Tamanashi Onsen

A gorge town south of Aizu-Wakamatsu, where tall inns stand along the cliffs of the Okawa river and their open-air baths hang straight over the water. Tradition credits the priest Gyoki with finding the spring some twelve centuries ago, and the calcium and sodium sulfate-chloride water still rises hot enough to need cooling. Three free foot baths mark the walking route, and the branch-line station at the edge of town keeps a cat as its stationmaster.

Aizu-Wakamatsu's traditional onsen quarter, founded in the 8th century. Ryokan packed along the Yukawa river gorge below Tsurugajo castle.