Shinonsen
Shin-onsen (新温泉町) is a small town in Hyogo, home of 17,000 people.
Understand
editThe towns name, Shinonsen, literally translates to mean "New Onsen" or "New Hot Spring". It was formed from the merging of Hamasaka Town and Onsen Town (Hot Spring Town). While it may appear that "New Onsen" serves as a not-so-subtle way to advertise the town's major draw, the area of Yumura Onsen has been called "Onsen" (originally "Onsen Village", later becoming "Onsen Town") since the Nara Period, so while keeping "onsen" in the name was given the highest priority when the new name was chosen, it is not just a marketing strategy; it has history.
The merger has also given the town three distinct hot spring areas with three different types of waters: Hamasaka Onsen is a salt spring, Shichikama Onsen is a sulfate spring, and Yumura Onsen has a mix of carbonated, sulfate, and salt springs.
Tourist information site
edit- The town government's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.
Get in
editBy train
editFour stations along the San-in Main Line are located in Shinonsen; Kutani (久谷), Hamasaka (浜坂), Moroyose (諸寄), and Igumi (居組) Stations. Hamasaka Station is the main station in the city. From Osaka there is only one direct Hamakaze Train per day to Hamasaka Station, so most travelers will need to take a Limited Express Train to Tottori, Himeji, or Kinosaki Onsen and transfer to reach Hamasaka Station (or any station in Shinonsen). From Okayama, it is also necessary to travel to either Tottori or Himeji and transferring.
By bus
editIf your destination is Yumura Onsen, there are direct buses from Tottori, Osaka (3 hours), and Kobe (3 hours) to the onsen. If you are around any of these cities, the buses will be both faster and cheaper than going by train. Yumura Onsen is not located near any train stations, so those who take the train will still have to transfer to a local bus after arriving at Hamasaka Station, adding 25 min+ to the travel time and costing significantly more. In addtion, there are about 6 buses per day from Yoka Station in Yabu to Yumura Onsen.
Get around
edit
Sites around Hamasaka Station can be reached on foot. Buses from Hamasaka Station connect it to Shichikama Onsen and Yumura Onsen. Other coastal and inland sites are most easily explored by car.
See
edit- 1 Yumechiyokan Museum (夢千代館). 09:00-18:00. A museum dedicated to the 1985 television show The Diary of Yumechiyo which took place and was filmed in Yumura Onsen. It features a variety of costumes and props from the show and episodes are shown on a retro television.
- 2 Pioneer Memorial Home of Hamasaka (浜坂先人記念館 以命亭). 9:00-17:00. Also known as the Imeitei, it was built as a retirement home for a member of the Mori family. It features a brewery, a plum garden, and information about the poet Mori Aio. ¥200.
Do
edit- 1 Antai-ji (安泰寺), 62 Kutoyama. Daily 7AM-7PM. a Buddhist monastery deep in the mountains of Japan, in the vicinity of Tottori. which offers meditation stays with the monks; sleeping, working and meditation follows their schedule. Several times a month, special meditation sessions are held during which normal work is reduced.
- 2 Refresh Park Yumura (リフレッシュパークゆむら). 10:00 -19:00. A unique family-friendly pool and hot spring for daytrippers. Unlike other hot springs, when you enter, you are required to bring or rent swimwear. Once inside, go to the locker rooms. From the locker rooms, you can enter a traditional onsen where you must be naked to enter however, if you change into your swimsuit, you can exit the locker rooms and enjoy the swimming pool or head on down a corridor and up a stairwell to reach the outdoor onsen (rotemburo). The outdoor onsen feature a waterfall, a cave, a bath of local alchohols and nice views of the surrounding mountains. Because swimsuits are required, families, couples, and mixed sex groups are able to enjoy these hot springs together which is uncommon. They have a variety of sizes of swimsuit rentals for a fee if you don't have your own. Tattoos are prohibited. ¥1000.
- 3 Yakushi-yu (薬師湯). 08:30-21:30. An old daytripper hot spring in Yumura Onsen that is popular among locals. It has an indoor and outdoor bath, as well as a sauna. ¥700.
- 4 Shichikama Onsen Yuraku-kan (七釜温泉 ゆ〜らく館). 09:00-22:00. A daytripper hot spring in Shichikama Onsen, it offers multiple indoor and outdoor baths. ¥700.
Buy
editEat
edit- 1 Carrot, 268-1 Ashiya, ☏ +81 796-82-5445. Tu W F-Su 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00, Th 11:00-14:00 (closed M). Teppanyaki restaurant.
- 2 Yamasen, 21-1 Mitani, ☏ +81 796-82-3066. Traditional Japanese restaurant.
- 3 Ebisuya (えびすや食堂). 17:00-21:00. An izakaya serving ramen, katsudon, yakisoba, and other hearty dishes.
- 4 Shoraien (中華菜館 笑来園). Lunch 11:30-14:00, Dinner 17:00-22:30. A popular local Chinese restaurant in Yumura Onsen.
Drink
editSleep
edit- 1 Hakuun-tei (伯雲亭). Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. A ryokan in Yumura Onsen with Japanese-style rooms. It has its own onsen, which includes an indoor onsen and a small outdoor onsen. For meals, their main offering are local crab dishes in the winter and Tajima beef and local seafood in the summer.
- 2 Syofuso (澄風荘). A ryokan in the Hamasaka Onsen area (near Hamasaka Station) that is known for its Matsuba crab caught in Hamasaka Port. They have a "crab sommelier", so they claim to know the best ways to enjoy eating crab and can teach you how to eat it properly. They have Japanese-style rooms but the annex, which has Western beds, can also be reserved. The inn has no hot spring of its own but they offer free tickets to nearby Utopia Hamasaka or Yu-raku kan (in the Shichikama Onsen area), so guests can enter those public baths for free.
