Access

Local Train Station: Aomori
From Tokyo: Take the JR Shinkansen to Hachinohe. Then transfer to a local line to Aomori station. From that station, take a bus, direction JR Towadako, and get off at Sukayu Onsen.
Travel Time: Tokyo to Hachinohe takes around 3 hrs by train. Hachinohe to Aomori is around 2 hrs by local train. A local bus between Aomori and Hachinohe takes 1 hr and 15 min. Total time from Tokyo is 6 hr and 15 min.

Location/Contact Info

Address: Daiji Arakawa, Aomori city
Tel: 017-738-6400
Fax: 017-738-6677
Web: www1.odn.ne.jp/~suka... Japanese only

Accommodations

Various types of accommodations are available. Some rooms are large and have a private bath, others are small and relatively inexpensive. Guests can opt for meals or choose to cook their own. There are a total of 120 rooms.
Price: Rates start at Y3,000 without meals. With meals (breakfast and dinner), rates start at Y7,000. All rates are per person.
Days Closed: No
Day Visit Option: Y500 - 7:00 am to 9:00 pm or Y1000 - 8:00 am to 3:00 pm with use of relax room.
Credit Cards: No

The Water

Onsen Specifics: One big bath and three other, smaller baths are for mixed bathing. Several other baths are either men-only or women-only.
Water Composition: Acid sulfur springs.

Sukayu Onsen has a 300 year history as a hot springs with special curative properties. Local people saw that wild deer approached the warm water and bathed in it when sick--seeking to cure themselves of their ailments. The water is strongly acidic (Sukayu means 'acid' in Japanese). The color of the water is a milky white, and contains weak sulfur elements. This onsen is best known for its 1,000-person bath; named so for its size. Three basketball courts can fit into this main bath. The springs are divided into hot, cold, and warm. You can move one by one among the three tubs to relax your muscles. The onsen is located at the base of Mt. Hakkoda. Due to the varied terrain, there are numerous additional activities to enjoy besides the hot springs--primarily skiing in winter and hiking in the spring and fall.

Reader Comments

Onsen in Northern Tohoku