Visiting Ginzan Onsen in the Winter
The most beautiful sight of the deep north of Japan.
Of all the breathtaking sights in Tohoku, many flock to see what they think is the most beautiful of all, the sight of Ginzan Onsen covered in snow, warmly illuminated by its classic gas streetlamps.
With its traditional Taisho Era buildings packed tightly along the river, this small onsen town located deep in the mountains is a dream destination for those seeking the nostalgia of Japan, said to be a a large inspiration in the bathhouse design and town featured in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away film.
To learn more about Ginzan Onsen and how to get to it in seasons other than winter, see our full article about it here.
We recommend that those taking a trip to Ginzan Onsen during the night, especially during winter, should wear an appropriate amount of clothing to keep you warm during your time there. Heavy snowfall is not uncommon, and the average temperature has been recorded to be as low as 23°F (-4.3℃). Account for buffer time in your itinerary, in the case that your bus or taxi moves slowly due to the weather (including but not limited to whiteouts).
Update for the 2024/2025 Winter Season
Ginzan Onsen has established new rules for the 2024-2025 winter season for the safety and comfort of visitors. Please check the official website of Ginzan Onsen for details (Japanese only).
Use of personal and rental vehicles to travel into the town will be restricted, starting January 7, 2025. Travelers coming by car must use the Park and Ride system, leaving their vehicles at the Taisho Romankan and taking the shuttle bus into the onsen town (fare required). Please note that it is not possible to make advance reservations on the shuttle bus.
There will be no restrictions placed on the number of visitors entering the onsen town between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM. Please keep in mind while planning your trip that last entry is at 4 PM and all guests without tickets for evening entry will be required to leave the town before 5 PM.
From 5 PM until 8 PM, entry tickets are required for any guests who do not have overnight reservations to stay within the onsen town. Advance reservation is required, and must be made in the name of the guest who will actually be using the ticket. From 8 PM until 9 AM the following day, entry is prohibited to unrelated parties. Please check Ginzan Onsen’s official website for more details, ticket reservations, and the latest information (Japanese only).
Stay overnight at Ginzan Onsen
For those looking to stay in Ginzan Onsen, it is very difficult (almost impossible) during the winter. If you wish to stay here during the snowy months of December, January, and February then you generally must reserve at least one year in advance to get a room along the main street. Reservations open up at different times for each ryokan and you must reserve them right when they open in order to try to secure a room. Unfortunately many resellers buy up these rooms and make it very hard to get rooms.
If you cannot stay at Ginzan Onsen, it is a great day trip from the many hotels of Yamagata City and other charming onsens like Kaminoyama and Tendo Onsen, so you can always just plan a day visit to this onsen town with some of the transport options below.
Public transportation
Please be aware that tickets will be required for entry after 4:00 PM. Please check Ginzan Onsen’s official site for details.
Public transportation options in the area are limited and at the mercy of weather conditions of the day, usually being late or worst case canceled. The small public bus which runs in the area departs from the closest train station only 5 times a day. The limited timetable does not allow for much time to enjoy the famous night illuminated view of Ginzan Onsen. This bus is not covered by the JR pass and costs ¥1000 yen each way. It takes about 35 minutes for the bus to drive between Ginzan Onsen and Oishida Station. See this website for the bus schedule (Japanese).
The addition of the influx of travelers to Ginzan Onsen every year, makes public transport even harder to be able to ride on. While this is the most cost-efficient option to get to Ginzan Onsen, there are times when it is not able to fit people during peak times in January and February. There have been instances where the bus becomes full, and 20 – 60 visitors are not able to board the bus, having to wait for up to 2 hours at the bus stop for the next bus.
Private charter vehicle to Ginzan Onsen
Please be aware that it is not yet certain how the new entry restrictions on the town will affect those trying to visit Ginzan Onsen by private charter vehicle. Please check Ginzan Onsen’s official site for details.
Our recommendation for those coming all the way out to Ginzan Onsen during the winter to see this beautiful onsen town is that they invest in a private charter vehicle to ensure they can have a smooth and safe visit. With reserved transport like this, this will ensure that you will be able to arrive in time to see the twilight glow just after sunset and you will not be stranded at Ginzan Onsen because you cannot miss the bus.
You can have a day-trip visit to Ginzan Onsen via private charter vehicle, at a time of your choice. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel, Yamagata or Shonai Airport, or a train station of your choice and drive you to Ginzan Onsen. The most efficient and cheapest option to ride a taxi is to ride one from Oishida Station. There, you can choose to either enjoy a complmentary private guided walking tour in English, or simply enjoy free time in the onsen town. We can also provide time and access for you to enjoy a hot springs bath in Ginzan Onsen if you like. At the end of your time in Ginzan Onsen, your driver will take you back to your hotel, an airport, or train station.
We can arrange a round-trip private charter vehicle for you starting from the following prices below:
Oishida Station <-> Ginzan Onsen : from ¥30,380
Tendo Onsen <-> Ginzan Onsen: from ¥49,900
Yamagata Station Area <-> Ginzan Onsen: from ¥67,900
The above prices are including a 90-minute stay in Ginzan Onsen and are the most cost effective (bar unpredictable public transportation) options for groups larger than 2. The convenience of the private charter vehicle can be worth it for groups of 2 or less as well.
