Goshiki Onsen

A historic hot spring located at 800m elevation at the foot of the Azuma mountain range in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. One of the Yonezawa Eight Hot Springs, legend says it was discovered about 1,300 years ago by En no Ozunu, the founder of Shugendō, who saw five-colored steam. The name comes from this legend.

During the Edo period, it was treasured as a protected hot spring of the Yonezawa Domain's Uesugi clan. In 1609, Naoe Kanetsugu is said to have opened a bath for his son Kagemitsu. In 1911, Japan's first private ski resort (Goshiki Ski Resort) was established here and used by imperial family and nobility.

Spring quality is sodium/calcium-bicarbonate/chloride spring, with source temperature 45.9°C and pH 6.4 (hypotonic neutral hot spring). Flow rate 70-90 liters per minute. Said to be effective for cuts, skin diseases, women's diseases, nerve pain, gastrointestinal issues, and gout.

Particularly known as a 'child-blessing hot spring,' with history of childless couples conceiving after bathing here.

【Facility History】

The one-inn Sokawa Ryokan, which opened in the Meiji era and operated for many years, closed in November 2020 due to lack of successors. Subsequently reopened on December 10, 2023 as Goshiki Onsen Auto Campground, with day-trip bathing and sauna facilities available.