Map showing directions

To Akita

To Yokote7

LegendOu
Main

Shinkansen Lines
Railway lines

Line
SakataMinato I.C.

SakataExpressways

Uetsu
Main
Line

To Akita
13

MogamiRiver Sakegawa
River
To
Tsuruoka
Shinjo47 Tozawa

Shinjo I.C.

Okura

Shinjo47

Tsuruoka

Funagata I.C.

13

Sakata I.C.

National roads

Tsuruoka I.C.

Tohoku-Chuo
Expressway

Okuramura112

To Niigata

Yam

agata

Hijiori
Hot Spring

Expre

Yamagata
TohokuShinkansen
Expressway
Line

Higashinekita I.C.

sswa

To Miyagi

Furukawa
I.C.

47

Funagata I.C. To Furukawa

458

Mt.
Gassan7

To Morioka

Uzen East Line

y

48

13

Funagata

Yamagata

Sendai458

Okuramura

Hijiori
Hot Spring
To Sagae286

13

Obanazawa

TohokuShinkansen
Line

113

To Yamagata

Yonezawa

Closed in winterSome parts of this road are unpaved

You will deﬁnitely likethe charm of the hot spring.

Transportation information

Fukushima

By airTo Tokyo

Haneda Total of approx. 2 hr 25 min
Itami

Yamagata
Airport

Total of approx. 2 hr 40 min

Sightseeing Liner (1 hr 20 min)

Hijiori
Hot Spring

Nagoya Total of approx. 2 hr 30 min

By JR trains and buses
J R

Tokyo
StationTotal of approx. 4 hr 30 min

J R

Sendai
StationTotal of approx. 3 hr

Bus Sendai

Yamagata Shinkansen (approx. 3 hr 30 min)
Senzan Line

Total of approx. 3 hr 30 min

Yamagata

Ou Main Line

ShinjoStationYamako Bus(approx. 55 min)

Hijiori
Hot Spring

Yamako Bus, 48 Liner (approx. 2 hr 20 min)By car
Yamagata

Total of approx. 1 hr 30 min

Sendai

Total of approx. 2 hr

Akita

Total of approx. 3 hr 30 min

Tohoku-Chuo Expressway
Route 48
Route 7

Higashinekita I.C.
SakataRoute 47

Funagata I.C.

Prefectural roads 56→31→330→Route 458

Tohoku-Chuo Expressway

Motoaikai, Shinjo Route 458

Hijiori
Hot Spring

Yamagata

Note: We recommend using Route 13 rather than Route 458 because the section between Hijiori and Sagae on Route 458 is closed during winter and some parts of Route 458 are unpaved and narrow.

Hijiori Hot Spring
People visiting, people welcoming, everybody is warmhearted.
The entire town is ﬁlled with the charm of the hot spring:

Okuramura village ofﬁce, Okuramura Tourism Association

Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist Information Center (Hijiori Ideyukan)

2528 Oaza-Shimizu, Okuramura, Mogami-gun, Yamagata Prefecture 996-0212

451-2 Oaza-Nanzan, Okuramura, Mogami-gun, Yamagata Prefecture 996-0212

Tel: 0233-75-2111

Hijiori Hot Spring website: http://hijiori.jp/

http://www.vill.ohkura.yamagata.jp/

Okuramura Tourism Association website: https://ohkura-kanko.com/

英語版

the nostalgic ambience and the composed ﬂow of time.
Yamagata

Ok u ra mu ra

A place of mystery. No matter when or how many times you visit,
you will want to visit again: Hijiori Hot Spring.

Hijiori Hot Spring, with a his-

1

2

3

tory of more than 1,200 years.
A folk tale about Hijiori Hot Spring is that an elderly monk treated his broken elbow
by taking a bath in the hot spring.
Hijiori Hot Spring began to be used 1,200 years ago.
Thirty-six Families of Hijiori have maintained this hot spring in collaboration
under a contract made in the Edo Period.
The strong bonds between people still exist here.
Come and experience warmhearted human nature, Japanese-style inns with overflowing charm, exquisite cuisine and a superb hot spring that are distinctive to Hijiori.
The longer you stay, the more you will like it.
Why not experience hot-spring healing yourself?
01

