Last New Year, I traveled to Japan, a popular tourist destination. This time, I ventured north from Tokyo to Yamagata, Sendai, Aomori, Hakodate, and back to Sapporo. And of course, a must-visit spot was Ginzan Onsen, a popular tourist destination that is full throughout the year. Today, I'm going to review it from an angle that may overlap with many other reviews, but I hope it will be helpful for those who are looking for information about Ginzan.

Traveling to Ginzan is not difficult. Simply find your way to Oishida Station in Obazawa City. There are direct Shinkansen trains from Tokyo every day, on the Yamagata line. Oishida Station is about half an hour beyond Yamagata. There are seven Shinkansen trains per day, but the fast ones only stop at major stations. The 9:24 AM train from Tokyo arrives in Oishida at 12:20 PM, taking just over two hours. The train was very empty when we went on a Thursday, which made us a little worried that there wouldn't be enough passengers for the train to stop. The weather in Tokyo was perfect, sunny all the way until we passed Fukushima and started climbing the mountains. The snow was falling heavily, making everything white.

At Ginzan, we chose to stay at Ginzansou, another popular onsen resort. The resort is not located in the Ginzan village, but it is only a 5-minute walk away. It seems to be the most modern (there is actually another one that is more chic, but it is also much more expensive and very difficult to book). It costs a little over 10,000 yen per night, but it is worth it because the resort provides round-trip transportation from Oishida Station. However, when we arrived at the station, it turned out that almost every resort had a shuttle service. I had read that we would have to take a bus to the village, but it may be because it was already the snow season and it was more convenient for the resorts to send a car to pick us up. However, there were buses available, but it is better to ask the resort to pick you up as it is more convenient.



Ginza Sunso is a popular restaurant in Ginza, but it is very difficult to make a reservation. I recommend booking six months in advance and checking the website daily for availability. Agoda and Booking.com are not recommended as they often show full availability. Japanican is a more convenient and easier option, but rooms still fill up quickly. It seems that booking through the hotel's Japanese website may be faster. I was unable to book a room with a private onsen, but the standard room was still very nice. The price includes dinner, breakfast, and convenient transportation, making it a good deal for two people at 10,000 baht.



The car picked us up right on time. The journey to the village was nerve-wracking as it snowed heavily the whole way. We were worried that the heavy snowfall would prevent us from exploring the village.



After a slightly longer journey, we finally arrived safely at the resort. (The return trip took less than 20 minutes to the station as there was no snowfall.) Upon arrival, we were unable to check in immediately, so we decided to explore the village before dinner. The atmosphere was truly magical, with constant snowfall creating a pristine white landscape.


The Kinzan or Iron Mountain village was once a mine and later became a hot spring resort for high-ranking nobles in ancient times. There is no need to repeat the history, as there are many reviews on Pantip. However, everyone is flocking here because they are following in the footsteps of a famous Japanese drama from over twenty years ago. Even young people today know it because Thai television likes to rerun it. The name is "Oshin". P.S. I watched it during the rerun. Hehe. I didn't get to see it when it first aired. Hehe.

Upon arrival, the heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures rendered walking nearly impossible, as both my hands and ears were numb with cold. Seeking refuge in a nearby café, I sipped on a warm cup of coffee, lamenting the uncooperative weather. After approximately ten minutes, the relentless snowfall gradually subsided, transitioning to a gentle sprinkle interspersed with brief pauses. With gratitude to the Japanese snow deity, I ventured out to explore the pristine white landscape.



At 3 p.m., it was time to walk back to the resort. It was time to check in, so we went to see the room. We took a shower and soaked in the onsen. In the evening, we took some photos at dusk, and our mission here was accomplished. We chose to have dinner at 9 p.m. It was already twilight at 4:30 p.m., and it was completely dark at 5 p.m. Let's go see the room.

The room was incredibly spacious and offered excellent value for money. It featured a private bathroom separate from the living/sleeping area. The futon (Japanese mattress) in the center of the room provided ample space for movement. Amenities included a refrigerator (which I didn't use) and a 55-inch LCD TV that provided amusement with its Japanese programming (fortunately, CNN was available). The water pressure and temperature were excellent. In fact, I rarely used the private bathroom, opting instead for the onsen, which offered even more invigorating water pressure.



It's time for an evening tour of the surrounding villages. While it's possible to visit Ginzan from Tokyo as a day trip, the last train back to the station won't allow you to enjoy the early evening views. Therefore, it's recommended to stay overnight. However, you'll need to book your accommodation quickly, as rooms fill up fast. Alternatively, you can stay in nearby towns like Shingo or Oishida and take a taxi to Ginzan. However, returning can be difficult, as taxis are scarce after the tourist center closes. Additionally, all ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) are usually fully booked.



Enjoy the romantic atmosphere. It's time to go for dinner. It's not a long walk back to the hotel, but it's a bit creepy to walk alone because all the shops along the way are closed. It's only half past six. Let's go see what the ryokan has prepared for dinner. The best thing is probably the Yamagata grilled beef, which is really tender.



After a satisfying meal, it was time for a relaxing onsen experience. The onsen here was not a natural hot spring, but rather a collection of indoor and outdoor pools, including private baths with scenic views. This was my first time experiencing an onsen, and I must admit, I felt quite shy initially. However, once I got used to it, I found it to be incredibly enjoyable and truly blissful. The outdoor bath was particularly delightful, with the hot water and the occasional snow flurries on my face creating a sensation of pure comfort. I ended up soaking in the onsen three times that night, with the final dip taking place after midnight when the baths were empty. I managed to capture a few photos of the atmosphere, but refrained from taking any pictures of the changing rooms as there were still people present. (In retrospect, it was probably not appropriate to take photos at all. If you're interested in seeing the official photos, I recommend visiting the hotel's website.)



After waking up in the morning, I took another dip in the onsen before having breakfast and heading to Yamagata. This concludes our coverage of the trip, with breakfast as the final topic. Thank you very much for following along.



#ginzan onsen#japan
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