Best Plan to Enjoy the Enchanting Ginzan Onsen: Saving on Travel Expenses and Maximizing Your Stay!

Best Plan to Enjoy the Enchanting Ginzan Onsen: Saving on Travel Expenses and Maximizing Your Stay!

Good evening! I’m Atsuko. Today, I will show you a low-cost way to visit the famous Ginzan Onsen! This route is not only cheaper than the Shinkansen but also allows you to spend more time in Ginzan Onsen! The secret to that trip is to use an overnight express bus!

Today, I will take the Tohoku Express overnight bus from Tokyo to Yamagata. The bus stop is located just past the Yaesu police box. I booked a ticket for 4,200 yen using the advance purchase discount! This bus to Yamagata is called “Rainbow”, and has three rows of side-by-side seats with a toilet!

It looks like the window seats have private curtains. Where is my seat? Oh, here. Hmmm, The seat spacing is narrow…I hope I can sleep. Let’s take a look at the seating description. A footrest, use without shoes. A USB port for charging There is also a small table. 23:20, It’s departing for Yamagata!

Over there, there is a staircase leading to the restroom. The restroom is small but very clean. The seats behind the staircase leading to the restroom seemed spacious and comfortable. Good night😴 It is now past 6:00 in the morning and we have arrived at Yamagata’s Yamako Building!

It takes about 5 minutes to get to Yamagata Station from the Yamako Building. The waiting room at the station opens early in the morning. Now, I’m going to take a local train to Oishida Station, the gateway to Ginzan Onsen. Press the button to get on the train. Now let’s go!😁

Actually, the space behind me is filled with people.😅 They are probably heading to work or school. Hi Shinkansen-san!. Are you heading to Tokyo? Have a nice trip😉 Yamagata Prefecture’s “Yama” means “mountain” in Japanese! Nearly 70% of the prefecture is a mountainous area. After passing through the tunnel, you will soon arrive at Oishida.

8:03 Arrived at Oishida Station. Students also get off the train. It seems that there is a high school near here. We arrived earlier than the Shinkansen! Yay!😁 Well, let’s relax at the station and then head out! It seems that SUICA is not accepted, so pay the station staff with cash!

What time should I take the bus to Ginzan Onsen? I was told that the 12:35 bus is the most crowded. Oh, there’s something posted at the bus stop. It seems that the boarding way for the bus has changed.

To cope with the cold winter weather, they’ve switched to waiting inside the waiting room.(12/1 – 3/17) They also seem to offer luggage storage service here (12/1 – 3/17) By the way, I am so hungry that my stomach and back are almost attached. Let’s go have breakfast!

There is a delicious Dango (rice dumpling) shop about a 12-minute walk from the station! This is the shop “Mogamigawa Senbon Dango.” The store opens at 9:00 in the morning. Wow, they all look so delicious! Which one should I try? Dangos topped with fresh cream are eat-in only!

Wow, they look delicious, and they are bigger than I expected! I ordered three Dango without a second thought, but I wonder if I can eat them. This is a Dango with edamame bean paste, “Zundan Dango”! The Dango are so soft and go well with the edamame bean paste!

I have never seen a Dango with so much bean paste on it! This Dango is 183 yen (≒$1.28) This is a walnut Dango. 183 yen (≒$1.28) This store is originally a tofu shop, so the walnut sauce also contains tofu! This Matcha Kinako is so heavy with red bean paste.😱 305 yen (≒$2.12),

You can’t see the Dango because it is covered with a lot of bean paste. I couldn’t eat all the Dango, so I had the rest packaged to go. The store also had a place where you could eat in a traditional Japanese warehouse! Wow, it’s spacious. I’ll eat here next time I come.

This store is very popular, and customers often queue up at certain times of the day! I’m glad I came early in the morning! Come to this store hungry; even one Dango skewer here is incredibly filling!😁

Now that our stomachs are full, let’s go to the Onsen hence we can relax after a tiring night bus ride! The onsen, operated by the town of Oishida, is about a 20-minute walk from the Dango shop! This is the Mogami River, a 229 km long river that runs through Yamagata Prefecture.

You can reach the onsen by walking along the Mogami River. Around the 16th of August every year, a fireworks display is held here. These trees are cherry blossoms. It would be great to take a walk here in the spring! Is that the onsen facility? Oh, steam is coming out!

