[2025 Obanazawa Hotels] Travel Guide for Kosekiya Bekkan (Updated Jul)

Deep in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, lies a magical hot spring town—Ginzan Onsen. When the first snow quietly blankets the rooftops, the entire town seems to transport you back to the Taisho era, enveloping everything in a gentle and serene atmosphere. Here, there are no towering buildings, only wooden inns, iron lanterns, and old street architecture lining both sides of the river. As night falls and the lights illuminate the streets, the crunching sound of snow underfoot will make you understand why this place is hailed as one of Japan's most beautiful hot spring towns. 🏡 Must-See Highlights: • Taisho Romantic Street Views: The nostalgic charm of century-old inns like "Notoya" and "Kosekiya". • Ginzan River Walkway: Stroll along the river, where both daytime and nighttime offer unique scenery. The evening lights evoke a "Spirited Away" vibe. • Shirogane Waterfall: Located at the end of the hot spring street, this waterfall is the origin of Ginzan's name. In winter, it's covered in ice and snow, offering a distinctive view. • Snowy Outdoor Bath Experience: If you stay at one of the inns, don't miss the open-air baths. Soaking in hot springs amidst falling snow is the ultimate indulgence. 🗺️ Tips: • Transportation: From Yamagata Shinkansen "Oishida Station," take a shuttle bus for about 40 minutes. • Best Visiting Season: Winter (December–February) for fairytale-like snow scenes; autumn for stunning red foliage.

🌟 Ginzan Onsen Travel Guide 🌟 📍 Location & Transportation • 🚅 From Tokyo: Take the JR Yamagata Shinkansen to Oishida Station (~3h25m), then transfer to the Ginzan Hanagasa Bus (~40m). • 🚌 From Yamagata Airport: Take the OISHII Sightseeing Bus (~1h15m). • 🚗 Self-drivers must park at designated lots outside town center; many ryokans offer shuttle services. 🏨 Recommended Stays • 🏨 Notoya Ryokan: Established in 1892, this National Important Cultural Property features unique rooms and stunning night views. • 🏨 Kosekiya: Offers day-trip onsen with stained-glass indoor baths exuding retro charm. • 🏨 Fujiya: Enjoy premium service, local cuisine, and romantic nightscapes of the onsen street. 🚶 Must-See Spots • 🌉 Kajika Bridge: A nostalgic red-brick bridge from the Showa era, perfect for photos. • 🌊 Shiragane Falls: 20m-tall waterfall surrounded by snow in winter. • 🏰 Nobesawa Silver Mine Ruins: Free-to-visit Edo-period mine designated as a historic site. • 🎨 Sakan Plaster Art: Admire intricate traditional plaster murals along the streets. ♨️ Onsen Experiences • 🛁 Day-Trip Onsen: Many ryokans offer baths for non-guests. • 🛁 Shirogane-no-Yu: Designed by Kengo Kuma, this affordable public bath overlooks the town. 🍽️ Local Eats • 🍜 Yamagata Soba: Regional specialty noodles. • 🍔 Curry Bread: Try the crispy-spicy version at Hikarasantoori near the town entrance. • 🍵 Toasted Marshmallow Hot Cocoa: Pair with pour-over coffee at Café CRIE. 📸 Photo Ops • 🌇 Nighttime Onsen Street: Stroll in yukata with lanterns reflecting on water. • 🌟 Snow-Covered Street: Winter transforms Ginzan into a Spirited Away scene. 📅 Best Seasons • 🌸 Spring (Mar-May): Cherry blossoms & mild weather. • ❄️ Winter (Dec-Feb): Magical snowscapes & peak onsen season. 💡 Tips • 📆 Book ryokans early, especially in peak seasons. • 🌨 Winter visitors: Pack warm gear for icy paths. • 🕰️ Note bus schedules (Oishida Station buses run every 60-90 mins). 🎉 May this guide make your Ginzan Onsen trip unforgettable!

