🗺️ Iizaka Onsen飯坂温泉

From JR Fukushima Station, it takes about 20 minutes to reach the conveniently located Iizaka Onsen via the Fukushima Transportation Iizaka Line. For the people of Fukushima, this hot spring town is close at hand. The history of the hot springs is quite ancient; it is said that 2,000 years ago, the legendary warrior Yamato Takeru bathed here and gradually recovered from an illness he contracted during his eastern expedition. Famous figures such as Matsuo Bashō, Masaoka Shiki, Akiko Yosano, and Helen Keller have all visited, and the hot spring street still features stone monuments that celebrate the beauty of the hot springs. Along the banks of the Surikami River and its tributaries, various types of hotels and inns have been built, and there are still nine public bathhouses in the hot spring town that are beloved by locals, making outdoor communal bathing a delightful experience. Among them, "Sabakoyu" is the oldest public bath in Iizaka Onsen, where visitors can enjoy a blissful moment immersed in the fragrance of the Hinoki cypress. The water quality is a colorless and transparent simple hot spring, known for its beneficial effects on neuralgia, chronic digestive system diseases, and recovery after illness. It is generally referred to as "onsen." The water contains trace amounts of radium, and the "radium eggs" cooked in the hot spring have become a local specialty.

There are a total of 9 public baths. You can easily reach them by taking a train from Fukushima City. It is said that Saba Lake Onsen, which Matsuo Basho once visited, is the oldest public bath. There are many famous attractions such as the Old Horikiri Residence and Hanamomo no Sato, which opens in spring. They are known for their hot springs with high temperatures.