Iwate Prefecture Oshuku Onsen Choeikan

Iwate Uguisuzuku Onsen Choeikan is a traditional, tranquil hot spring ryokan built along a quiet riverside in nature, famous for its 100% free-flowing natural hot spring water. By train, access is about a 15-minute taxi ride from Shizukuishi Station on the JR Tazawako Line; by car, it is about 25 minutes from Morioka IC. The onsen here is said to be among the rarest in Japan: a true 100% source flow with no added water, a type claimed to exist at only about 1% of hot springs nationwide. With abundant water gushing at 1,000 liters per minute, you can enjoy freshly drawn bathwater with yunohana mineral "flowers" floating on the surface. The water is a mildly alkaline simple hydrogen sulfide spring (pH 8.3) and is also well known as a "beauty bath" that leaves skin feeling smooth after bathing. Choeikan values the roots of Japanese ryokan hospitality, emphasizing "the origin of an inn." Meals are served in your room, allowing you to savor carefully prepared, handmade Japanese cuisine using seasonal ingredients from Iwate at a relaxed pace.