Kawatabi Onsen Togoro-no-Yu Takato Ryokan

Takato Ryokan is a traditional tojichi (hot spring healing stay) inn in Kawatabi Onsen, part of the Naruko Onsen area in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture. The inn sits in a satoyama setting and has a self-catering annex and a new building, suited to both long healing stays and short overnight trips.

The water is a sulfur-containing sodium bicarbonate and sulfate spring (hypotonic, neutral, high temperature) named Togoro-no-Yu, with a pH of 7.2 and a source temperature of 58.2 degrees Celsius. The bath is pale green and cloudy, and white mineral flakes sometimes drift in it; the color can change with the weather and time of day. It is 100 percent natural hot spring water that flows freely through the baths. The source is hot, so the bath temperature varies by season.

There are separate indoor baths for men and women (the women's bath has a shallow tub that can be used for lying down) and one private bath that guests can use freely when it is not occupied. There is no open-air bath. Parking is free. Guests can choose a self-catering tojichi plan or a plan with meals; room rates are 5,300 yen per person in the new building and 4,900 yen per person in the annex.