Yumura onsen | village, hot spring, interesting place, spa town

 village, hot spring, onsen, interesting place, spa town

www.town.shinonsen.hyogo.jp/ (Japanese)

Yumura Onsen (湯村温泉) is a small village located in Shin'onsen town in Mikata District, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, Yumura township had a population of 1,206, and its surrounding area (known as Onsen) had a total population of 6,454.[1] Local legend states that the town’s hot springs (onsen) were uncovered in AD848 by the priest Jikaku Daishi. The town is said to have been inhabited since this time, and the local temple is claimed to have been built soon after the discovery of the hot springs.

Yumura's hot springs have an unusually high temperature of 98°C, and generate most of the town's tourism. Tourists flock to the hot springs in weekends to boil eggs (onsen tamago), corn, and sweet potato in the boiling water and to enjoy soaking in the hot spring baths. In the past the townsfolk used the hot springs for much of their daily cooking. While most people do not use it as frequently now, many people still cook bamboo, vegetables and mountain herbs in the hot springs' water.

Onsen area is well-known locally for its Tajima beef.

Festivals:

* Yumura Onsen festival - held on the first Sunday in June, and includes a 100-metre tug-of-war involving the whole town.

* Tajima beef festival - held on the fourth Sunday in September, and offers free Tajima beef steaks to festival goers.

* Hide-and-Seek Competition - held in the town on Sunday in late June. Approximately 250 people hide in the town while 350 competitors race to find someone to bring back to the start line.