Yunomine Onsen
Yunomine is a quaint little collection of inns tucked into a small valley deep in the heart of the sacred mountains of Kumano. The waters here are said to change color seven times over the course of a day.
Yunomine Onsen was discovered about 1,800 years ago, and it is thought to be one of the oldest hot springs in Japan. Yunomine Onsen is an integral part of the over 1000-year-old Kumano pilgrimage tradition. Pilgrims performed hot water purification rituals in these piping-hot mineral waters after their long journey in preparation to worship at Kumano Hongu Taisha.
The Onsen culture in Japan is very rich, but the strong connection with spiritual culture found in Yunomine is unprecedented. Two sections of the Kumano Kodo have trailheads here, the Akagi-goe and Dainichi-goe, making it a popular place to stay for walkers. Hot water ablutions are still performed to this day during the spring festival of Kumano Hongu Taisha.
Yuzutsu
At the public hot spring cooking basin called “Yuzutsu” in the center of the town of Yunomine Onsen, 90-degree spring water wells up. Here you can boil eggs and vegetables. You can also boil chestnuts in autumn. The stone statue of “Yuzutsu Jizo” protects the Yuzutsu. This Jizo is also “Kodakara Jizo (Child-giving Jizo)” because it is said that women who use the Yunomine Onsen became blessed with children.
General Information
Address: 112 Hongucho Yunomine, Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan Hours: 05:00 – 22:00
Ease of Access
Take a Ryujin Bus from JR Kii-Tanabe Sta. (about 1 hr. 20 min.), or take a Kumano Kotsu Bus or Nara Kotsu Bus from Shingu Station (about 1 hr.), and get off the bus at Yunomine Onsen.
Location
Kumano Hongu Onsen Village, situated in the mountains of Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture, is known for its three hot springs: Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen and Wataze Onsen. This area is home of the World Heritage site Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine. It’s a perfect place to enjoy both the historic hot springs and hiking along the Kumano Kodo trails in the beautiful terrain surrounded by rivers.
Yunomine Onsen Village
Yunomine Onsen village, commonly referred to as Japan’ s oldest spa, can be found nestled in the sacred mountains of Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture, Honshu. The village was built on a natural hotspring where the waters are naturally heated up to 90 degrees.
High quantities of sulpher in the water creates myriad colours on the rocks. The sulpher also adds to the water’s medicinal properties. Along the riverside, just below the Yunomine Onsen bus stop, is the Yuzutsu basin. This can be used by the public to cook foods. Boiling eggs in the bubbling water is a tradition. Fresh eggs can be purchased from a souvenir shop across the bridge from the basin. Plunging the cooked eggs into the cold running stream cools the eggs down ready for eating! Sansai mountain vegetables and many other foods can be cooked in the water. Yunomine village also forms part of two of the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes.
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