Genuine Hospitality of A Small, Quiet Hot Spring Town Nestled at the Foot of Mt. Gassen
Hijiori Onsen is a small, quiet hot spring town nestled at the foot of Mt. Gassen, one of the three sacred mountains of Dewa. Looking for an authentic experience of Japanese hospitality where you are treated as a guest of the community and not just a tourist, Hijiori Onsen is just what you have been looking for. The relaxation and recuperation that has been drawing people to Hijiori Onsen for years can certainly be found in the hot springs and surrounding natural scenery but is most strikingly encountered in the genuine hospitality of the individuals you will meet.
A number of recently popular destinations have made great efforts to boost their profile and attract foreign visitors by effectively transforming themselves into a tourist-centric environment, which, to some, takes away from the authentic experience you might be after. Hijiori Onsen is not that kind of place. Nestled in the mountains of central Yamagata Prefecture, within the caldera of an ancient volcano, Hijiori Onsen, as the legend goes, has been receiving guests and perfecting Japanese hospitality for almost 1,200 years.
According to local sources, the traditions of Hijiori Onsen have been carried on since the Edo period by the “thirty-six families of Hijiori” and as soon as you arrive it is obvious that the strong community bonds formed over time continue today. The best illustration of this sense of community is the fact that each ryokan provides traditional wooden geta clogs and rain/snow boots for its guests, which can be freely exchanged or left at any of the other ryokans in town as you move from hot spring to hot spring. In a small community of approximately 320 people, everyone knows each other and is happy to share. As you stroll through the town in your yukata and wooden geta, it is common to see visitors and locals casually sitting and chatting on verandas, waving as you walk past.
This kind of attitude throughout the town, in addition to its relatively small size (you can easily walk the perimeter of the town in two hours) adds up to a wonderfully small community that is eager to welcome you as their newest member regardless of your length of stay. From the time you crest the mountains that shelter the town on all sides and start your approach down into the township itself, the quaint charismatic spirit of Hijiori Onsen will start to work its magic on you.
A number of recently popular destinations have made great efforts to boost their profile and attract foreign visitors by effectively transforming themselves into a tourist-centric environment, which, to some, takes away from the authentic experience you might be after. Hijiori Onsen is not that kind of place. Nestled in the mountains of central Yamagata Prefecture, within the caldera of an ancient volcano, Hijiori Onsen, as the legend goes, has been receiving guests and perfecting Japanese hospitality for almost 1,200 years.
According to local sources, the traditions of Hijiori Onsen have been carried on since the Edo period by the “thirty-six families of Hijiori” and as soon as you arrive it is obvious that the strong community bonds formed over time continue today. The best illustration of this sense of community is the fact that each ryokan provides traditional wooden geta clogs and rain/snow boots for its guests, which can be freely exchanged or left at any of the other ryokans in town as you move from hot spring to hot spring. In a small community of approximately 320 people, everyone knows each other and is happy to share. As you stroll through the town in your yukata and wooden geta, it is common to see visitors and locals casually sitting and chatting on verandas, waving as you walk past.
This kind of attitude throughout the town, in addition to its relatively small size (you can easily walk the perimeter of the town in two hours) adds up to a wonderfully small community that is eager to welcome you as their newest member regardless of your length of stay. From the time you crest the mountains that shelter the town on all sides and start your approach down into the township itself, the quaint charismatic spirit of Hijiori Onsen will start to work its magic on you.