4
1■Jizokura,
the place of the folk tale
about the hot spring2■Viewof the Hijiori Hot Spring area
in winter3■Yakushi
Shrine4■Hijiori
Lanterns

02Morning market full of smiles
in a hot spring town where
you can enjoy a delightfulstrollThe true pleasure of Hijiori Hot Spring is strolling about and visiting
public baths dressed in the causal yukata kimono.
There are many tourist attractions, including the well-known morningmarket and Gensen Park where you can enjoy foot bathing andlower-body bathing.
Feeling tired during a walk? How about a rest on the veranda of aJapanese-style inn?
In the old days, people who came to this hot spring to heal theirillnesses used inn verandas for cooking and socializing.
People still socialize with each other, just like those days in the hotspring town.
03

1■A
rickshaw,
imparting the romantic Taisho
Period ambience

1

2

3

4

2
■Foot
bath in the hot spring town
3
■Strollingin yukata with geta clogs
4■Former
Hijiori Post Office building

04

1

2

3

3

Hot spring drinking fountain1

Relax by visiting the hotspring baths in Hijiori and
Kogane1■Kami-no-Yu,
a public bath1

2

2
■Hijiori
Ideyukan

3■Caldera
Hot Spring Baths
The building has large baths and open-air baths replenished with water from Kogane Hot Spring, and resting rooms. Thereis also a carbonated spring water bath; if you drink the water, your stomach and liver will function more briskly.
Open hours:April - October: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm November - March: 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Bathing charges: adults: ¥500, Elementary school children:¥250, Children below school age: freeInquiries: Tel 0233-34-6106

05

3■Walksaround terraced
rice-fields in Shikamura
and a beech forest

2

3

5

6

4

4
■Trekkingwith special
snowshoes

Open hours: April - November: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm December - March: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Bathing charges: adults: ¥300 children: ¥100
Inquiries: Tel 0233-76-2211

Open hours:April - October: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm November - March: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays
Bathing charges: adults: ¥450, Elementary school children:¥250, Children below school age: freeInquiries: Tel 0233-34-6106

1■Kokeshidoll painting
hands-on workshop
2■Strollingin thehot spring town

This natural hot spring bath considered to be the origin of Hijiori Hot Spring, is also known as Scar Bath ,because of the belief that the water can heal scars. You will feel fresh after soaking in this bath.

Hijiori Ideyukan has two baths, with facilities to pour hot spring water and for lying bathing; both with beautiful
views that diﬀer in each of the four seasons. There is a hot spring recuperation consultation oﬃce.

Refresh your mind andbody with the hot spring
recuperation and hands-on
programs

3

5■Hot
spring recuperation
consultations
6■Rickshaw
tour guide
In addition to the above, many more programs fortourists run throughout the year.
Inquiries and applications:
Hijiori Ideyukan, Tel 0233-34-6106

06

4
9

5

1
2

3

7
6

Plenty of exquisite cuisineand characteristic souvenirs

3

2

1■Kotobukiya,a soba noodle restaurant
Recommended dishes: Ita-soba noodle, chicken soba noodle
Open hours: 10 am-5 pm (Dec.-Mar.: 4 pm)
Closed: 2nd Thursdays (2nd and 4th Thursdays during winter)

1

3■InakayaRecommended dishes: Chicken giblet ramen
Open hours:Lunch time: 11 am-4 pm
Dinner time: 7 pm-11 pm
Closed: variable
Tel no: 0233-76-2611

07

8■Hijiori
kokeshi dolls

This manju cake has a ﬁlling of sweet red
bean paste covered in a thin, brown, sweet
tasting pastry. This has been a favorite
souvenir of Hijiori Hot Spring for many years.

Hijiori kokeshi dolls are made in the tradition
established in Naruko and Togatta. The dolls
have a gentle appearance with unique eyes
and lips.

5■Horse-chestnut
rice cake9■Localsake produced
by Koya Brewery

A traditional snack with an attractive racy
ﬂavor. The red beans in the rice cake give an
accent to the texture.

Ice creams made of the local specialties of
Okuramura are particularly pleasing after abath. Enjoy the graceful taste that retains the
ﬂavors of the ingredients.

