Naruko Onsen has a history of more than 1,000 years, and there are five hot spring resorts in the area, each with its own unique hot spring experience.
With nearly 400 sources, the abundance of hot spring water means that many of the baths are free-flowing hot-spring water.
It is said that there are 11 types of natural hot springs in Japan, and Naruko Onsen-kyo has up to 8 of them.
The color of the water varies from cloudy white, greenish white, blue, brownish brown, black, and colorless, and sometimes changes from day to day depending on the weather.
While tucking into the famous chestnut dumplings and shiso rolls, you can also enjoy looking around Naruko Kokeshi dolls and Naruko lacquerware.
Naruko Onsen Hot Spring Village consists of five hot spring resorts: Naruko Onsen, Higashi-Naruko Onsen, Kawatabi Onsen, Nakayamadaira Onsen, and Onikobe Onsen, and boasts a history of over 1000 years. The variety of spring qualities is the attraction of this area, and you can enjoy 8 out of the 10 total types of spring qualities in Japan. Please take a tour of the hot springs to find the spring quality of your choice. The number of springs is nearly 400, and many of the baths are 100% free-flowing.
Naruko Onsen, the largest of the hot spring villages, is one of the three best hot springs in Oshu, along with Akiu Onsen and Iizaka Onsen. Nearby is the scenic Naruko Gorge, famous for its Naruko Kokeshi dolls.
Higashi-Naruko Onsen, located nearby, is an attractive hot spring resort with a relaxed atmosphere. It is also visited by many spa healers.
Kawatabi Onsen, the oldest of the hot spring resorts, offers a quiet and relaxing townscape.
Nakayamadaira Onsen, known as “hot water for beautiful skin and beauty,” is also called “eel water” because of its slippery texture.
Onikobe Onsen,” famous for its geysers, is also popular as a resort area rich in nature. Onikobe Ski Resort is located here, and after enjoying winter sports to the fullest, the hot springs will help you recover from your fatigue.
Naruko Onsen
Naruko Onsen is a hot spring resort located in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Along with Iizaka Onsen in Fukushima Prefecture and Akiu Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture, it is one of the three best hot springs in Oshu. Naruko Onsen is located in Kurikoma National Park and is well known as a national recreational hot spring resort.
The current administrative name of the area corresponds to the former town of Naruko, Tamatsuki-gun. Strictly speaking, there is no “Naruko Onsen” as a major character, and the major character of the former Naruko Town has been inherited as “Naruko Onsen, Osaki-shi, ○○.
Place names are often pronounced with a muddled “Narugo-” sound by the Sendai dialect and other Tohoku dialects. The name of the railroad station used to be muddled as “Naruko Station (Narugo Eki),” but the name was changed to “Naruko Onsen Station (Naruko Onsen Eki)” in 1997. Note that “naru” refers to a gentle slope on a mountainside or at the foot of a mountain.
From ancient times to the Middle Ages, it was called “Tamatsukuno-yu,” and in the Edo period, it was called “Sendai Naruko no Yu/Sendai Naruko no Yu,” with “Sendai” indicating the territory of the Sendai domain.
The surrounding hot spring areas were once collectively called “Tamatsukuri 8 hot springs,” and four of them, Naruko (Yumoto), Kawarayu, Motosharayu, and Shinkuranoyu, are known today as Naruko Onsen. Each of these hot springs is said to have had properties that were once believed to be effective against lethargy, gallstones, colic, and pressure sores.
Spring Qualities
At Naruko Onsen, visitors can enjoy seven different types of hot springs. The qualities of each spring are as follows
Geologically, the area is based on granites, and Miocene green tuff layers have developed on top of the granites along with altered andesites. Overlain by Naruko Gorge tuff and lava tuff, and covered by the Naruko Lake strata, the ground surface is covered by terrace deposits and Naruko volcanic ejecta.
The distribution of the springs can be divided into three categories.
Hot springs that gush out along the Arau River gush out from conglomerate or sandstone of the Tertiary age layer. The hot springs gushing out at the ruins of explosion craters such as Lagoon and Yumoto gush out from between andesite and andesite rocks.
The hot spring group of Naruko is chemically classified into Group III. Group I is high in salts and has a high pH value and spring temperature. Group II has lower spring temperatures, many of the springs have neutral to acidic pH values, and the salt content is lower than Group I, but they are rich in Fe, Al, Ca, Mg, Mn, and other salts. Group III springs have a spring temperature of 44°C or lower, and have low Cl and SO4 content, indicating different spring qualities from those of Group I and Group II springs.
Naruko Onsen is dominated by the heat source from the volcanic activity of the Naruko volcano group, and the hot, highly concentrated alkaline hot springs rising from deep underground are the main type of hot springs. As one moves away from the central zone, there is a transition to acidic SO4-type and neutral HCO3-type spring qualities. The diversity of spring qualities and the existence of springs showing intermediate characteristics are thought to be due to the coexistence of Cl-type high-temperature, high-concentration hot spring water and SO4-type low-temperature, low-concentration hot spring water, or the phenomenon of the mixing ratio of the two.
Hot Spring Town
Naruko Onsen Town is located at the northwestern foot of the Naruko volcano group, at an elevation of 150 to 200 meters above sea level. Across the Arau River, Mt. Hanabuchi rises in the northwest.
The hot spring resort extends from in front of Naruko Onsen Station toward Taki no Yu, parallel to the railroad tracks and National Route 47. There are various types of accommodations, including large hotels, inns, and therapeutic bathhouses. There are also footbaths and hand baths in front of the station.
The Yumoto and Shinyashiki areas are located south of Naruko Onsen Station, at the foot of the Naruko volcano group. Kurumayu area is located on the east side of Shinyashiki, on the south bank of the Arau River (Eiai River), and forms a hot spring resort area parallel to National Route 47. The Kaw