🇯🇵Japan, Yamagata, Obanazawa
Discover Taisho-era charm at Ginzan Onsen and the birthplace of Hanagasa dance
Obanazawa, Yamagata
Ginzan Onsen, Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan
A mystical hot spring town lined with wooden inns evoking Taisho-era romance
The wooden ryokan buildings lined along the Ginzan River preserve architectural styles from the early Showa period.
The sulfur spring water has good affinity with skin and has long been recognized for its effectiveness in treating gynecological ailments.
3-17 Nakamachi, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4227, Japan
The dance rooted in Tokura Lake, the origin of the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival
The Obanazawa Hanagasa Festival carries on the dance tradition of Tokura Lake, the wellspring of the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival.
Held every August, dancers wielding hanagasa parade through the streets with spirited chants of "Yasshо, Makashо."
450-1 Ginzanshinhata, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4333, Japan
A 22-meter waterfall in the heart of the hot spring town, beautifully illuminated in winter.
Hakugin Falls is located deep within the Ginzan Hot Spring area and is characterized by its spectacular 22-meter drop, where water cascades with impressive force. It sits at the end of a walking path through the hot spring town, which retains the charm of Taisho-era romance.
During winter, the falls are illuminated, creating a breathtaking scene where the snow-blanketed valley is bathed in an ethereal blue-white glow.
5-36 Nakamachi, Obanazawa, Yamagata 999-4227, Japan
Exhibits related to the Suzuki Seifu residence where Matsuo Bashō stayed
The Suzuki Seifu residence where Matsuo Bashō stopped during his journey for 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North.' The master of the house, Seifu, was a man of culture in haikai poetry, and records of his hospitality toward Bashō remain.
The museum displays Bashō's handwritten materials and historical documents that tell the story of Obanazawa's haikai culture.
