{"id":7612,"date":"2025-01-20T20:54:27","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T11:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deepstoryjapan.com\/?p=7612"},"modified":"2025-05-03T11:42:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T02:42:55","slug":"ginzan-hot-spring-and-soba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deepstoryjapan.com\/en\/ginzan-hot-spring-and-soba\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Must-tries on Ginzan Hot Spring & Japanese Soba Noodles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Must-Try 1: Enjoy the scenery of Ginzan Onsen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Scenery of Ginzan Onsen that Changes with the Time of the Day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Ginzan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To Ginzan Onsen (hot Spring), we go down the mountain road. As you go down the road curving to the left, you will see the Ginzan River, the next moment you will see the Shirogane Bridge, the entrance to Ginzan Onsen, and further on, the town of Ginzan Onsen suddenly opens up before your eyes. We get impressed by the retro townscape we have never seen before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ginzan Onsen is in in Obanazawa city which is located in eastern part of Yamagata prefecture. Ginzan means a silver mine. This area has been a silver mine since the Edo period (1603-1868), and after the mine closed, hot spring ryokans (Japanese traditional inns) were built in the area which use spring water that gushes out along the riverside. The area was destroyed by the flood in 1913, but was restored and turned into the townscape we see today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people say that its nostalgic atmosphere is just like the setting of the movie \u201cSpirited Away\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Ginzan Onsen, ryokans have been built along the river drawing spring water which gushes out along the riverside for their indoor baths. It is a sulfur spring with a slight salty taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The area is lined with wooden multi-story ryokans dating from the Taisho (1912 -1926) and early Showa periods (1926-1989). Many of the ryokans are three- and four-story wooden balcony buildings, which were very modern at the time they were built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Influenced by the symmetrical and elegant Art Deco designs that developed in the U.S., craftsmen in Japan during the Taisho and Showa eras developed Japan Deco, a reinterpretation of Art Deco with a Japanese sensibility, and Japanese style Western buildings were actively constructed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ginzan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The beauty of Ginzan Onsen from dusk to night is exceptional. The sky, which was dim at first, darkens further, and the view of the plaster-walled ryokan buildings get illuminated by gas lamps against the dark, but still mysteriously blue sky is indescribably beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ginzan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The townscape of Ginzan Onsen at night is breathtaking. The windows of the ryokans are lit, and the orange glow of the gas lamps illuminate the town. Tourists who have finished their dinner leisurely stroll through the town. Time passes leisurely in this luxurious space completely isolated from everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The soft orange color of the gas lamps softly reflects the buildings and the townscape, and is reflected on the surface of the Ginzan River as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ginzan Onsen in Winter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Town<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although Ginzan Onsen in fresh green and autumn leaves are off course beautiful, many people put Ginzan Onsen in winter first. It is because of the snow. The retro buildings in Ginzan Onsen and the snow that has fallen on the town makes you feel as if time has stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Town<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Ginzan<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As the darkness falls, the soft glow of the gas lamps on the snowy ground looks like a scene from a movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Must-Try 2: Explore the artistic streets of Ginza Onsen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beautiful Retro Ryokan Buildings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Retro<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Retro<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some of the three- and four-story wooden ryokans have a history of more than 100 years, and some are designated as national tangible cultural properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


When you enter these ryokans, you will see pillars, staircases, and railings as they were in those days,
Imagining that they were used by people 100 years ago, you might be struck by a sense of being transported back in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kote-e (Japanese Plaster Relief Made by Trowel)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Kote-e<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Kote-e<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Kote-e<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Kote-e<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Kote-e<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kote-e is a relief made with plaster that developed in Japan. The plasterer uses a trowel to finish the work. The subjects are mainly stories that bring good fortune, flowers, birds, wind, and the moon, and they are expressed using richly colored plaster. The plaster was often used as a symbol of wealth as decoration on the exterior walls of their buildings by rich merchants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Ginzan Onsen, at the time when the thatch-roofed ryokan area was transformed into a wooden high-rise ryokan district due to flood damage, each ryokan probably displayed trowel paintings in competition to show off their luxuriousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the ryokans has 12 kote-e for each month of the year’s events.
