Is Ginzan Onsen Price Visiting?

I began touring in Japan over a decade in the past, which implies that I used to be in a position to see many locations now related to overtourism earlier than they grew to become so crowded. (REMINDER: As you may need learn elsewhere on this web site, I usually discover the time period “overtourism” to be a canard that misdirects the dialog. However I digress.)

Sadly, one place I by no means managed to make it to was Yamagata prefecture’s Ginzan Onsen. I wasn’t even conscious it existed till a lot of the remainder of the world was. And so by the point I lastly visited (early 2025), virtually everybody else had already been.

However, my huge Japan journey expertise positions me nicely to reply crucial query. Specifically, is Ginzan Onsen price visiting?

Why Ginzan Onsen Accommodations Are So Inconceivable to E book

Should you discover Ginzan Onsen costly, you’re not alone. Once I booked my lodge for January 2025 again in July 2024, I actually couldn’t imagine the worth I noticed—even contemplating the alternate price. After all, I used to be fortunate to have the ability to ebook a lodge in any respect. Lodging right here, particularly for the winter season, tends to ebook out fully six months prematurely. This, in fact, is generally due to Ginzan Onsen’s Spirited Away fame.

Furthermore, most Ginzan Onsen motels solely supply direct reserving. In different phrases, you gained’t even see availability once you search through on-line journey companies as Reserving.com and even Japanican. So except you’re comfy reserving half a 12 months out, and have bookmarked the web sites of obscure motels like Ginzanso and Kosekiya, you most likely gained’t even have the possibility to ebook a Ginzan Onsen lodge.

Why Ginzan Onsen Disenchanted Me

It’s cumbersome to achieve

 

It’s not correct to say that Ginzan Onsen is troublesome to achieve. Nonetheless, it does take a very long time and several other steps. You’ll want to get to Oishida Station, which is three hours from Tokyo through Shinkansen Tsubasa, and farther from most different locations in Japan. You then must trip an area bus half-hour from there to Ginzan Onsen.

There isn’t a lot to see

 

A part of the explanation I discover Ginzan Onsen overrated? It’s a single road, situated on both sides of a thermal creek. Most of what there’s to do there’s admiring the Taisho Roman bathtub homes. I imply, assuming you aren’t outdoors taking a foot bathtub, or that you just don’t stroll behind the city to go to Shirogane Falls.

It’s packed to the gills

 

Regardless of how small and missing in issues to do Ginzan Onsen is, it’s completely bursting on the seams with vacationers. A lot of whom, little doubt, had been drawn right here as a result of they heard a rumor that Ginzan Onsen impressed the traditional film Spirited Away. Fortunately, most of the vacationers listed below are Taiwanese, so that they’re no less than well mannered.

Climate is unpredictable, even in winter

 

There are numerous causes that taking a Ginzan Onsen day journey will be advantageous. Amongst them? The truth that it doesn’t all the time snow in winter. What I imply by that is that in case you keep in a single day, you might have unrealistic expectations of with the ability to {photograph} Ginzan Onsen in heavy snow. (It rained after I visited in January 2025.)

It’s costly, and a poor ROI

 

Most motels in Ginzan Onsen require a minimal of two vacationers per room; in case you’re a solo traveler, you have to to pay for 2 locations. This, mixed with low provide and excessive demand, implies that you’re 200-400 USD per particular person, per evening to remain in Ginzan Onsen, even on the present alternate price. This simply isn’t price it.

Is Ginzan Onsen Higher as a Day Journey?

As I waited within the rain for Ginzan Onsen to mild up, and realized that the final bus again to Oishida wouldn’t be leaving for greater than one other hour, I puzzled what the purpose of staying in a single day had actually been. Whereas it felt good to have the ability to retreat to the warmth of my very own room inside moments of packing up my gear outdoors, the truth is that neither the meals served nor the room supplied was definitely worth the costly.

To place it one other method, I’m not arguing towards the notion that Ginzan Onsen is price visiting. Provided that it’s solely half-hour by bus from a Shinkansen cease, the ROI of coming right here for a day is fairly good. The query is whether or not you need to sleep right here. And, nicely, given how regretful I really feel after having executed so, I can’t in good conscience advocate that you just do.

Different FAQ About Visiting Ginzan Onsen

How lengthy ought to I keep in Ginzan Onsen?

If cash isn’t any object for you and you’ve got loads of free time in your journey to Japan, then you possibly can completely keep an evening or two at Ginzan Onsen. If not, then a day journey is completely acceptable—get to Oishida Station as early as potential; and return on the final bus of the evening.

Why is Ginzan Onsen well-known?

As is the case with Taiwan’s Jiufen, it isn’t clear whether or not Ginzan Onsen has any factual relation to the Studio Ghibli traditional Spirited Away. Nonetheless, the web’s affiliation of Ginzan Onsen with the occasions of the movie has made it a must-visit vacation spot for a whole bunch of 1000’s (if not hundreds of thousands) of individuals.

Does it all the time snow in Ginzan Onsen?

The evening I visited Ginzan Onsen, in January 2025, it rained. So whereas there was outdated snow on the bottom, I sadly know from private expertise that it doesn’t all the time snow in Ginzan Onsen. To place it one other method, if you’re set on getting footage of Ginzan Onsen within the falling snow, plan on staying no less than a few nights to keep away from the frustration of not having it.

The Backside Line

Is Ginzan Onsen price visiting? It truthfully is determined by the context. Should you’re already planning to be someplace in Yamagata prefecture and might simply come on a day journey, then I’d say you don’t have anything to lose. Ginzan Onsen, as such, is basically solely a single road. Visiting for the day lets you see what it’s all about, significantly in case you can keep till after evening falls. Staying in a single day will price you many hundred {dollars}, nonetheless, however doesn’t actually convey a lot profit for that substantial further quantity. Want customized assist deciding which Japan locations are best for you? Fee a customized Japan itinerary at present!