Written by Jane Pipkin
One of Japan’s most picturesque places, Ginzan Onsen is a traditional hot-spring town filled with wooden buildings that are beautifully decorated with snow in winter.
In addition to various ryokans, the area also offers public baths and a footbath for visitors to enjoy. Local specialties include wagyu beef and Obanazawa Soba.
Due to the area’s popularity, only guests staying at one of the ryokans are permitted to view the night scenery. We highly recommend making the most of your trip by booking a ryokan — just be aware that reservations can fill up months in advance.
How to get there
You can first take the Yamagata Shinkansen Line to Oishida Station. From there, it’s a 40-minute bus ride on the Ginzan-Onsen-bound bus to reach the traditional town.
Alternatively, if you’re driving, the town is 75 minutes from Furukawa IC on the Tōhoku Expressway.
