Yujimata Onsen Izumiya Ryokan

Izumiya Ryokan is the original source inn of Yujimata Onsen, set in the mountains of Hanawa Town in the Higashishirakawa district of Fukushima Prefecture. The spring is said to have been opened in 1534 after a deer was seen healing its wounds in the water, which gave the main bath its name, Shika no Yu (Deer's Bath). The family served as the keepers of the spring for generations and is now in its 20th generation. In 1853, the Mito scholar Fujita Toko stayed here for about three weeks and wrote about the waters.

The water is an alkaline simple spring with a soft, slightly slippery feel on the skin. Bath temperatures are lukewarm, around 37 to 40 degrees Celsius, so guests can soak for a long time. At Shika no Yu, the spring wells up right beneath the tub and flows straight in. Yawata no Yu is also fed by free-flowing spring water that overflows the tub. The small tub at the back of Shika no Yu may be warmed in winter.

The baths are the mixed Shika no Yu, which has women-only hours, and the Yawata no Yu, which is divided by gender. The inn has six guest rooms and serves local ingredients that pair well with sake. Day-trip bathing is by reservation only, at roughly 600 yen per adult; please call ahead to confirm availability.