2■Kakizaki
Rice Cake
Recommended dishes: Freshly pounded rice cakes, ramen in miso ﬂavored soupOpen hours: 11 am-3 pm (Dec.-Mar.: 2 pm)
Closed: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
Tel no: 0233-76-2118

4■Hotei
Manju

6
■Soba
ice cream

Tel no: 0233-76-2140

3

8

7■Hijiori
Caldera Soda Pop
Tomato Soda Pop
Natural soda water taken from Caldera Hot
Spring Baths is mixed into this soda pop.
Tomato Soda Pop is made from tomatoes
produced in Okuramura.

10

Sake brewed in Okuramura from spring water
has a mellow taste. This sake is sold atsouvenir shops in the hot spring town.

10■Processed
foods made of
Okura wasabi, Yukiaoi

11

Processed foods made of Yukiaoi, Japanesehorseradish grown in pure mountain streams
in the Masudama area. Each individual
product is hand made.

11■Kanrinto
Manju(deep-fried sweet bun)
A tastey dish that is crunchy on the outsideand moist inside.

08

Hijiori Hot Spring seasonal events
2

May-August (5:30 am-7:30 am)

Well-known morning market end of April, September-November(6:00 am-7:30 am)
Mornings at Hijiori Hot Spring begin
with cheerful chatting between
women selling local specialties andshoppers at the morning market. On
sale are seasonal specialties, such asedible mountain plants during thespring, home-grown vegetables andmushrooms, and home-made foods.
Place：Hijiori Hot Spring Town
Inquiries：Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist
Information Center, 0233-76-2211

4

1st and 3rd Saturdays in June ‒ October

Hijiori Dam illumination

6

Hijiori Dam, which was designatedby the national government in 2009as a Registered Tangible Cultural
Property, is illuminated. We hope
you will enjoy Hijiori Dam at nightwith its changing colors, while
listening to the sound of runningwater.
Place: Hijiori Dam (Hijiori Gensen Park)
Inquiries: Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist
Information Center, 0233-76-2211

1st Saturday in August

Shikamura Terraced Rice Field Fireﬂy Light Concert

Hijiori s festivals and events
gracing the four seasons withblessing of mountains andtradition
Various special events, includingthat color summer nights, andSange Sange ,are held throughout the year.
The events will make your days in Hijiori

09

Mid-May to mid-June

Hijiori is located deep in the mountains andis covered in deep snow during the winter. It
is a treasure trove of edible mountain plants.
Please taste the special dishes oﬀered atinns, containing mountain plants that are
thick and soft during this season. During theperiod, on Sundays, mountain plant dishes
are oﬀered free at the morning market.
Place：Hijiori Hot Spring Town
Inquiries：Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist
Information Center, 0233-76-2211

5

4. July 14

Hijiori Hot Spring Beginning Festival

A Shinto ritual held on July 14, said to be the dateon which Hijiori Hot Spring was opened. The hotspring town becomes crowded because the Jizo
Portable Shrine Parade is held and rice cakes arethrown to people to celebrate the beginning. We
thank the god of the hot spring and praise thegreat undertaking of our predecessors who havemaintained the hot spring for so long.
Place：Hijiori Hot Spring Town
Inquiries：Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist
Information Center, 0233-76-2211

7

6. August 16, 17 and 20

Hijiori Hot Spring Yuza Shrine Festival

The schedule of the festival at Yuza
Shrine (Yakushi Shrine), which enshrines
the god of hot water, is as follows: 16th:
Bon Festival Dance Wearing Disguise
Costume ; 19th: Singing Contest; 20th:
the Festival s Sumo Tournament.
Place：Hijiori Hot Spring Town
Inquiries：Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist
Information Center, 0233-76-2211

end of July to mid-September

Hijiori Lanterns

The
Hijiori Lanterns, which started in thesummer of the 1200th anniversary of the opening of Hijiori Hot Spring, color the hot spring
town at night, depicting the diverse sights
reﬂecting the inspiration provided by the spa
to young artists who have a connection to
Yamagata Prefecture.
Place: Hijiori Hot Spring Town
Inquiries:
HijioriHot
SpringTouristInformation Center 0233-76-2211

Hijiori Lanterns

which is a traditional new year event,even more remarkable.

