Kawara-yu, Japan: what it is and when to go

What it is and where

Kawara-yu is a hot spring bath (蔵王温泉 川原湯共同浴場) in Japan (Yamagata).

It is in Yamagata, where this site lists 41 more places to see, 13 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 38.16762, 140.39724; the nearest main airport is Narita International Airport (NRT, Narita), 267 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.

Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)

It is one of the Hot springs places in Japan. In Kokai it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

When to go

The best time to visit Kawara-yu is February to May and October to November.

In June there are 14 h 38 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 22. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.

Before you go to Japan

To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the Japan checklist. Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire.

In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

What is nearby

• Sake museumMuseum106 m
• Shimo-yuOnsen107 m
• Kami-yuHot spring bath119 m
• Zaoonsen GenshichirotenHot spring bath185 m
• Shinzaemon no YuHot spring bath406 m

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the Japan guide.

More in Japan: Hot springs

• Jigokudani Monkey Park: hot springs area with large population of wild snow monkeys
• Dōgo Onsen: hot spring in the city of Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, Japan
• Obusuma Station: railway station in Yorii, Osato district, Saitama prefecture, Japan
• Hachigata Station: railway station in Yorii, Osato district, Saitama prefecture, Japan
• Ohanabatake Station: railway station in Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, Japan
• Awazu Onsen: building in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

Every Japan place under Hot springs, each with its season, is on its page.

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

• Yamagata41 places to see in and around Yamagata, Japan: Yamagata Castle, Kaminoyama Castle, Yamagata Museum of Art. Best time: February to May and October to November.
• Hot springs712 places for hot springs in Japan, from Jigokudani Monkey Park to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: February to May and October to November. Each with its own sea
• JapanBefore travelling to Japan: 10 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for tourism: up to 90 days with a valid passport.
• Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.