Sukayu Onsen Ryokan

Sukayu Onsen Ryokan is located at an altitude of 925 meters, more than an hour by bus from JR Aomori Station. Sukayu Onsen is said to have begun in 1684, when a hunter discovered an injured deer soaking in the waters; for that reason, it was called "Shika no Yu" (Deer Hot Spring) until 1954. Since the Edo period, it has flourished as a therapeutic hot spring retreat, and in 1955 it was selected—together with Shima Onsen and Nikko Yumoto Onsen—as one of Japan’s first "National Health Hot Spring Resorts." True to the name "Sukayu" (acid hot spring), the waters are acidic and are believed to help with issues such as neuralgia and muscle pain. The ryokan’s signature attraction is the 160-tatami-sized Hiba-wood public bath known as the Sennin-buro ("Thousand-Person Bath"). With no interior pillars and a nostalgic atmosphere, it is a rare mixed-gender bath by modern standards. Because many women may feel hesitant about mixed bathing, women-only hours are set from 8:00–9:00 and 20:00–21:00 in the Sennin-buro. If you prefer not to worry about timing, you can use the separate-gender Tama no Yu bath instead. This area is known for heavy snowfall, with around five meters of snow in winter, and the ryokan has been open year-round since 1983. Not available in winter, but about a 10-minute walk from the ryokan is "Manju Fukashi," a steam spot said to help with ailments such as hemorrhoids simply by sitting. While Sukayu Onsen Ryokan offers a charming, rustic ambience, the renovated Building No.1 (updated in 2019) also includes Western-style rooms with a refrigerator, toilet, and washbasin, providing reassurance for guests who prefer not to sleep on futons.