Aomori Prefecture, located at the northernmost tip of Honshu, is a treasure trove of hidden hot springs blessed with magnificent natural features including Mount Hakkoda and the Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage site. From one of Japan's three most famous hidden hot springs to miraculous foot-spring hot springs and scenic seaside open-air baths, the region offers diverse thermal experiences. This guide presents carefully selected hot springs in Aomori, ranging from wild natural springs to secluded ryokan accommodations.
1. Koganezaki Furofushi Onsen (Fukaura Town, Aomori Prefecture)
Located on the golden cape of Tsugaru's western coast, this seaside hot spring resort offers spectacular views. The hot spring began gushing from 200 meters underground in 1970, and is now nationally famous for its scenic open-air bath overlooking sunsets over the Sea of Japan. The name derives from the legend that "bathing in these waters will keep you healthy and youthful forever."
The seaside open-air bath features two pools: a gourd-shaped mixed bath and an oval-shaped women-only bath, both offering an incredible sense of unity with the Sea of Japan. At sunset, both sky and sea turn golden, creating a view selected as one of Japan's "100 Best Sunsets."
- Spring Quality: Iron-rich sodium-magnesium chloride strong saline spring
- Source Temperature: 53°C
- Natural hot spring water flow
- Day-trip bathing: Available (Adults ¥600, Children ¥300)
- Operating hours: 9:00-20:00 (Seaside open-air bath: 10:30-16:00)
- Accommodation: Available
- Access: 5-minute shuttle bus from JR Wespa Tsubakiyama Station
2. Sukayu Onsen (Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture)
Discovered in 1684, this famous hot spring with 300 years of history was designated as Japan's first National Health Resort Hot Spring in 1954, making it a representative hot spring of Aomori. Located at an altitude of approximately 900 meters, it's called the "Heavenly Hot Spring in the Clouds."
The highlight is the "Hiba Thousand-Person Bath," a vast 160-tatami mixed-gender bathhouse made entirely of Japanese cypress, featuring four different hot spring sources: "Hot Water," "Four-Six Water," "Cold Water," and "Hot Waterfall." The strongly acidic waters (pH 1.5) have high therapeutic effects and have been beloved by hot spring cure seekers for centuries.
- Spring Quality: Acidic sulfur-aluminum sulfate-chloride spring
- Source Temperature: 42-67°C
- Natural hot spring water flow
- Day-trip bathing: Available (Adults ¥600)
- Operating hours: 7:00-18:00 (Mixed bath has women-only time 8:00-9:00)
- Accommodation: Available
- Operating period: Year-round
3. Tsuta Onsen (Towada City, Aomori Prefecture)
A hidden hot spring cherished for about a thousand years, featuring Japan's extremely rare "foot-spring" hot springs where water bubbles up directly from the bottom of the bathtub. Using beech wood, the hot spring water emerges through the bottom boards of the bath, allowing guests to enjoy "raw hot spring water" that hasn't been exposed to air. The sensation of transparent hot spring bubbles rising from your feet is a unique Tsuta Onsen experience.
Located in the primeval forest of southern Hakkoda near the Oirase Gorge, the facility offers the alternating-gender "Kyuan-no-yu" bath, separate gender "Senkyo-no-yu" baths, and reservation-only private baths. This historic hot spring resort appears in documents from the Kyuan era.
- Spring Quality: Simple hot spring (foot-spring)
- Source Temperature: 44°C
- Natural flow (water added for temperature control)
- Day-trip bathing: Available (Adults ¥1,000, Elementary students ¥500)
- Operating hours: 10:00-15:00 (Reception closes at 14:30)
- Accommodation: Available
- Operating period: Late April to mid-November
4. Yachi Onsen (Towada City, Aomori Prefecture)
One of Japan's three most famous hidden hot springs with 400 years of history. This mountain retreat at approximately 1,000 meters altitude in the Hakkoda Mountains features foot-spring hot water (directly bubbling from the bath bottom).
Guests can enjoy two different spring qualities: the 38°C "Lower Bath" called the sacred spring and the 42°C cloudy "Upper Bath." The gentle bubbling hot water is said to be effective for back pain and atopic dermatitis, and is renowned among hot spring enthusiasts as supreme quality water.
- Spring Quality: Simple sulfur spring (Lower Bath), Simple hot spring (Upper Bath)
- Source Temperature: 38°C, 42°C
- Natural hot spring water flow
- Day-trip bathing: Available (Adults ¥500)
- Operating hours: 10:00-15:00
- Accommodation: Available
- Operating period: Year-round
5. Lamp Inn Aoni Onsen (Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture)
A nationally famous mountain valley hidden hot spring known as the "Lamp Inn" that uses no electricity whatsoever, nestled along the Aoni Valley stream. Established in 1929, it provides a complete digital detox environment where even mobile phone signals don't reach at night.
The facility features four distinctive hot springs: the all-Hiba cypress "Kenroku-no-yu," the fragrant "Main Building Indoor Bath," "Takimi-no-yu" across a suspension bridge, and the wild stone-built "Open-air Bath." The open-air bath is mixed-gender with dedicated women-only hours.