This is the onsen facility “Atamari Land Fukabori,” operated by Oishida. Here, accommodation is also available, making it a recommended choice for those who wish to stay near Ginzan Onsen. This facility is operated by the town hence the fees are remarkably affordable—you can enjoy bathing here for only 400 yen. (≒$2.81) Konnichiwa😊

When you use the sauna, you need a bath towel. (You can rent one for 100 yen (≒$0.70)). This hot spring features a spacious open-air bath with a view of Sakura trees! If you visit in spring, you can enjoy a bath with a scenic Sakura blossom backdrop😉

And the best part of this facility is that you can use the rest area for 250 yen! (≒$1.75) I didn’t sleep well on the bus yesterday, so I’m going to take a nap here😴 Oyasuminasai After sleeping, I feel reinvigorated 💪 Let’s eat soba (buckwheat noodles), a specialty of Oishida!

Kamo-ita-soba (cold soba with duck meat soup) is recommended this season, so let’s try it! After purchasing a meal ticket, hand it over to the staff. They will bring your meal to your seat. Kamo-ita-soba1000 yen (≒$7). The buckwheat flour used for the soba here is locally grown, and the noodles are handmade.

The soba is delicious, with a strong taste of soba and a firm and chewy texture.😋 Oishida has been known for its thriving soba cultivation, and every late October, the New Soba Festival is held to celebrate the new harvest. Cho Oishii (Super delicious!)

The soup is so good with duck broth! Vegetables for duck soba are usually Japanese leeks! This is Sobayu, the water in which the soba is boiled, and it is used to dilute the soup. Thanks for the delicious soba! It was a magnificent onsen!

Now, let’s go back to Oshida station then head to Ginzan Onsen! Which mountain has the onsen? The station is in sight! I’ll be taking the 14:10 bus and it looks like that bus has already arrived! Is it crowded in the waiting room?

Oh, it is not crowded!😁 I think I can get on the bus👍 The bus fare to Ginzan Onsen is 1000 yen (≒$7.02), which you pay in cash when you get on the bus. This bus is always crowded, so prepare the exact fare in advance.

The bus driver was so friendly and told me many things! He told me that It usually takes about 40 minutes from Oishida station to Ginzan Onsen, but during the snowy season, it often takes longer.

Also, it seems that the bus departing Ginzan at 16:30 and 16:35 on the return trip is the most crowded (based on the schedule for the year 2023). The bus departing from Ginzan Onsen at 16:30 goes to Yamagata Airport via Oishida Station. Soon, you will arrive at Ginzan Onsen!

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve been to Ginzan Onsen. I hope the onsen town is covered in snow, too. First of all, let’s eat something!😍 Oh no, the tofu shop is closed! I guess it was so popular that they sold out!😅

It seems to have rained a while ago, and the footbath is wet! No snow😢 Oh? I wonder if there was something like this the last time I came here.🥰Warm🥰 Ginzan Onsen is a small town you can explore in less than 30 minutes on foot.

The buildings registered as tangible cultural propertys, are located behind the Onsen town. One of these buildings is the Notoya built in 1925. If you go further down the road, you will see… What is that building? I don’t think I visited here the last time I was here.

It seems that you can learn about the history of Ginzan Onsen here. It might be good to come here when it is cold outside. Wow, it says that if more than 4 people climb up to the second floor, the floor may fall out!😱 Be careful!

You can see the onsen town from the window. The streets of Onsen town have water running through them to melt the snow. So Be careful not to get your shoes wet!😉 Shirogane Falls Wow. There seems to be a lot of water today. It’s very dynamic, isn’t it?

There is a nice walking trail upstream of this waterfall called Shirogane Park! It is closed in winter, but if you can visit there outside of winter, please visit that park as well!

Now, let’s wait until it gets dark. The lights are usually turned on around 4:30 p.m. in winter and around 5:00 p.m. in summer. Oh, the tofu shop is opening! Yay!😋 Tachigui Namaage (freshly fried tofu) 220 yen (≒$1.54) The screen is shaking because I’m holding the tofu and a camera!😅gomen-nasai

I found the perfect place to eat tofu! There is a footbath on the bridge, I wonder if this footbath was here before? So good👍 Now, let’s have some delicious tofu while soaking in the footbath! One bite of the tofu and your mouth will be overflowing with the delicious taste of tofu!

The view from the footbath is great! Now, the lights are starting to come on in the town! Notoya is said to be the setting for Spirited Away. I like the Notoya building most. Here is another registered tangible cultural property, Kosekiya As it gets darker, the onsen town gains in charm.🥰

Now, it’s time to head back to the bus stop.I’d like to take the last bus departing from Ginzan Onsen. The bus driver advised us to line up at the bus stop early!

