Umegashima Hot Spring

This secluded hot spring resort, with its fine spring waters, is considered the inner sanctum of Shizuoka City, completely free from the hustle and bustle, with only the sound of the river echoing. If you don't have a car, there's a bus service from Shizuoka City. Due to the mountainous area, the journey takes a little over an hour, passing through the scenic Abe River along the way. The roads along the way are winding and narrow, but not difficult, making the drive quite enjoyable. Beyond the mountains to the east is Minobu. If you don't plan on staying overnight, there's a parking lot and restrooms just past the hot spring inn. At Yumotoya, located down the street from the parking lot, you can enjoy a light meal like Shizuoka oden and a bath. There are several inns in the Umegashima Onsen area, and I believe all offer standard to above-average service. Since the hot springs are the main attraction, there are no entertainment facilities around the inns. It's ideal for relaxing with high-quality hot springs, a beautiful environment, and waterfall tours. You can also descend directly from the inn to the clear waters upstream of the Abe River. Please be aware that even in the warm climate of Shizuoka, road conditions can become rough during heavy rain or winter.

This is a hot spring town with excellent hot springs. Currently (August 11, 2019), the forest road on the Yamanashi side is passable, so you can also get there from the Yamanashi side. However, it takes about 40 minutes to drive on a narrow, winding, lightly paved road, so if you're not confident in your driving, it's best to avoid it. There are no recreational facilities, but there are only a few tourist spots.

I visited Hime-no-Yu for a day trip, and the soft water with a subtle sulfur scent, unique to hot springs, was wonderful. The owner was very friendly, and the Shizuoka oden, which was painstakingly made and infused with flavor, was simply delicious. Although it's a bit far, I would have liked to have taken the bus and enjoyed the sake and beer, and spent more time relaxing.

This year the autumn leaves are quite late, peaking on November 17th! Looks like we can still enjoy them for a while longer... I went to Yumotokan, a restaurant known for its delicious soba and oden, and enjoyed a meal plus a soak in their natural hot spring bath. It's a small bath, but I was able to relax while keeping an eye on people coming and going.

Located on the border between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, it is cool and comfortable due to its high altitude. There are few inns and shops, but it is not inconvenient. The water is a smooth, simple sulfur spring, and is said to have good medicinal properties, as it quickly forms a thin skin on wounds.