1

A concert held in the terraced rice ﬁelds in
Shikamura that have been selected as one of
the best one hundred terraced rice ﬁeld sites inJapan. The clear tones of the ocarinas sound in
the terraced rice ﬁelds that are illuminated byabout 1,200 ﬁreﬂy lights. Come and enjoy thiswondrous world that lasts only for one night.
Place：Specially prepared site in
the Shikamura terraced rice ﬁelds
Inquiries：Okuramura Industry Promotion Section, 0233-75-2105

3

Hijiori Hot Spring Edible Mountain Plants Festival

A Hijiori Hot Spring fan club
Yu-no-Sato Hijiori Club
Applications for membershipare now being accepted!
People who visit Hijiori Hot Spring
many times will be acknowledged
as Hijiori Hot Spring fans. A Hijiori
Hot Spring passport will be
issued to acknowledged fans,
who will receive various privileges.
Inquiries: Hijiori Ideyukan,0233-34-6106

8

Beginning of November

Furusato Miraikan Soba Harvest Festival

At Furusato Miraikan, you can havefreshly ground, kneaded and boiled
noodles made of soba grown in
Okuramura. During the Soba Harvest Festival noodles made of justharvested soba with a good ﬂavor
are oﬀered, and autumn vegetables
and foods are sold.
Place：Furusato Miraikan
Inquiries：Furusato Miraikan,
0233-34-6001

10 10. 4th Sunday in February

Snow Digging World Cup in Hijiori

A peculiar competition performed fornearly thirty years on snow sports days
at Hijiori elementary and junior highschools, which were closed in 2008.
People compete in how quickly they can
dig through the snow and reach theground. You may think this is easy, but
actually it s a tough competition requiring a lot of strength and technique.
Place：Hijiori Lifelong Study Center
Inquiries：Oh! Kura Sport, 0233-75-2212

9

January 7

An ancient new year event carried

Hijiori Sange Sange out in the three sacred mountains

in Dewa by Buddhist monks
practicing asceticism. Men in white
costumes from the village parade
though the hot spring town, praying
for a bumper harvest and good
health with the sound of trumpet
shells. Free freshly pounded ricecakes are oﬀered to visitors.
Place：Hijiori Hot Spring Town
Inquiries：Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist
Information Center, 0233-76-2211

11 mid-March

Okura Snow Tale

Winter events of Okuramura. These
include a winter ﬁreworks display,
wondrous snow corridors and ahuge snowman called Mr. Okura.
Amazake, a sweet, hot drink madefrom rice, and Tamakonnyaku, ahard jelly made from devil s tongue
roots, are planned to be oﬀered
free of charge.
Place：Open space in front of Hijiori
Ideyukan
Inquiries：Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist
Information Center, 0233-76-2211

10

ii Caldera Hot Spring Baths

Map of Hijiori Hot Spring Town

●

About
1.5 kmＮ●

Nigamizu River

Hijiori Lifelong Study Center

●

h

chi
ubu
ats
Kom

22
Post oﬃce

Komatsubuchi ●

a 3

1

●

●

●

4

●

Gensen Park entrance
●

ak

id

●

●

Ｄ
Ｂ Ｃ 15 17
●
8 10
●
●
●
●

●

●

F●
E

↓

Hatsukoi
Foot Bath●Restaurants and storesbcKakizaki Rice Cake
0233-76-2118

d Ohira Fish Storee Yamanoyu Gas StationfSato Confectionery
0233-76-2154

g Saito Motors

h Kotobukiya, a soba noodle restauranta0233-76-2004

0233-76-2143

0233-76-2140

Ａ Kaneyama StoreＢ Sabaneya StoreＣ Hoteiya StoreＤ Yokoyama Niuemon StoreＥ Sasaki StoreＦ Chonan Butcher Shop

