Ginzan Onsen is a hot spring resort located in Obanazawa, Yamagata Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan side of the Tohoku region.

Its wooden ryokan inns were built from the end of the Taisho era (1912-1926) to the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989), creating a unique beauty that will turn your thoughts to a different era.

The hot spring town has other points of interest besides the hot springs, including restaurants, souvenir shops, and scenic spots, and welcomes international tourists throughout the year.

Here’s how to get to Oishida Station, closest to Ginzan Onsen, from Tokyo, Sendai, and Osaka, which are easy starting points for your trip.

From Tokyo, you can get to Oishida Station by train, plane, and highway bus; from Sendai, you can take a train or highway bus; from Osaka, a flight is recommended.

Visitors to Yamagata will likely want to take in the area's many beautiful sights, including Mount Zao and the picturesque Yamadera Temple, before heading on to Ginzan Onsen.

Once you arrive at JR Oishida Station, there are three ways to get to Ginzan Onsen: bus, taxi, and shuttle bus. Here’s how to use each.

Many tourists choose to travel by bus from Oishida Station to Ginzan Onsen. After exiting Oishida Station, follow the roundabout to the left. Oishida Station has only one entrance/exit, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.

Just a short walk away you’ll find the warehouse-like bus shelter. From Oishida Station to Ginzan Onsen, take a fixed-route bus operated by Hanagasa Bus.

There are typically 5 buses per day from Oishida Station to Ginzan Onsen. However, the number of buses and departure times vary seasonally, so be sure to check the timetable in advance on the Hanagasa Bus website.

Note that lines for the bus will typically form quickly, so it's best to hop along to the bus stop as soon as you arrive.

Bus fare from Oishida Station to Ginzan Onsen is 1,000 yen for adults. Children, people with disabilities, and one attendant can ride for 500 yen. Fares are cash only, and IC cards (e.g. Pasmo, Suica) cannot be used. It is best to have exact change before boarding.

There is no foreign language guidance on the bus to let you know, but if you only want to go to Ginzan Onsen, you can pay the fare for your entire party in one deposit. It takes about 40 minutes to arrive at the Ginzan Onsen bus stop at the entrance of the hot spring town.

In April 2021, Obanazawa introduced a multilingual translation system that allows you to easily check sightseeing and transportation information throughout the city by scanning a QR code with your smartphone.

Service is available in Japanese, English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), and Korean. The QR code is posted at Oishida Station and on buses, so be sure to look for it.

It is possible to go by taxi, but the fare is high – about 5,500 yen for up to 4 people and about 8,600 yen for a jumbo taxi for up to 9 people (reservation required). The drive takes about 30 minutes.

Reservations aren’t required for regular 4-seat taxis. Simply take a taxi from in front of Oishida Station and tell the driver “to Ginzan Onsen.” However, there are no multilingual taxi companies in the city, so downloading a translation app is recommended.

If you plan to stay at one of Ginzan Onsen’s ryokan inns, it’s a good idea to check if your accommodation provides a shuttle bus. Although they are limited to guests and require reservations, shuttles are a cost-effective means of transit, both picking you up from and dropping you off at Oishida Station for free.

Getting to Ginzan Onsen is actually very simple, so you won't get lost if you follow the above routes. Have a wonderful trip!

Text by: Shoe Press Co., Ltd.
* The information in this article is accurate as of April 2021. Please check the official website for the latest information.

English translation by Gabriel Wilkinson