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200-year-old Japanese Hot Springs Inn for $30 per Night?! (Osawa Onsen in Hanamaki, Iwate)



Osawa Onsen is the very first hot springs I visited when I first came to Japan a couple of decades ago. It hasn’t changed a bit during that time. I’ve only really experienced the cheapest of the 3 sections, the Tojiya. But if you’re a higher budget traveler that I would very much recommend the thatched roof Kikusuikan or the more luxurious modern Japanese style of the Kikusuikan. They are all run by the same owner.

The base price for the Tojiya is actually 2750 yen, or around $26 actually. But they add on a few dollars for the heater, kotatsu, yukata, towel, sheets, pillow, etc. So when I went it ended up being around 4,000 yen, or roughly $37. Regardless of a few dollars here or there, it’s a great experience!

Osawa Onsen is here: https://goo.gl/maps/nMVyMaYwDbPRFAf56

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Music used in this video was licensed from Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/2cffwm/).

38 Comments

  2. Kellie S

    Really great for everyone to be able to stay at an onsen. Canโ€™t wait to visit Tohoku. The trip we did have planned last year is definitely getting longer though. More and more places are getting added to the list.

  3. WoeWolfgirl

    This seems like such a nice place to stay while travelling! I kinda like that you can cook yourself and bring your own toothbrush, feels more like camping but with the comfort of a roof and warmth ๐Ÿ˜Š

  4. XSemperIdem5

    So dark at night you can't really film? You have my attention. I'm so tired of bright streetlights and parking lot lights and never having darkness. City life.

  5. Luciano Arrieta

    2:30 AM Brussels

    About to go to be I just remembered that you uploaded a video.

    Soothing voice, soothing music, beautiful images… perfect for dreams without borders were I can fly upon morpheus' wings and visit this ryokan and live this onsen.

    Thank you for sharing it with us.

    Who knows? Maybe one day…

    Only thing left is to check if it is tattoo friendly ^^;

    PS: Is it possible to swim in the river? Are there bathing spots for that in Iwate/Hanamaki in the region ?

  7. Kaya Jane

    I was waiting for this video since you mentioned this same onsen before. So, thank you so much for this video.
    I have a question though about onsens in general: Why do some people faint or feel drowsy if they stay for prolonged periods in the water? Is it the smell of the sulphur, the heat, or what is it exactly? I want to be careful if I ever visit one. Also, What is the appropriate amount of time that one would stay in the water of an onsen to get the benefits of it?

  8. Mangoose

    I hardly ever use this word, but that place is straight up charming! Also, I came up with a name for your hairstyle. The Pidgeotto!

  9. JFK Robot Knight

    Hi Quinlan, what happened to the Japanese archaeology video you did with Sharla? I didn't get a chance to finish watching it before it was removed.

  13. Astranoth

    Great recommendations there!

    I've never been to an onsen that has mixed bathing, so I have a question:
    Are those with or without bathing suits? I do, of course, know that in usual onsen you're naked, but I've heard of some with mixed bathing ones, where they want you to wear bathing suits. What would be the "general" rule for those nowadays, if there is any?

  14. SamLooksAt

    The outdoor bath there is one of my faves. I love sitting right up against the stone wall with the river rushing by just on the other side!

  16. Art Shibuya

    I was only going to spend a week up north and then down to Kyushu, but after seeing yours and Sharla's videos I may spend more time up there.

  17. DelorienAz

    Every time I see those beautiful paper walls I imagine with dread, tripping and falling through one cause I'm such a klutz…I wonder how much they cost to repair?

  18. Yaroslava Timoshenko

    Thanks so much for posting this! I've been watching your videos for a while, though first time commenting! I'm always on the lookout for mixed onsen as I want to bring my SO to Japan in the future and I want him to experience non-private onsen. We love hiking and the outdoors, so I'm always looking out for a new video of yours. Thanks for everything you do!

  19. Ashley

    This is definitely my vibe! Inexpensive, just enough comfort to enjoy yourself and relax, decent food and a hot bath. What more could you want? ๐Ÿ˜‡

  20. PentiFire

    This place looks so cute & charming for a weekend! But you know I have to ask; is it tattoo friendly? cries in tattooed american

  25. Alpha Mike

    Great video Quinlan, I'd definitely stay here. Are you going to give a tour of your Air B&B? lol

  26. MageThief

    Yeah the kotatsu is made in heaven, dangerously wonderful, tends to take all the "open a door when some one is knocking, going to toilet, making food" and such go away right away ๐Ÿ˜‚

  28. Emy

    I only just saw the "all about Japanese hotsprings" video so I was happy to find you did the video on Osawa onsen, I would love to see a video of those you think are some of the best/your favourites! I really liked the way you rank them.

  36. Wolfgang Von Zubaz

    Shohei Ohtani is from Hanamaki, Iwate. He was either born, or built here. I say built, since I sometimes wonder if he's an advanced cyborg specifically built to play baseball

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