Overview
Yamakawa is a long-established traditional ryokan at Onogawa Hot Spring in Yonezawa, Yamagata. With 100 years of history, it places you in the center of the hot spring village, making it easy to enjoy local sightseeing and the warm atmosphere of the area. The inn is known for its original Yamakawa-style shabushabu, prepared with drinkable hot spring water.
Accommodation
You can choose from several, including Japanese-style rooms, Japanese-Western rooms, and twin rooms. Japanese-style rooms offer tatami living and mountain views, while Japanese-style bedrooms give you two beds in a room with both Japanese and Western touches. The Japanese-Western room offers more space, with a combined tatami room and twin bedroom for up to six people. Twin rooms suit two-person stays and include a washlet.
Every room includes a private bathroom, toilet, heating, air conditioning, and storage space for luggage. Windows frame the surrounding hills and village rooftops, giving you a peaceful view that changes with the time of day. At night, the quiet atmosphere makes it easy to rest deeply after soaking in the hot springs.
Dining
Dining focuses on local Yamagata and Yonezawa flavors. You can enjoy Yamakawa-style shabushabu made with Yonezawa pork and drinkable hot spring water. You can also choose sukiyaki meals featuring Kuroge wagyu beef or Yonezawa beef, one of Japan’s well-known beef brands. Breakfast is a Japanese course built around local Yonezawa dishes.
Onsen and Wellness
The hot springs remain the heart of your stay. The ryokan uses natural hot spring water that flows directly from the source, rich in minerals long valued for warmth and comfort. The water feels smooth on your skin and leaves your body relaxed after each soak.
Yamakawa offers large hot spring baths and open-air baths where you can enjoy the waters of Onogawa Hot Spring. The large baths, Yoshizane-no-yu and Komachi-no-yu, also provide drinkable hot spring water. Outdoor baths include a stone bath and a wooden bath, with the wooden Komachi-no-yu designed for one person. Baths are open from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm and from 8:00 pm to 10:00 am, with closures for bath switching, cleaning, and water changes.
Guests with Tattoos
If you have tattoos, you can ask the staff about private onsen options.
Facilities
- Hot spring bath house
- Open-air baths
- Free Wi-Fi
- Parking space
- Non-smoking rooms
- Safe
- Dryer
- TV
- Air conditioning and heating
- Hot water pot
- Cold water pot
- Refrigerator
Activities
You can spend your time exploring the Onogawa Onsen area on foot. Walk through the town streets to discover small shops selling local sweets, crafts, and snacks. Several public foot baths invite you to rest and soak your feet while watching village life pass by.
Exclusive “Hot Spring Hopping Plan” for hotel guests. With the “Hot Spring Hopping Pass” (1,200 yen for both adults and children), you can enjoy up to three baths at each of the 17 establishments, including 15 inns and 2 public bathhouses.
Onogawa Onsen has two footbaths, and there are also footbaths opened to the public by various inns. Since it’s just for your feet, you can easily soak them and warm your whole body. Stroll through the hot spring town in your geta sandals, and when you get tired, take a break in a footbath. It will refresh both your feet and your mind.
Additional Features
Takamiya Ryokan Yamakawa offers a stay centered on hot springs, regional cuisine, and a calm mountain setting. You experience a traditional ryokan atmosphere without distractions, allowing you to focus on rest, warmth, and simple pleasures.
This ryokan suits travelers who value hot spring culture, local food, and a slower rhythm of travel. Your time here encourages you to unplug, breathe deeply, and enjoy the comfort that comes from thoughtful hospitality in one of Yamagata’s most historic onsen towns.