0233-76-2125

0233-76-2130

0233-76-2133

0233-76-2132

Hijiori Nozomi Bridge

Parking lote●

Hot spring facilities without accommodationi

Hijiori Ideyukan
0233-34-6106

ii

1 Denzo, a Japanese-style inn,

2 Kimuraya Inn,

3 Ebisuya,

4 Nishimotoya Inn,

5 Kameya Inn,

6 Maruya Inn,

7 Kangetsu,

8 Daikokuya, a Japanese-style inn,

0233-76-2425

0233-76-2311

Caldera Hot Spring Baths
0233-76-2622

0233-76-2139

0233-76-2021

0233-76-2008

a Japanese-style inn with hospitality,

0233-76-2777

0233-76-2316

0233-76-2336

9 Otomoya Inn,

10 Tsutaya Kinbe,

11 Tsutaya Hijiori Hotel,

12 Matsuya, an inn for four seasons,

13 Miharuya, main building,

14 Miharuya, annex building,

15 Wakamatsuya Murai Rokusuke,

16 Miuraya Inn,

17 Matsui Inn,

18 Yuzo, a Japanese-style inn,

19 Saito Inn,

20 Tamanoya Inn,

21 Motokawarayu,

22 Kinseikan,

0233-76-2331

0233-76-2036

0233-76-2217

11

Hijiori Nursery School

0233-76-2321

0233-76-2321

0233-76-2041

0233-76-2011

Ｇ Suzuki Kokeshi Workshop

Charge: ¥1,100
Tickets sold at Hijiori Ideyukan
and Caldera Hot Spring Baths

Parking lot

Inns
Inakaya0233-76-2611

Hayasaka Tofu Store
0233-76-2152

0233-76-2123

You can use the hot spring baths at any threeof the inns and hot spring facilities in Hijiori
Hot Spring Town with this ticket.

c●Souvenir shops
Hijiori Hot Spring Touri
Hijiori Ideyukan

To Shinjo and the terraced rice ﬁelds in Shikamura

0233-76-2128

Hijiori Dam ●d19Gensen Dome
●

●

●

●

●

g

rin

h
Is

●

●13
● Akibasan
●16
2
● ●
●
9 ●12
5
●Ａ
iii
● Kami-no-Yu
Bus stop
Yuza Shrine(Yakushi Shrine)

●

o
iH

6 b

●

g

●
●

18

●

→

←Mt. Gassan trail starting point(About 4 km)

20●

f

21

●

11 ●

7●

p
tS

Dozan River

14

●

dge

Bri

G

Kaneyama Bridge
Former post oﬃce buildingiii Kami-no-Yu

0233-76-2211

0233-76-2016

0233-76-2036

0233-76-2151

0233-76-2031

0233-76-2040

0233-76-2046

0233-76-2215（Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist
Information Center）

a Japanese-style inn with hot spring baths,

0233-76-2259

0233-76-2418

Please direct inquiries regarding Hijiori Hot Spring to Hijiori Hot Spring Tourist Information Centre (telephone: 0233-76-2211)
or Hijiori Ideyukan (telephone: 0233-34-6106); or visit the Hijiori Onsen website (www.hijiori.jp).

12Tourist attractions in the area

Restaurants in Okuramura
●

❻

❷

❶

Come and taste handmade soba noodles made from only soba grownin Shikamura.
Recommended dishes: Ita-soba noodle, chicken soba noodle
Open hours: 10:30 am to 3 pm (shorter during winter)
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays (open if they fall on a holiday)
Tel no: 0233-34-6001

An ideal spot in Yunodai Plateau to see Mt. Gassan, a sacred
mountain, Mt. Hayama and Mt. Chokai. Enjoy a gorgeous viewof the mountains with remaining snow, fresh verdure or
beautifully tinted leaves that differs by season.

The extensive buckwheat ﬁelds on the highlands
spreading out along National Highway 458 arecovered with pure white ﬂowers from the end of
August until the beginning of September.

47
The place of a folk tale of the beginning of Hijiori
Hot
Spring. Receive divine grace for marriage, childbirthand prosperous business.
本合海

10 Furusato Miraikan

The terraced rice fields in Shikamura

Yunodai Plateau

Jizokura

最上川

❸

❼

●

11 Iwagamigongen Soba Restaurant

Viewing spot of Mt. Gassan,
Mt. Hayama and Mt. Chokai

Gensen Park

30

47

Natsuyamazuka

56●

Mt. Okura Soba Negibozu 12
Ayame Park

Restaurant Okura

●

Koya

Inazawa-no-Watashi Park Brewery

13

Okura village office❽Shimizu Castle remains

You can enjoy a leisurely stroll around this area
including a place to drink spring water, Hatsukoi("First Love") Footbath and Hijiori dam which isregistered tangible cultural properties.

