Tsuchiyu Onsen

Tsuchiyu Onsen boasts approximately 10 different types of spring water qualities and abundant hot spring water.

Located upstream from the Arakawa River, a tributary of the Abukuma River, this hot spring village has an abundance of hot spring water and multiple spring qualities.

Inns line the riverbanks, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the hot spring atmosphere. In Tsuchiyu-toge Onsenkyo, located further into the valley, visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of a secluded hot spring.

The quality of the hot spring water varies, and you can choose the type of hot spring water and inn that best suits your taste: simple, clear, colorless hot spring water that is gentle on the skin; bicarbonate spring water that is effective in retaining heat and moisture; or sulfur spring water that is cloudy, has a sulfur smell, and gives the feeling of a secluded hot spring. Footbaths are scattered throughout the hot spring resort area, so we recommend stopping by during a stroll through town.

Tsuchiyu Onsen is said to be the birthplace of the three major kokeshi dolls, along with Togatta Onsen and Naruko Onsen, and is famous for the Tsuchiyu kokeshi, a traditional handicraft with a distinctive snake-eye pattern, whale eyes, a sloping nose, and a chobo mouth. Painting workshops are also popular.

The hot spring resort is fully equipped with a tourist information center called Yurakza, cafes, restaurants, and stores, and across the street is the Public Bathhouse Nakanoyu, where visitors can relax and soak in the hot spring. The Yuaibutai facility is located at the front entrance of Tsuchiyu Onsen, and has a free parking lot with space for 63 cars. The view of Tsuchiyu Onsen from here is spectacular.

Other activities in the area include a shrimp fishing café, a sake bar and brewery, and saps and kayaks in the Onuma Swamp.

This hot spring resort stretches from the middle of the Azuma-Adachi Tara mountain range to near the mountain pass. This Tsuchiyu hot spring resort boasts more than 10 different types of hot springs and is famous as the birthplace of Kokeshi dolls, a traditional handicraft.

Tsuchiyu Onsen Town has a history of over 1,400 years and is still located along National Route 115 (Tsuchiyu Kaido), the shortest route from Fukushima City, the prefectural capital, to the Aizu region.

Hot spring facilities are also scattered around the mountain passes in the Azuma-Adachi Tara mountain range, and many are included in the “Tsuchiyu Onsen Hot Spring Village” (Washikura Onsen, Akayu Onsen, Nochi Onsen, Shin Nochi Onsen, Makukawa Onsen, etc.). The official website of the Tsuchiyu Onsen Tourist Association lists 17 inns that include these hot spring facilities (as of April 2018).

On the outskirts of the hot spring resort area, there are spots rich in nature, such as the area around Nitanuma, where Mizubashou and Katakuris are in full bloom. Onna-numa and other natural tourist spots are also worth visiting.

Along the Arakawa River, there are many inns and hotels of all sizes, and the area is known as a historic hot spring resort. Recently, the number of inns and hotels has been increasing. There are also four footbaths in town, all of which are free of charge. There is also a public bathhouse, Nakanoyu.

Tsuchiyu Onsen has a variety of sources, and visitors can enjoy more than 10 different types of hot springs.

Tsuchiyu Kokeshi dolls are a local toy representative of Fukushima City, and this onsen resort is famous as the birthplace of the three most famous Kokeshi dolls (the other two being Naruko Onsen and Togatta Onsen). In Tsuchiyu Onsen town, Tsuchiyu Kokeshi dolls are available not only as souvenirs, but also as

Kokeshi dolls are used not only as souvenirs but also as monuments in various places in Tsuchiyu Onsen Town, strongly linking the kokeshi dolls with the characteristics of the hot spring resort. There is also a Tsuchiyu Mimonokukan and a Kokeshi Dolls Exhibition Hall.

The Tsuchiyu kokeshi is characterized by a ring of snake eyes on the head and a red pattern, called kase, between the front hair and wig. The pattern on the body consists mainly of a combination of lines.