Fukushima

Fukushima has 122 onsen areas and 799 springs (Ministry of the Environment, FY2024). Only Hokkaido, Nagano and Niigata have more onsen areas, and overnight stays top 3.6 million a year. Iizaka, Takayu and Tsuchiyu sit in the hills behind Fukushima City, Higashiyama and Ashinomaki serve the Aizu region, and Iwaki Yumoto lies near the Pacific coast, so each of the prefecture's three regions has hot springs with a character of its own.

Main onsen areas

Most springs gather around the Ou Mountains and the Azuma, Adatara and Bandai volcanoes. Fukushima City has Iizaka, Takayu and Tsuchiyu; Nihonmatsu has Dake; Koriyama has Bandai Atami. In the Aizu mountains are Higashiyama and Ashinomaki near Aizu-Wakamatsu, Yunokami close to the old post town of Ouchi-juku, and Hinoemata in the village of the same name, while Futamata in Ten-ei village is a secluded riverside retreat. On the Pacific side, Iwaki Yumoto is an old spa town once ranked with Dogo and Arima as one of Japan's three ancient hot springs.

Characteristic spring types

Chloride springs are the most common in our records, followed by simple, sulfate and sulfur springs. Takayu offers milky sulfur water served without added water or heating, Dake is acidic, and Futamata and Higashiyama are sulfate springs. In the south, around Ishikawa town, Bobata and Nekonaki are radon springs.

Reachable by public transport

Iizaka is about 25 minutes from JR Fukushima on the Fukushima Kotsu Iizaka Line, whose terminus opens straight onto the spa town. Takayu is 35–40 minutes by bus from the west exit of Fukushima Station (three round trips a day). Bandai Atami Station is about 13 minutes from Koriyama on the JR Ban'etsu-West Line, and Iwaki Yumoto is served by Yumoto Station on the JR Joban Line. Yunokami's gateway is Yunokami-Onsen Station, with its thatched-roof station building. Ashinomaki has route buses from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station; walking from Ashinomaki-Onsen Station is not realistic, so check whether your inn offers a pick-up if you come by train. For Futamata, inns collect guests from Shin-Shirakawa on the Tohoku Shinkansen (booking required).

For solo travellers

Iizaka is the easiest solo trip: arrive by train, soak in a neighbourhood bathhouse and head home. Takayu has the Attaka-yu public bath, so you can try its white sulfur water without staying the night.

Food & culture

Kozuyu, a local dish of the Aizu region, has long been served at celebrations such as New Year and weddings. Tsuchiyu is one of Japan's leading kokeshi-doll villages, where you can try painting a doll yourself. From Yunokami it is a short trip to Ouchi-juku, an Edo-period post town. Hinoemata village keeps a rural kabuki tradition in which villagers handle everything from acting to backstage work, performed as an offering at the spring and autumn festivals. In Aizu-Wakamatsu you can also paint your own akabeko red cow or a piece of Aizu lacquerware.