🗺️ Sakunami Onsen

About a 40-minute drive from Sendai city is "Sakunami Onsen," which has been known since ancient times as the "Oazukashi of Sendai." It is said that in the past, this hot spring was exclusively used by the lords of the Sendai domain. Since it opened in 1796, literary figures like Masaoka Shiki and many others have traveled from afar to enjoy its waters. With its skin-friendly mineral content and abundant hot spring flow, visitors can enjoy various types of baths, and it has gradually gained fame as a "hot spring for beautiful women." Among the four accommodations in the hot spring village, there are not only open-air baths but also a natural rock bath located beside the clear Hirose River, a standing bath that is 1.3 meters deep, and a bath with maifan stone, offering a variety of unique bathing experiences. Another charm of Sakunami Onsen is its many famous attractions. In addition to the stunning scenery of the Hirose River and the Forty-Eight Waterfalls, the surrounding majestic mountains are also not to be missed. Among them, Mount Kamakura resembles the profile of a gorilla from a certain angle, earning it the nickname "Gorilla Mountain." At the Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery, visitors can tour the whisky factory and sample whiskies, attracting tourists from around the world. Near the source of the Hirose River, the Sakunami Stream Fishing Grounds offer opportunities to catch iwana (char) and sakura masu (cherry salmon). Visitors can also experience traditional crafts by hand-painting wood mustard at a shop on the hot spring street, making for a rich and engaging tourist experience. Additionally, the Jōdo-ji Temple, known for the legend of the Heike clan's fallen warriors, is deeply revered by locals, allowing visitors to feel the atmosphere of ancient Japanese Buddhist temples.

The Beautiful Hot Springs located in Sendai's Okuozaki is a renowned bath favored by literati and scholars. Among the four inns in the hot spring town, visitors can enjoy uniquely themed baths. The abundant natural scenery is also one of the charms of this hot spring area, along with various experiential facilities and sightseeing attractions suitable for tourists.