"Kosekiya Annex" Today, we would like to introduce you to Kosekiya Annex, located in Ginzan Onsen, Yamagata. 🏨 It is filled with the atmosphere and sentiment of the Taisho era, and is located in the perfect location right in the middle of Ginzan Onsen. The retro Japanese-style architecture is wonderful. In particular, the view from the rooms on the second floor facing the river is typical of Ginzan Onsen! You can also enjoy the free-flowing sulfur springs that are just like those in the Taisho era. ♨️ Soft drinks are all-you-can-drink, and alcohol is also all-you-can-drink until 12 noon. The food is delicious, and the staff are polite and hospitable. It's a wonderful inn 🥰 *·̩͙ ☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎ⓘⓝⓕⓞ☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙☽︎︎.*·̩͙ 🏨 Kosekiya Annex 📌417 Ginzan Shinhata, Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧 ˒˒𖡼.𖤣𖥧 ⠜ 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧˒˒. ⓣⓗⓐⓝⓚ ⓨⓞⓤ 𖥧 𖥧 𖧧 #Yamagata Hotel #Ginzan Onsen #Kosekiya Annex #Trip Accommodation Report

🤔Tohoku is so low-key that even the Japanese are unfamiliar with it, but here you can find the Kamikakushi Ginzan Onsen in Spirited Away, the spectacular tree ice wonders of Mount Zao, and the world heritage city of Nikko... It always brings surprises to your warm winter trip - 【Highlights】 🐮Yonezawa Wagyu｜Marbled meat that melts in your mouth, one of the top three Wagyu beef in Japan ♨Ginzan Onsen｜The wooden hot spring town is like the hidden world in "Spirited Away" 🗻The beauty of nature｜Magical ice on the mountains and trees, spectacular ice waterfalls on the streams 🌈Winter Limited｜Ashikaga Fantasy Illumination Blooms, One of the Three Major Illuminations in Japan ♨️Hot ​​spring tour｜A visit to Ginzan Onsen, Zao Onsen and Nikko Onsen - 【Meet on the road】 ✅Yamagata｜Ginzan Onsen, Zao Onsen, Yamagata Zao Ice Trees ✅Miyagi｜Zao Okama, Katamage Shrine, Miyagi Zao Juhyo, Togatta Onsen, Kokeshi making, Zao Fox Village ✅Tochigi｜Tamozawa Imperial Residence Memorial Park, Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls, strawberry picking and tasting, Ashikaga Flower Park Light-up - 【Stay】 🏡Kosekiya Annex｜Like the hot spring house in Spirited Away, the top floor has a romantic guest room, hot springs gush directly from the source, and Japanese beef food is top-notch 🏡Miyazanso Takamiya｜A 300-year-old wooden building with interesting guest rooms. Enjoy your bathing time with 9 types of bathtubs formed by its own source of hot springs 🏡Hot Spring Villa Daigenzhihua｜There are only 18 rooms in the 10,000-ping forest. You can enjoy the 400-year-old tea-brown warm soup at any time. The food ingredients are mainly home-grown vegetables, which are very fresh and tender. 🏡Nikko Ritz-Carlton｜The first Ritz-Carlton to offer Japanese-style hot springs, with natural sulfur hot springs as the main feature. The private balcony and semi-outdoor lounge area introduce the beauty of the four seasons of Oku-Nikko - 【Exquisite delicacies】 🍓Strawberries｜Tochigi has the largest strawberry production in Japan, and Tochiotome is the most delicious. Picking strawberries yourself is a special kind of fun 🔥Grilled Beef Tongue｜A specialty of Sendai, beef tongue is cooked, seasoned and grilled. The meat is tender, marinated and full of oil. 🐮Yonezawa Wagyu｜One of the three major Wagyu beefs in Japan, along with Matsusaka beef and Kobe beef, its characteristics are its melting taste and sweetness. - 【Itinerary Overview】 ❄D1 Fairy Tale Street ♨️ Arrive in Yamagata and stroll along Ginzan Onsen Street ❄D2 Ice and Snow Exotic 🗻Yamagata: Watching the frost trees at Zao Mountain and relaxing at Zao Hot Springs 🎎Miyagi: Watching the frost trees on Mount Zao, Okama, Kataming Shrine, and relaxing at Togatta Onsen ❄D3 Animal Habitat 🦊Visit Zao Fox Village and head to Nikko ❄D4 Natural Vitality 🌊Walk along Lake Chuzenji, visit Kegon Falls, pick and taste strawberries at the farm ❄D5 World Heritage 🍱Visit Tamozawa Imperial Residence Memorial Park and have lunch, Ashikaga Flower Park Light Up, and head to Tokyo ❄D6 Farewell to Japan ✈️Return/Continue traveling to other cities in Japan

