Destination - Shin-Tamagawa Onsen (July 2019)

Yes, we went back to Shin-Tamagawa Onsen for 4 days of rest and relaxation.

Shin-Tamagawa is in Akita prefecture and to get there we rode a Shinkansen train from Tokyo. This is the train at Lake Tazawako station in Akita.

From Tawazako station it takes a little over one hour by local bus to get to the Inn at Shin-Tamagawa. It's a wonderful ride through the beautiful countryside.

And, this is the Inn where we stayed.
http://www.shintamagawa.jp/en/

On the second day we decided to walk to our neighbouring onsen at Tamagawa.

It's only a 15 minute walk through the woods.

The source of the water for Tamagawa Onsen is this geothermal area. It's a great place to walk around.

This is the strongest acidic spring water in Japan.

The water runs through these wooden sluices so that sulphur can be collected and used for other things.

Walking through the geothermal area there is steam rising from the ground everywhere.

The smell of sulphur is very strong but after awhile one gets used to it.

Boiling hot water flows from one of the sources.

One of the sources.

The huts in the distance are where people spend the day laying on the ground doing what is called "bedrock bathing". It's supposed to be therapeutic.

It's fascinating to walk the trail in this rugged steaming terrain.

The bright yellow crusty spots are where stem erupts from the ground.

The noise coming from these mini steam volcanoes is quite loud.

Moving on.

The trail is well maintained and easy to walk.

Another stream of sulphurous water.

A nice rest area for the weary walker.

One last look back before starting the walk back to our Inn.

There are signs everywhere warning about bears.  So, as we walk along the trail to our Inn we discuss what we'll do if we see a bear. It's a short discussion with no good ideas other than to run like hell.

Passing by a small Inn in the woods that is use by construction workers.

We have safely returned to our Inn without having to deal with any bears.

Last day and we return to Tazawako station by bus for our return to Tokyo station.

Tazawako station.

Inside the station there's a poster for "Akita Bijin".
Akita prefecture is famous for their beautiful women.

Standing out on the Shinkansen platform waiting for our train.

And, here it comes!

And, off we go!

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike

Bonus shots!
A7III camera, Voigtlander 50mm f1.1 Nokton VM lens
Yokohama