Yagen Valley

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Yagen Onsen (薬研温泉) is a hot spring located in Ohata-machi, Mutsu city, Aomori Prefecture.

This onsen and Oku-yagen Onsen are described in this article.

[edit] Access

Shimokita Kotsu bus from Shimokita Station of the Japan Railway Ominato Line to Ohata takes roughly 30 minutes. It takes another 25 minutes after transferring buses in Ohata.

[edit] Onsen town

Four ryokan surrounded by old growth forest are located along the Ohata-gawa river within the Shimokita Peninsula Quasi-national Park.

There is also a nationally-run campground here called 'Kokusetsu Yagen Yaeijo'.

Oku-yagen Hot Spring is located 2 km upriver and an outdoor bath (露天風呂 rotenburo) called 'Kappa-no-yu' can be found there. The outdoor baths 'Oku-yagen Onsen Rest House' and 'Fufu-kappa-no-yu' (Wedded Kappa Bath) are run by the municipality and are both located along the riverside.

[edit] History

The onsen was opened in 1615. It was discovered by an ally of Hideyori Toyotomi, who retreated here after the defeat of the Toyotomi forces at the 'Summer siege of Osaka Castle'. The onsen was named after a tool used in the making of traditional herbal medicine, which it resembled.

Oku-yagen Onsen was opened even earlier. In 862, Jikaku Daishi, who discovered Osorezan, suffered a great injury after he got lost. The story is that he was saved by a 'Kappa' (water imp) who immersed him in the waters of the 'Kappa-no-yu' bath, thereby healing his injury.