This service does not include any itinerary (i.e what train/shinkansen to catch) and is just the private charter vehicle booking itself. For those wanting an itinerary, we can offer this service for an extra fee.
Sample itinerary:
Depart Tokyo 12PM – Arrive at Oishida 3:15 PM
3:15 PM Transfer via private charter vehicle (35m)
3:50 PM-5:20 PM Sightseeing at Ginzan Onsen
5:20 PM Transfer via private charter vehicle (35m)
5:55 PM Arrive at Ōishida station
Depart Oishida 6:58 PM – Arrive in Tokyo 10:24 PM
You can send an inquiry for a private charter vehicle below. After we receive your inquiry, we will confirm the price and booking with you, then check with our partners and send you a booking confirmation email at least 3 days before your desired date. Please note that this form does not confirm availability or reserve it straightaway.
Tendo Onsen to Ginzan Onsen Bus Trip
Tendo Onsen is accessible through a short taxi ride or a leisurely 20-minute walk from Tendo Station. From Yamagata Station, you can arrive at Tendo Station in as little as 10 minutes. The tree-lined canals and cobblestone paths of Tendo Onsen compliment the dazzling snowy scenery of Ginzan Onsen.
A bus service offered by our partners allows guests to visit the two onsen areas in one day. We recommend booking your Tendo Onsen accommodations and the bus service as a set so that you can take the bus service from the Tendo Onsen area to Ginzan Onsen, which takes around one hour. After arriving at Ginzan Onsen, stroll through the town, be mesmerized by the gorgeous scenery, warm up in a cafe, use the street’s public footbaths (bring a towel to dry your feet!) and buy souvenirs before returning to Tendo Onsen to enjoy dinner and relaxation at your accommodations. Through this plan, you can enjoy the different atmospheres of both onsen areas.
As securing lodging in the Ginzan Onsen town is near impossible during the peak period of December, January and February, we recommend a day trip and staying at another charming accommodation like Tendo Onsen in Yamagata.
What's Included
- A bus service is offered by our partners; we arrange your booking with them.
- Shuttle bus fees
- We can help with booking a hotel in the Tendo area if requested.
Bus Schedule
3:30PM Bus pickup at Hohoemi no Yado Taki no Yu
3:35PM Bus pickup at Azuma-so
4:45PM Arrive at Ginzan Onsen. Freely stroll around.
6:10PM Depart from Ginzan Onsen
7:25PM Drop off at Azuma-so
7:30PM Drop off at Hohoemi no Yado Taki no Yu
Bus trip ends
Cost
Round-trip Ticket:
Adults: from 9200 yen per person
Elementary school students: from 4600 yen per person
Infants (3 years old and under) using seats: from 2300 yen per person
Transaction fee per booking: 500 yen
Experience Availability
Friday, December 1, 2023 – Thursday, February 29, 2024
*Excluded dates: 12/31, 1/1, 1/2, 1/3
Average Duration
approx. 4.5 hours
Meeting Location
Hohoemi no Yado Taki no Yu or Azuma-so in the Tendo Onsen area
Minimum number of participants on one day
1 person
Maximum number of participants on one day
30 people
Important notes
Experience availability may vary. Reserve to confirm availability.
Snow is expected from mid-December. We suggest you dress appropriately for the weather.
You can send a booking inquiry for your experience below. After we receive your inquiry, we will confirm the booking with our partners and send you a booking confirmation email at least 3 days before your desired date.
Please note this form does not confirm the availability of an experience or reserve an experience straightaway.
To see access options to Ginzan Onsen for seasons other than winter, see our full article about it here.
Rental car to Ginzan Onsen
Due to its remote location, there are few public transportation options to reach Ginzan Onsen. Typically most locals will drive a car, and while our rental cars are available, we highly recommend other transport due to the vast amount of snow. Our providers also have a period of time in winter where they do not rent their cars out due to the danger the snow poses in the prefecture.
If do you choose to go by car, there is one parking lot you can use at the Taisho Romankan during the winter period. From there, you will need to take a short 5-10 minute ¥500 round-trip shuttle bus from there to Ginzan Onsen- it is dangerous to get to the town otherwise.
The shuttle bus operates:
[Winter (December to March/April) operating hours] 9:00AM– 6:00PM
[New Year’s holidays] 9:00AM – 5:00PM
[Normal operating hours] 8:30AM – 6:30PM
You will need to call the shuttle bus through the intercom at the hot-pink sign with a digital screen. See more information here. (Japanese)
To learn more about Ginzan Onsen and how to get to it in seasons other than winter, see our full article about it here.
Cancelation policy
Our general cancelation policy for our taxi and bus trip reservations is below. Cancelation fees may vary according to exceptional circumstances. In cases of cancelation due to acts of god such as weather or bus mechanical failure we will refund customers in full.
10 business days before date of experience
15% of total price
5 business days before date of experience
50% of total price
3 business days before date of experience or same day
100% of total price
