep stone steps dance with cherry blossoms, stunning views of the waterfall and the three-storied pagoda) D5: Daimonzaka Slope → Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine → Katsuura City (Cherry blossom rain on the ancient road, enjoy a tuna feast in Katsuura at the end) D6: Disband in Osaka 3. Must-See Secret Cherry Blossom Spots Hosshinmon-oji Shrine: A cherry blossom tree in full bloom beside the tung oil road, a perfect spring filter. Oyugawara Cherry Blossom Forest: With the world's largest torii gate as the background, the cherry blossoms are like clouds and snow, perfect for taking photos. Yunomine Onsen to Kawayu Section: A cherry blossom tunnel along the stream. At night, the lights of the hot spring town reflect the cherry blossoms, like a dream. Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine Three-Storied Pagoda: Cherry blossoms, the vermilion pagoda, and the waterfall are in the same frame, selected as one of the "100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan." 4. Accommodation and Experiences Featured Hot Spring Hotels: Fujiya Ryokan in Kawayu: Open-air riverside hot spring, enjoy night cherry blossoms while soaking in the hot spring. Urashima Hotel: Cave hot spring facing the Pacific Ocean, wake up to see cherry blossoms dancing with the waves. Shiraraso Grand Hotel: The same hotel as in the "Detective Conan" animation, enjoy both the white sand beach and cherry blossoms. Cultural Experiences: Collect "Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Stamps" and unlock limited Goshuin. Participate in shrine morning prayers and experience the philosophy of Shintoism coexisting with nature. 5. Practical Tips Best Time: Late March to mid-April. Refer to the Japan Meteorological Agency forecast for specific flowering dates. Equipment Recommendations: Non-slip hiking shoes, lightweight backpack, foldable raincoat (frequent showers in spring). Transportation Guide: Take the JR Kuroshio train from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe (about 2.5 hours). It is recommended to purchase the Kansai Wide Area Pass. Some sections have infrequent bus services. You can book a taxi or chartered car in advance. (This product includes a chartered car.) Respect the Culture: No loud noises in the shrine. Wash your hands and rinse your mouth (Temizuya) before worshiping. 6. Why Choose the Kumano Kodo Trail? Beautiful Scenery and Few Crowds: Avoid the crowds in Kyoto and Tokyo, and enjoy the tranquility of the cherry blossom forest and ancient road. World Heritage Site: The hiking route connects the three major shrines (Hongu, Hayatama, and Nachi), a double shock of history and nature. Diverse Experiences: Hiking + hot springs + seafood (don't miss the freshly caught tuna at the Katsuura Fish Market). The cherry blossom season on the Kumano Kodo Trail is a romantic journey through a thousand years of faith and a sea of spring flowers. Whether you are lightly hiking or exploring in depth, you can find inner peace and the magnificence of nature amidst the fluttering cherry blossoms. While the spring is just right, embark on this "road where gods reside" and encounter your own cherry blossom story! ------------------------------ Click the link below for more details👇 ------------------------------    

Kawayu Shrine is a shrine located in the town of Kawayu Onsen. It is surrounded by hot springs, so the smell of sulfur wafts through the air. I thought it was interesting that the chozuya (purification fountain) is not water, but hot spring water✨ There are about 10 places in Japan where the chozuya (purification fountain) is hot water, but this is the only one in Hokkaido. When I was praying, there were four deer behind the shrine🦌 As expected of Hokkaido!! [Name] Kawayu Shrine [Address] 3-2-45 Kawayu Onsen, Teshikaga-cho, Kawakami-gun, Hokkaido 088-3465 #0 yen travel autumn #Hokkaido trip #Teshikaga sightseeing #Kawayu Shrine #Domestic travel

Hokkaido in winter is always a plan to keep up with the changes. Original plan: JR Kushiro to Chuanyu Hot Springs for sightseeing bus. Actual: Because of the blizzard, all the cars stopped. JR stopped at the Mozhan Station in advance. We were trapped at the Mo Zhou Station. The staff said that all the buses to Lake Mashu in the afternoon were gone. There is no taxi in this place. You can only wait for the Meiliu and Line bus to Chuantang Hot Spring Station in the afternoon. Today's itinerary is a bubble. All the attractions along the Mo Zhou Lake and Chuan Tang Hot Springs are closed. We went to a place, 2 km from Chuantang Hot Spring Station and a round trip to Sulphur Mountain. Kawagawa Onsen Station is a very small unmanned station. There is no staff in the small station. There is no heating. There is only one small restaurant. There is a timetable in the restaurant. Fortunately, there is a hot spring near the station. The pool, finally, drove the cold of the body. Although the small station is small, there is no train passing after the station is closed, so you can take pictures as much as you can. After dark, the station was getting colder and colder, and the temperature of the phone showed 12 degrees below zero.