I'll report on dinner at "Kosekiya Annex" in Ginzan Onsen✨ The inn's proud cuisine allows you to taste Yamagata's specialties. It was packed with seasonal ingredients from the local Yamagata area😋 The Zao salmon was especially delicious💕 Address: 417 Ginzan Onsen, Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture #Yamagata #Ginzan Onsen #Onsen #Onsen Ryokan #Gourmet Trip

Ginzan Onsen ancient style house annex, conscientious recommendation to visit here, light up the evening and leave, no accommodation, not worth it, A room a night is more than 50,000 yen, the room is old, the bed collapsed, the hot spring is old, if you are not careful a little will slip, the room toilet is old

I went to Ginzan Onsen! It's like a time warp to the early Showa era, with a retro and nostalgic hot spring town and a very relaxing atmosphere! ♨️ At night, the street lights come on and the whole hot spring town shines fantastically, making it feel like I'm in a movie world✨The hot springs are also great! The hot spring water is gentle on the skin, and I was able to relax both my mind and body. The food made with fresh local ingredients was also delicious and very satisfying. This hot spring resort is surrounded by nature, and I was able to forget about my daily life and spend a luxurious time☺️ The best thing is that there is also a free foot bath!! #0 yen trip February 2025

Ginzan Hot Spring Street♨️ is located in the valley of Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture in northeastern Japan. The street scene has a strong sense of nostalgia, as if time has been paused. There are many wooden hot spring hotels on both sides of the river, just like being in the "Spirited Away" anime Same as in scene - Winter nights are when the hot spring streets are at their most beautiful. The snow-covered hot spring towns are illuminated by dim lights. The photos are super beautiful and atmospheric. It gives you a retro romance of time travel~ - There are a total of 12 hotels in Ginshan Hot Spring Street, which are very popular in both off-season and peak season. There are three of my favorites: Notoya Ryokan: The prototype of the hot spring house in "The Hidden Girl" Fujiya Hotel: built by the famous architect Kengo Kuma Gusikiwu Annex: Traditional and Western-style beds in the interior - Food shop recommendations: [Izu no Hana] soba noodles, [Haikarasan Curry Bread]: Crispy on the outside with the thickness of bread, full of spicy curry on the inside [CRIE Cafe] The second floor offers a view of Notoya and the hot spring town area. - transportation: Take the Yamagata Shinkansen-Oishida Station from Tokyo Station, which takes about three and a half hours, and then transfer to the bus from Oishida Station to Ginzan Onsen (about 40 minutes) -

I'll report on the breakfast at Kosekiya Annex, a long-established inn in Ginzan Onsen✨ The inn's proud dishes allow you to taste a little bit of Yamagata's specialties. Free drinks are available during the meal😊 I was full after the healthy breakfast! Address: 417 Ginzan Onsen, Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture #Yamagata #Ginzan Onsen #Onsen #Onsen Inn #Gourmet Trip

I went to Ginzan Onsen in winter☃️ The Kosekiya Annex where I stayed is a wooden inn with a Taisho-era romantic atmosphere. It has a historic appearance, but the interior has been renovated and is comfortable to stay in😊 Another attraction is that you can enjoy Ginzan Onsen with carefully selected free-flowing water♨️The water was very nice♪ Address: 417 Ginzan Onsen, Obanazawa City, Yamagata Prefecture #Yamagata #Ginzan Onsen #Onsen #Onsen Ryokan