Naruko Onsen
鳴子温泉
A hot spring town with nine of Japan's eleven types of spring water, the home of kokeshi dolls, and a good companion to Naruko Gorge.
Naruko Onsen consists of five hot spring areas (Naruko, Higashi-Naruko, Kawatabi, Nakayamadaira and Oniko), with varied water types. The communal bath Taki-no-yu is a wooden bath said to have a thousand years of history, and a plain soak costs about ¥200. The hot spring town is famous for traditional kokeshi dolls: you can try painting them at workshops, and the Japan Kokeshi Museum displays wooden dolls from across the regions. From Sendai Station, take the Tōhoku Shinkansen to Furukawa Station and transfer to the JR Rikuu East Line, about 1 hour and 15 minutes in total. It is about 4 km from Naruko Gorge.
Opening hours
Communal bath about 07:30–22:00
Nearby sights
- Naruko Gorge
- Sakunami Onsen
- Nikka Miyagikyo Distillery
- Sendai Daikannon
- Akiu Great Falls
- Osaki Hachimangu Shrine
- Miyagi Museum of Art
- Jozenji-dori Avenue