Kanamenomatsu pine tree●

Okuramura Sports Park, baseball field

Iwagamigongen 11 330
Soba Restaurant
Iwagamigongen
cedar tree
Iwagamigongen
kurobe cypress tree

Ri

ve

r

KomatsubuchinShimizu Castle remains

31

Site where an old pine tree
Mongolian oak trees in Shirasuka
Shuzenin Kasamatsu existed

❹

za

458

Inscription of
Masaoka Shiki
Mogami
River

30
至大石田町

A ka

ma

tsu

Riv

er

Do

12 Mt. Okura Soba Negibozu

One of the best one hundred terraced rice ﬁeld sites inJapan. The scenery changes from season to season
and it s a truly nostalgic landscape for Japanesepeople. A Fireﬂy Light Concert is held in the summer.

❽●

Soba noodles with a good flavor made 100 % from home-grown Okurayama
soba.
Recommended dishes: Zaru-soba noodle
Open hours: 11:30 am to 2 pm
Closed: variable
Tel no: 0233-75-2150

Okura Bridge

331

Viewing spot of Mt. Gassan,
Mt. Hayama and Mt. Chokai

Ishidaki Hot Spring

Yunodai Plateau, soba fields

Beech forest●

Hijiori Nozomi Bridge

Hikagekura❻

Water colored jade green ﬂows between steep blackrocks. This is a place of scenic beauty in Hijiori, andthe origin of mysterious folk tales.

❺

13 Restaurant Okura

Enjoy a stunning view from the remains of thecastle s inner ward in each of the four seasons. We
can see that the castle was a fort protected by nature.

❾●

This stylish, relaxing soba restaurant is a recommended stop if you take a drive.
Using locally made buckwheat flour, this natural handmade 100% buckwheat flour soba
contains no binding agents and goes down the throat smoothly.
Recommended Menu: 100% buckwheat flour boxed soba; Okura tomatoes and 100% buckwheat
flour soba
Open Hours: Lunch: 11:15 am to 3:00 pm (last order 2:30 pm) Dinner: 5:00 pm ‒ (last order 9:00 pm)
Closed: Lunch: Tuesdays (open if Tuesday falls on a holiday) Dinner: Mondays and Tuesdays
Phone No.: 0233-29-8825

Onuma marsh, Naganuma marsh,horse-headed Kannon deity

10❷

Yunodai Ski Resort

57❹

Komatsubuchi

Yunodai Plateau❼

Hijiori Ideyukan

Toyomaki District Anti-Disaster Center

The terraced rice fields
in Shikamura❾

Caldera Hot Spring Baths

Odaki waterfall, Medaki waterfall

Furusato Miraikan
Tanada Viewing
Platform

13

Riv
wa
iza

r
ive
uR
at s
am

Ishidaki Hot Spring

Secluded hot spring in the mountains, ten minutes
Dozan Riverby car from Hijiori. Warm up in this hot spring with
Nagamatsu Mine remains
To
Mt.
Gassanan abundance of carbonic acid gas.
trail starting point【Owned by Ebisuya Inn, 0233-76-2008】

ich

Closed between mid-Nov.
and beginning of Jun.

Ak

This 240m-long bridge is one of the longest in Japan.
The S-shape of the bridge and huge piers attractsightseers.

Jizokura❺

The miso ramen (noodles in miso soup) is a favorite. The restaurant, which iswell-known among the village locals, also offers a set meal on its menu.
Recommended Menu: Miso ramen (noodles in miso soup), Yaki soba (fried noodles)
Open: 10:30 am ‒ 2:00 pm; 5:00 pm ‒ 7:00 pm
Closed: Wednesdays
Tel: 0233-75-2544

Inscription of Saito Mokichi

Yo
ko
m

ver

Gensen Park❶

izu Ri❸Nig amer

Hijiori Nozomi Bridge

To Sagae

14