- Spring Quality: Simple hot spring (hypotonic, weakly alkaline, high-temperature spring)
- Source Temperature: 47.5°C
- Natural hot spring water flow
- Day-trip bathing: Available (Currently ¥500 due to construction)
- Operating hours: 10:00-15:00
- Accommodation: Available
- Operating period: Year-round
6. Oku-Yakken Onsen Ganso Kappa-no-yu (Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture)
Wild open-air baths located about 2km upstream from Yakken Onsen. Two open-air baths, "Ganso Kappa-no-yu" and "Meoto Kappa-no-yu," are within 5 minutes walking distance of each other, known for the ancient "Kappa Hot Spring Legend."
Built with large stones in a rustic style, visitors can enjoy hot springs in the deep mountain silence. The charm lies in its simple, hidden hot spring atmosphere and natural surroundings.
- Spring Quality: Simple hot spring
- Natural hot spring water flow
- Day-trip bathing: Available (Free)
- Operating hours: 24 hours (except cleaning times)
- Accommodation: Not available
- Operating period: Year-round (may be difficult in winter due to snow)
- Access: About 20-minute walk from Yakken Onsen
7. Shimofuro Onsen Kaikyo-no-yu (Kazamaura Village, Aomori Prefecture)
A day-trip bathing facility in Shimofuro Onsen, Japan's northernmost hot spring resort. Located with spectacular views of the Tsugaru Strait, it features baths, walls, and chairs made abundantly with Aomori cypress.
The facility includes a restaurant serving local flounder and monkfish, allowing visitors to enjoy both hot springs and seafood simultaneously. It offers a special experience unique to Japan's northernmost hot spring resort.
- Spring Quality: Sodium sulfate-chloride spring
- Source Temperature: 62°C
- Natural hot spring water flow
- Day-trip bathing: Available (Adults ¥450, Junior high ¥100, Elementary ¥50)
- Operating hours: 8:00-20:30 (7:00-20:30 April-October)
- Accommodation: Not available
- Closed: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays
8. Ajigasawa Onsen Suigun-no-yado (Ajigasawa Town, Aomori Prefecture)
A seaside hot spring inn in the port town of Ajigasawa, Tsugaru. Features a unique ship-shaped open-air bath themed after the "Ando Navy" that once prospered in Tosaminato trade, where visitors can enjoy starry skies at night.
The facility offers 100% natural flowing hot spring water containing "fossil seawater" with excellent moisturizing and heat-retention properties. The indoor bath with wooden warmth includes a sauna, and the inn is beloved locally for its Sea of Japan seafood.
- Spring Quality: Sodium chloride spring (fossil seawater)
- Source Temperature: Approximately 40°C
- Natural hot spring water flow
- Day-trip bathing: Available (Ages 12+ ¥450, Ages 6-11 ¥150)
- Operating hours: 8:00-21:00
- Accommodation: Available
- Operating period: Year-round
9. Shirakami Onsen Seikansou (Fukaura Town, Aomori Prefecture)
A hot spring inn located at the foot of the Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage site. Visitors can enjoy hot springs while experiencing the great nature of Shirakami-Sanchi in a tranquil environment surrounded by beech forests.
Known as "beautiful skin hot spring" with alkaline hydrogen carbonate spring water, guests report smooth and glowing skin after bathing. The pH 8.5 alkaline spring is effective for fatigue recovery, neuralgia, muscle pain, and sensitivity to cold.
- Spring Quality: Alkaline hydrogen carbonate spring
- Source Temperature: 42°C
- pH: 8.5
- Day-trip bathing: Available
- Accommodation: Available
- Operating period: Year-round
- Access: Bus from JR Fukaura Station
10. Aomori Machinaka Onsen (Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture)
An urban hot spring facility in central Aomori City offering authentic hot springs despite its city location. Features 100% natural flowing hot spring water containing "fossil seawater" with excellent moisturizing and heat-retention properties.
The unique ship-shaped open-air bath themed after the "Ando Navy" that once prospered in Tosaminato trade offers starry sky views at night. The indoor bath with wooden warmth includes a sauna.
- Spring Quality: Sodium chloride spring (fossil seawater)
- Source Temperature: Approximately 40°C
- Natural hot spring water flow
- Day-trip bathing: Available (Ages 12+ ¥480, Ages 6-12 ¥170)
- Operating hours: 6:00-24:00
- Accommodation: Not available
- Operating period: Year-round
- Access: 15 minutes by car from Aomori Station
Conclusion
Aomori Prefecture's hidden hot springs each possess unique and attractive characteristics. From Koganezaki Furofushi Onsen with its Sea of Japan views to the electricity-free Lamp Inn and the miraculous foot-spring Tsuta Onsen, special hot spring experiences unavailable elsewhere await visitors.
The rich natural environment of Aomori Prefecture offers healing experiences for both body and soul that can only be found in these hidden hot spring paradises. Please explore Aomori's hot springs throughout different seasons to experience the profound depth of Japanese hot spring culture, as each season reveals different expressions of these natural treasures.
Important Notice
- The information provided represents the most current data available at the time of research, but there may be inaccuracies. Please verify the latest information through official websites.