Commentary Moritake Onsen Kyo

Moritake Onsen Kyo

The hot spring waters of Mitane’s Moritake Onsen area are known for their high temperatures and unusually high levels of sodium and calcium salts. The area is also famous for junsai nabe, a summer hotpot dish that features watershield, the local agricultural specialty.

Hot Springs

The Moritake Onsen Kyo source was discovered by accident during an oil drilling operation in 1952. The water comes out of the ground at almost 60°C and is stored in tanks until it cools to around 50°C before being pumped into the baths. The spring is said to be one of the saltiest in Japan, and is reputedly effective in relieving skin complaints such as eczema.

Junsai Nabe

This hotpot dish highlights local hinai-jidori chicken and watershield (junsai), a plant that grows in shallow, clear ponds. The town of Mitane is Japan’s largest producer of this seasonal delicacy, and the plant appears in numerous local dishes. Unlike most types of hotpot, which are winter fare, junsai nabe is available from May to August, during the watershield harvest season.

Facilities

Moritake Onsen Yūparu is a municipal health-promotion facility where guests can soak in the waters for the day, or stay overnight. Some rooms are wheelchair-accessible.

The Moritake Onsen Hotel blends the styles of a traditional inn (ryokan) with elements of a modern hotel. Twelve of its 20 rooms are Japanese-style, and its baths are 45°C.

The 28-room Moritake Onsen Hotel Moriyama-kan is a traditional inn that offers a natural radium hot stone spa in addition to its hot spring baths.

Other leisure facilities in the Moritake area include the Ishikurayama Camping Ground, which has tent spaces and cabins, and the Akita Moritake Onsen 36 Golf Course, with two 18-hole courses.