They are, January: New Year’s Day, February: Setsubun(the last day of winter), March: Girls’ Festival, April: Cherry Blossoms in Full Blossom, May: Carp Streamers, June: Rice Planting, July: Tanabata(Star Festival), August: Summer Festival, September: Moon Viewing, October: Rice Harvest, November: Shichi-Go-San(A festival for children who are 3, 5, and 7 years-old), December: Touji(hot\u2010spring cure).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artistic Tiles<\/strong> on the Road<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Colorful<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Colorful snowflake tiles are embedded here and there on the cobblestone streets of Ginzan Onsen, located in an area with heavy snowfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Footbath on the Road<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Footbath<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are two footbaths in Ginzan Onsen. One is located along the river near the entrance to Ginzan Onsen, near the Shirogane Bridge, and the other is on a bridge in the middle of the hot spring area. The footbath uses hot spring water from the Ginzan Onsen hot spring, which is also used at the onsen ryokans. The temperature of the hot spring is hot, with a slight sulfur aroma. Visitors can relax while enjoying the view of the elegant townscape for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Retrospective Scenes in Town\u3000<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Old<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In addition to ryokans, there are many other retro scenes in Ginzan Onsen. Soba noodle shops, cafes, souvenir shop buildings, old posters on the walls etc. are also picturesque.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The above photo shows a view of a souvenir shop with an old mailbox and an old map of Ginzan Onsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Must-Try 3: Savor the specialt<\/strong>ies of Yamagata prefecture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Japanese Soba Noodles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Ita-soba(buckwheat<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Yamagata Prefecture, where Ginzan Onsen is located, is famous for soba (buckwheat noodles). Yamagata soba is characterized by its thickness and firm texture. One of the most famous sobas in Yamagata is ita-soba which is served in a shallow box made of cedar planks. Ita-soba is said that it was served to large groups of people at local gatherings a long time ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Niku-soba(meat<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Niku-soba, another famous soba in the area is topped with chicken and green onions. There are two types of niku-soba, one with hot soup and the other with cold soup, but the most famous is the cold soup version. It is said that the reason for the cold soup was that the cold soup was more convenient for the eating way of soba. The soba did not get soggy even if people ate chicken first while drinking sake (Japanese rice wine) and finished off the meal with soba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you visit Ginzan Onsen around October, check when the New Soba Festival is to be held. New soba harvested that year will be served only after this New Soba Festival. If you visit Ginzan Onsen right after the New Soba Festival, you can enjoy freshly harvested soba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information about soba, please check it from here: “8 Japanese Foods to Learn About”\/”Soba”<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yamagata Beef<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Sliced<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
If you come to Ginzan Onsen, you should enjoy Yamagata beef. Many ryokans serve Yamagata beef. It is better to check if you can eat Yamagata beef when making a reservation at a ryokan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The climate of Yamagata with a huge change in the temperature slows down the growth of cattle a bit. Thus, cattle are raised over rather a longer period of time. Yamagata beef has a fine texture, and it has a fine marbling in the lean meat, which gives it a robust lean meat flavor and a sweet fatty flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imoni<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Imoni(traditional<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Imoni is a simple one-pot dish consisting of taro, beef, konjac, green onions, and other ingredients simmered in a broth of soy sauce and sugar. It is widely eaten in the Tohoku region (North -eastern part of Japan), including Yamagata. When eaten during the cold season from fall to winter, it warms you up from the inside. It is sometimes served at ryokans in Ginzan Onsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imoni is said to have started in the mid-1600s. It is said to have its roots in a party held by boatmen at a landing place on the Mogami River in Yamagata, where they would sit around the hot pot at riverbed until the consignees appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nowadays, in Yamagata and other Tohoku regions, people gather in groups on the riverbeds, etc., and the Imoni events are held with family, friends, communities, schools, workplaces, and other groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fruits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Lots<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Yamagata Prefecture is known as the \u201cfruit kingdom\u201d and boasts one of the nation’s top harvests of cherries, pears, grapes, watermelons, persimmons, and many other fruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most famous of all are cherries. The representative variety of the cherries is Sato Nishiki. They are bright red in color, high in sugar content, low in acidity, and rich in juice, and are in season from mid-June to early July, so if you have a chance to visit Ginzan Onsen or other tourist spots in Yamagata during this period, you should definitely try them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Colorful<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In Ginzan Onsen, you can enjoy desserts using seasonal fruits of the season. The above photo shows a grape parfait. The fruits used for desserts depend on the season you visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advice \uff06 Recommendations from a Native Japanese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Obanazawa Soba Road<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Soba<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Yamagata Prefecture, with its abundant water and climate suitable for growing soba, is also famous as a \u201csoba kingdom”. In particular, there are three soba roads in Obanazawa, Oishida, and Murayama located in the Mogami River basin which are lined with soba restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although you need to take a taxi ride from Ginzan Onsen, it is an option to go to Obanazawa soba road with more than 10 soba shops, for those interested in soba. Obanazawa produces the largest amount of soba in Yamagata Prefecture, and the secret of its delicious taste lies in its severe climate with a temperature difference of 40 degrees Celsius(104 degrees Fahrenheit).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yamagata Ramen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Ramen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There are many ramen restaurants in Obanazawa city as well. In fact, Yamagata Prefecture, where Obanazawa city is located, is one of the most famous prefectures to consume a great number of ramens in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the survey conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the annual amount spent per Yamagata household on Chinese noodles (eating out) was the highest in Japan for two consecutive years, 2022 and 2023. In Obanazawa city where Ginzan Onsen is located, you can enjoy Yamagata ramen as well. Why not go out of the Ginzan Onsen to the center of the city and try Yamagata ramen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yamagata ramen is made with Chinese noodles in a soy sauce-based soup as shown in the above picture. In Yamagata, ramen is often referred to as \u201cChinese soba. Even soba (buckwheat noodles) restaurants often serve ramen under the name of Chinese soba. Thus, both the soba and ramen restaurants serve Yamagata ramen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Ramen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Hiyashi ramen (chilled ramen) is a unique menu in Yamagata. Hiyashi ramen is a cold noodle dish; both the soup and noodles are cold, and sometimes ice is floated on top. It is sometimes with fresh vegetables. The hiyashi ramen in the above picture is with white radish sprouts and tomato slices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, many of the ramen restaurants in Obanazawa serve soy sauce-based Yamagata ramen (Chinese noodles), but today, they offer not only traditional soy sauce-based ramen, but also a variety of creative and delicious ramen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information about ramen, please check it from here: “8 Japanese Foods to Learn About”\/”Ramen”<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n