Tamagawa Onsen

Tamagawa Onsen is a hot spring famous for ranking No. 1 in Japan for both its enormous discharge volume—9,000 liters per minute from a single source—and its extremely acidic hot spring water at pH 1.2 (98°C). Around the spring source, volcanic gases vent into the air and the scent of sulfur fills the area, creating an atmospheric hot spring landscape worthy of being called one of Japan’s leading onsen destinations. This is a historic toji-style hot spring inn, and unlike typical ryokan, it is specialized for "toji" therapeutic stays, so many guests visit for post-illness recovery and healing purposes. Accommodation is offered in two types: the "Ryokan Section" with meals included, and the "Self-Catering Section" where rooms are provided without meals. In the Ryokan Section, breakfast is buffet-style and dinner is cafeteria-style, and both are eaten in the dining hall. In the Self-Catering Section, you either purchase food from stalls within the facility or cook for yourself in the shared kitchen. A popular stall item is Akita’s kiritanpo: it is served on a cedar skewer, brushed with a secret miso, and lightly grilled, making it especially loved for its fragrant roasted miso aroma. For access, it is recommended to visit via the Airport Liner Tamagawa-go direct service from Akita Airport to the Tamagawa Onsen area. Traveling by car is also possible, but depending on the season there may be partial road closures requiring detours.