Shizu Onsen Maizuruya

Maizuruya is a hot spring inn in Gassan Shizu Onsen, set at the foot of Mount Gassan along the old Rokujurigoe road in Shizu, Nishikawa Town, Nishimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture. The Shizu Onsen village is a relatively young resort, opened in 1989 (Heisei 1), and is popular as a base for hiking and nature walks on Mount Gassan and the Dewa Sanzan. Maizuruya is a small, intimate inn with 13 guest rooms and is a member of the Japan Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns.

The spring is a sodium chloride spring. Because the source emerges at a cool 12.6 degrees Celsius, the water is heated and diluted, then supplied through a combination of filtration circulation and partial free-flow at the spouts. It is said to be effective for chronic skin conditions, neuralgia, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue recovery, and is cherished as a gentle beautifying bath.

The bathing area has a simple design centered on indoor baths, with no open-air bath. Day-trip bathing is available for 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for children, making it a convenient stop during hiking or sightseeing. Overnight stays with two meals start from roughly 16,650 yen. Due to its snowy setting, the inn operates from early April to the end of October and closes for the winter.