Destination - Geto Onsen! (Iwate Prefecture)

 On the road again! This time we're visiting Geto Onsen Hot Spring Resort.

We started out taking local trains from Yokosuka to Tokyo and then rode the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kitakami Station in Iwate Prefecture. Here we are in front of Kitakami station.

Emi loves maps.

Currently we are located in the congested area (upper righthand side). Where we are headed is the end of the road on the lower lefthand side. We'll get there by the hotel shuttle bus; it's about a 40 minute ride.

There it is! The place we're staying is the red roofed buildings.

Getting closer.

We have arrived!

Geto Onsen has several hot baths. Some indoor, some outdoor, some for women only and several that are co-ed (men and women together). However, the Co-ed baths have time schedules for women only use. The hotel gives everyone a map that shows where the baths are and the time schedules for when it's for women only use. 

Being the shy guy that I am I used an indoor men's only bath first while Emi went to some of the outdoor baths that were in the time frame for women only. This is her returning from the baths. She's wearing the yukata and vest that are supplied to all the guests.

The next morning I got up early and headed for the riverside outdoor baths. BTW, Geto onsen is very old with an interesting history. All the buildings are old (some much older than others).

At the entrance to all the Co-ed baths there's a clock and a schedule for when the bath is reserved for women only.

Down the trail I go; this is very exciting!

This is the entrance to the first bath, it's the hottest one! 

Normally photography is prohibited but because no body was here I took some pictures.

Nothing like sitting in a steaming hot bath and enjoying the sound of a mountain stream.  

Next I went to this smaller bath. It's on the righthand side just behind the changing area. As one can see there's not a lot of privacy in the changing area. You just stand there next to the river, take your cloths off, put your stuff in a cubby hole and get in the bath. There's a small roof to shelter you if it's raining and it often is raining.

Heading back to the room

Our room is in the building on the left side of the picture.

Now for some indoor activity. This is our table in the dinning room.

The dinning room as seen from our table.

This is the lobby and gift shop. In the morning there's free coffee served here. 

Some guests enjoying the coffee.

This is the hallway leading to our room. This is "not" a fancy luxury hotel. 

This is room where everyone on our floor brushes their teeth and washes their face. There's also a refrigerator in this room for everyone to share.  

The room is just a room and nothing else. No bathroom in the room. The bathroom is in the hall. No TV, no internet access, just bedding and a table. 

Another day, another outdoor bath to explore. The trail leads this way.  

There's the entrance. There were people in the bath so no photography.

This bath is on the other side of the river. A typhoon came through here in the Summer and wiped out the bridge to it out so it's currently unavailable.

The view of the river downstream of the bath.

Heading back to the room.

After lunch we decided to go for a walk. There are boxes at the beginning of all the hiking trails. You're supposed to fill out a card with your information so that if you get lost they know which trail to start searching.  

Warning! There are bears out here. Of course I'm not afraid of a bear; there's only one thing that I'm afraid of...

Yep! You guessed it!

Sadly our 3 day onsen trip is over and it's time to get on the shuttle bus and go back to the train station. 

Our stay here at Geto Onsen was wonderful. The food was good, the lack of TV and internet was refreshing,  the bathing experience was amazing, we had a great time! Here is the Hotels website for anyone interested in coming here. Geto Onsen

Also, they do have some wi-fi access at the front desk but it's very weak.

Back at Kitakami train station. This is the convenience store inside the station. We bought some food and drinks for our lunch on the train.

The train will be on time.

Here it comes!

And, off we go!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike

Bonus shots! (not related to Geto Onsen)