Naruko Onsenkyō is in the inland northern part of Miyagi prefecture. Along with Miyagi prefecture’s Akiu Onsen and Fukushima prefecture’s Iizaka Onsen, this is one of the representative hot springs of the Tohoku region. From Tokyo, you can reach the area via bullet train and local trains in about three hours.

Of the ten qualities of hot springs in Japan, the waters of Naruko Onsenkyō embody an amazing eight of them.

From bicarbonate springs, which are great for the skin, to sulfur springs that do wonders for skin problems, there are over 370 sources for the hot springs. There is a total of five hot springs there with their own accommodations and sightseeing spots, including Naruko Onsen, Higashinaruko Onsen, Kawatabi Onsen, Nakayamadaira Onsen, and Onikōbe Onsen, and amongst them, Naruko Onsen is the main tourist spot, with many restaurants and accommodations within walking distance from the train station.

The place is three minutes away from JR Naruko Onsen station on foot. Along a gentle slope lined with many onsen accommodations, in one corner stands Oedo Onsen Monogatari Naruko Onsen Masuya.

First built in 1915, in 2016, the bathing area was renovated, and the restaurant also had a live kitchen added, for a complete renewal of the place. This is one hot spring resort where you will definitely enjoy yourself regardless of age.

From JR Sendai Station, the jumping board to sightseeing Miyagi Prefecture, take the JR Tohoku shinkansen for about 13 minutes. Alight at JR Furukawa Station, and change onto the Rikuuto line. You’ll arrive at JR Naruko Onsen Station in around 45 minutes.

One great perk of Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Masuya is that it offers a free direct shuttle service from JR Sendai Station. It makes one round trip per day, and especially for overseas visitors who aren’t used to changing trains and may have worries about making transport connections, this certainly puts them at ease.

The service is limited only to guests staying at the hotel, and reservation must be made by phone beforehand. As there are limited seats available, it’s best to make your reservations early.

Once you’ve reached the hotel, head to the front desk. An adorable kokeshi doll will be there to welcome you. As you can see the beautiful garden from the lobby, take some time to admire it while your group representative is checking in.

Once you’ve finished your check-in, you’ll receive the keys to your room from the staff. The key chain is in the shape of a kokeshi doll, a traditional Japanese doll. It seems that kokeshi are famous in Naruko Onsen. You can catch hints of the hotel’s character through it.

As this is an onsen hotel, yukata, a type of casual kimono, are provided. In Japan, it’s normal to wear yukata while staying in an onsen hotel. There are several types of yukata available, and there are designs from traditional Japanese prints to prints featuring the hotel name on them.

For most onsen hotels, calming colors such as dark blue and white or light purple are the standard, and both males and females share the same pattern.

However, at Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Masuya, there are six patterns available for ladies, and four for gents, and well as an additional three types for children, with a wide variety of designs to choose from. Yukata are available near the front desk and are arranged by size. Wearing a yukata that you like also ramps up your excitement more.

If there’s one thing that can be said to be the main charm of Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Masuya, it’s the rotenburo, or open-air bath. On the top floor of the hotel is the Tenma Rotenburo, where you can see views of the surrounding mountains.

From lush leaves to autumn foliage and snow, you can see gorgeous views throughout the four seasons while healing your body in the spring waters, for an unparalleled combination. The waters flow directly from the spring source, and are mildly alkali sulfur baths. However, as the sulfur in the water reacts with metal and turns it black, do remove any necklaces and other metallic items before entering the bath.

There are two bathing areas available, the Tenma and the Tenshō, which are regularly rotated between males and females.

After a soak in the hot springs, why not fill yourself with some delicious food? The food at Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Masuya is very popular. Breakfast and dinner are served buffet-style, with a dinner offering a lineup of over 100 types of both western and Japanese food. As seasonal ingredients are also used in dishes, do look forward to those.

From grilled meat, called sukiyaki, to tuna and crab, you have to check out the culinary fair featuring seasonal foods and ingredients. Incidentally, on the day that we visited, there was a meat festival buffet! With soft homemade roast beef and crunchy “gyūkushi katsu,” or fried beef kebabs, available, a strong lineup of irresistible meat dishes was on offer.

The main draw of the dinner service is the live kitchen, where chefs prepare your food right before your eyes. You can enjoy steaks and tempura while they’re still piping hot. As the fragrance of the freshly prepared food and sounds of cooking permeate the restaurant, together with the taste of the plated dishes, you can experience and enjoy your food using all five senses.

About 100 different dishes are available for breakfast as well. The hotel’s recommendation is the onigiri, with six different flavors to choose from, including pickled plum and salmon. As the onigiri are only made after the order is received, they have a soft and fluffy texture. Even if you prefer continental cuisine, do try ordering this.

Most of the guest rooms are Japanese style, but two Japanese and western-style hybrid rooms with beds, for two to six guests, are available as well. Toothbrushes and skincare products, along with various other amenities, are available as well so you can rest easy even if you’ve forgotten them.

Japanese hot spring hotels usually have their staff set up futons in the guest rooms while guests are having dinner, but at this hotel, the futons are arranged beforehand. This eases guests who are uncomfortable with strangers entering their rooms while no one is around. Once you’ve returned to your room, you can immediately curl yourself up to sleep.

Most of the rooms offer views of the natural scenery and greenery around Naruko Onsen. Gazing out while resting in your room is a great way to refresh and recover too.

Guests of Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Masuya can use the public baths of Oedo Onsen Monogatari Naruko Onsen Kounkaku, in the same hot spring town, as well. Including the bathing areas and the open-air baths, there are a total of four types of spring waters available. Amongst these, the “Hyakujō Rotenburo” is the largest in the Naruko area, allowing for a truly open and free feel. Shuttle buses are available between the two hotels.

Text by: SHOE PRESs