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Naruko Onsen village is an historic hot spring town, situated in Osaki, to the north of Miyagi Prefecture and it’s one of the most popular onsen destinations within the entire Tohoku Region. Its scenic location tucked in the mountainside of Miyagi draws guests not just from Japan but from the entire world, all on the hunt for the ultimate onsen experience. Home to the famous Naruko-kyo Gorge, and transforming with the seasonal changes, the area is a also a hotbed of outdoor activities including hiking, skiing and sightseeing but if you do make it to the area you can’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the healing and therapeutic hot springs.
![The Baths of Naruko Onsen]()
The Baths of Naruko Onsen
![The Baths of Naruko Onsen]()
The Baths of Naruko Onsen
Ultimately the Naruko-onsen Village is comprised of a number of hot springs that boast an impressive 1,000 year history. The onsens sprawl across Naruko, Higashi-Naruko, Kawatabi, Nakayamadaira, and Onikoube coming together to create the heart and soul of the historic village. Throughout the onsens a number of different water sources fill the healing baths offering something for every body and skin type. In fact dotted throughout the area are almost 400 hot spring sources in the Naruko-onsen-kyo Hot Spring Village alone.
![The Baths of Naruko Onsen]()
The Baths of Naruko Onsen
Thanks to the abundance of different hot spring water, many inns and hotels located in the area house their own unique water sources on their properties. One of the best times to visit the area is during winter when the snow covered landscape is dotted with pockets of natural onsen steam permeating from the ground’s surface. If you do wander around the quaint and historic area you’ll be sure to stumble across one of the town’s many public foot-baths or hand-baths that are open completely free of charge.
![The Baths of Naruko Onsen]()
The Baths of Naruko Onsen
Believe it or not, beyond bathing, the locals of Naruko Onsen also use the natural hot water source as a tool for cooking. Onsen tamago are an iconic Naruko food, which consist of simply soft-boiled eggs cooked in in the onsen water. You can try your hand at cooking your own onsen eggs by picking up an onsen egg kit from Ojimaya which is located along between the station and the onsen egg area. The kit contains dashi stock, an egg and a spoon.
![The Baths of Naruko Onsen]()
The Baths of Naruko Onsen
This area has become a very popular getaway destination for locals and travellers alike thanks in part to its relatively easy access by train. From Sendai station, the area is a 1 hour and 20 minute journey by shinkansen and JR express train. Catch the Tohoku Shinkansen and make a switch to the Rikuuto Line at Furukawa Station and get off at Naruko-Onsen Station, the trip costs 3,650 yen each way. Filled with craft stores, friendly locals and restaurants offering delicious local cuisine, a visit to Naruko-Onsen Station is a mini adventure in itself. If you’re thinking about doing a little onsen hopping while you’re in town it might be worth buying a special yumeguri ticket, which allows entry into a number of baths for the flat rate of 1,300 yen, you can pick up one of these passes from the visitor center in Naruko-Onsen Station.
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