Because if this bus is full and you can’t get on, you will have to take a cab to the station.(about 7,000 yen or $49 one way) Oh, by the way, I haven’t touched the snow yet! The first touch of snow this winter! Cold!🥶🥶🥶

The last bus departs at 18:21, so I came here an hour before that time, but maybe I was too early. There’s still no one here. I got cold while waiting for the bus, so I visited the hot spring again and took the last train back to Yamagata.

Today, I spent almost 13 hours in Oishida! It was a lot of fun!😁 How was today’s tour, enjoying Oishida and Ginzan Onsen to the fullest? Thank you for watching until the end! If you like the Atsuko tour, please subscribe to my channel, hit the like button, and leave a comment 😘

If you do, I will be so happy that I might treat you to homemade soba noodles (but I can’t guarantee the taste). I post videos that are useful for your travels in Japan, so please check them out when you have the chance.

❄Note❄, if you want to walk to the Dango shop or the onsen when there is snow on the ground, please ask the station staff or the tourist information center in Oishida if it is possible to walk there.

If the sidewalks have not been shoveled, it may be difficult to go on foot, so in that case, please take a cab. Where shall we go together next? Please look forward to my next video. 🤗Until then have a lovely day and stay safe😁

In this video, I will share a slightly unconventional route from Tokyo to the popular Ginzan Onsen. By choosing this route, not only can you save on travel expenses, but you can also arrive at Oishida Station earlier compared to taking the Shinkansen, giving you more time to enjoy an extended stay. Be sure to check out the video for all the details!

❄Note❄
If you want to walk to the Dango shop or the onsen when the path is snow-covered, please ask the station staff or the tourist information center in Oishida if it is possible to walk there. If the sidewalks have not been shoveled, it may be difficult to go on foot, so in that case, please take a cab.

⬇︎💖I’d be delighted if you could subscribe to my channel.🥰
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjwOvl9p3yKobjBCKPmv-lg

★★PlayList★★
Autumn Day Trip to Popular Ginzan Onsen♨Hakama dress-up👘

☃Winter Travel ❄ 冬の旅

🚌Bus Travel

#Japantravel #solotravel #ViajesaJapón #VoyageauJapon #日本旅游 #ViagensaoJapão #일본여행 #japanvlog​ #yamagata #ginzanonsen #japantrip #budgettraveljapan#chillvlog #onsen #snowyday #ghibli #spiritedaway #JapanTravelTips #SoloTravelJapan #OnsenExperience #TravelSmart #ExploreJapan #AffordableJapan #TravelTips #GinzanOnsenGuide

⌚Time Stamp
00:00 Introduction
01:05 Tohoku Express Bus
02:55 Yamako Building Bus Stop
03:32 Take a local train to Oshida
04:56 Oishida Station
06:48 Mogamigawa Senbon Dango
10:51 Attamari Land Fukabori
12:22 Restaurant Sakura
14:34 Bus to Ginzan Onsen
16:12 Arrival at Ginzan Onsen
19:48 Nogawa Tofu
20:44 Dusk at Ginzan Onsen

🚌Tokyo Yamagata Tohoku Express Bus
https://www.tohoku-express.co.jp/course/yamagata.php

🚏Tohoku Express bus stop　
https://www.tohoku-express.co.jp/station/tokyo.php
https://www.tohoku-express.co.jp/station/other.php

🚌Jam Jam Liner
https://jamjamliner.jp/kanto_tohoku/JX00851_72.html
https://jamjamliner.jp/tohoku_kanto/?SEARCH_DEP=18&SEARCH_YEAR=&SEARCH_MONTH=&SEARCH_DAY=

🍡Mogamigawa Senbon Dango
https://www.ic-net.or.jp/home/tofu83/
https://tabelog.com/yamagata/A0605/A060502/6000366/

♨Attamari Land Fukabori　※Onsen image quotes
https://attamariland-fukabori.co.jp/
https://www.instagram.com/oishida.onsen/

🍴Restaurant Sakura
https://tabelog.com/yamagata/A0605/A060502/6010704/dtlrvwlst/

🚌Ginzan Onsen ⇔ Oishida Bus
http://www.hanagasa-bus-taisei.co.jp/base.html

🚌Ginzan Onsen ⇔ Yamagata Airport Bus (via Oishida Station)
https://www.yamagata-airport.co.jp/cms/obanazawa-access/

🍒Yamagata Tourist Information ※Onsen image quotes
https://yamagatakanko.com/attractions/detail_2832.html

🎵Music
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):.
https://uppbeat.io/t/zoo/our-story
https://uppbeat.io/t/brock-hewitt-stories-in-sound/happiness
https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/you-and-your-smile