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32-617: As of 1 October 2010 Izushi district had an estimated population of 10,259. Because of yearly flooding problems and cheaper modes of transit, Izushi's ancient river port has long been closed. The railways were also taken out, leaving Izushi accessible by car, bus, and bike only. The average weather temperatures in the Toyooka area range between -3 °C (26 °F) in January to 35 °C (95 °F) in August. On April 1, 2005, Izushi, along with

64-456: A sentō at an onsen , all guests are expected to wash and rinse themselves thoroughly before entering the hot water. Bathing stations are equipped with stools, faucets, wooden buckets, and toiletries such as soap and shampoo; nearly all onsen also provide removable shower heads for bathing convenience. Entering the onsen while still dirty or with traces of soap on the body is socially unacceptable. Guests are not allowed to wear swimsuits in

96-453: A JR rail connection to Kyoto , and direct trains to Osaka are available via Fukuchiyama . Direct Express trains take about 2.5 hours from Osaka to Toyooka. A JR Pass (more specifically, a Kansai WIDE Area Pass) can be purchased to travel from Osaka or Kyoto to Kinosaki. The Tajima Airport serves Toyooka and runs two direct flights a day to Osaka Itami Airport . Onsen In Japan, onsen ( 温泉 ) are hot springs and

128-610: A cup of cold broth and several optional ingredients to strengthen the broth flavor, such as grated daikon radish, wasabi, potato paste, chopped green onion, and a raw egg. Using hashi (chopsticks), the cold noodles are taken off one small plate and submerged in the broth cup. Traditional white porcelain pottery , in Japanese called yakimono , is created and sold in small studio shops in downtown Izushi. The professionally made ceramics in this town are called Izushi yaki . Kinosaki, Hy%C5%8Dgo Kinosaki ( 城崎町 , Kinosaki-chō )

160-682: A depth of at least 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi), and contain specified amounts of minerals such as sulphur, sodium, iron, or magnesium. When onsen water contains distinctive minerals or chemicals, establishments often display what type of water it is, in part because the specific minerals found in the water have been thought to provide health benefits. Types include sulfur onsen ( 硫黄泉 , iō-sen ) , sodium chloride onsen ( ナトリウム泉 , natoriumu-sen ) , hydrogen carbonate onsen ( 炭酸泉 , tansan-sen ) , and iron onsen ( 鉄泉 , tetsu-sen ) . Exactly when humans first began bathing in onsen in Japan

192-477: A free pass to all seven. It is common for tourists staying in Kinosaki Onsen to walk around in yukata , this saves them having to change into their own clothes every time they use an onsen. A ropeway at the far end of the street transports visitors to the top of Mt. Taishi, which has views of the town and coastline, as well as a temple appropriately named Onsenji. In addition to the onsens, tourists can visit

224-594: A popular local scenic spot. The first and original castle's location on top of Mount Ariko was too difficult for even the ruling family and their retainers to reach easily and, in 1604, it was moved to the base of the mountain. It is the second castle's location which now a popular tourist spot and a beautiful backdrop for several local matsuri (festivals), such as the Kimono Matsuri (September), Kenka Danjiri (Fighting Floats—October), Oshiro Matsuri (Castle Festival—November) and Hatsu Uma (First Horseride—March). While

256-430: A swimming suit in their mixed baths. Onsen guests generally bring a small towel with them to use as a wash cloth. The towel can also provide a modicum of modesty when walking between the washing area and the baths. Some onsen allow one to wear the towel into the baths, while others have posted signs prohibiting this, saying that it makes it harder to clean the bath. It is against the rules to immerse or dip towels in

288-480: Is a popular form of domestic tourism in Japan. During the bubble economy of the 1980s, there was a " onsen boom." Although the number of overnight guests at hot spring resorts has decreased slightly since the boom, travel to such onsen towns as a relaxing getaway is still popular among Japanese people. Traditionally, men and women bathed together at both onsen and sentō communal bathhouses, but gender separation has been enforced at most institutions since

320-554: Is a resort area, with onsen (Japanese hot springs). The Onsen town has a history of 1,300 years. In 1913, the writer Shiga Naoya came to Kinosaki and stayed there for three weeks. Kinosaki provided the inspiration for his short story, "Kinosaki ni te" or "In Kinosaki". There are seven public onsen bath houses in Kinosaki Onsen: Tourists staying in many of the ryokans (Japanese traditional inns) in Kinosaki can receive

352-432: Is believed to have unique benefits. Carbonated springs, for example, are believed to lead to smooth skin. Onsen facilities often advertise various health and beauty benefits they claim their water to provide. Water at some onsen facilities is drinkable. Onsen water should only be consumed if it is confirmed to be safe to drink by the prefecture. The water should be obtained from a designated drinking source that

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384-1193: Is separate from the water which is bathed in. The often mineral-rich onsen water is believed to have benefits such as treating iron-deficiency anemia or constipation . Article 18, paragraph 1 of the Japanese Hot Springs Act publishes guidance on contraindications and cautions for bathing in hot springs, and drinking their respective waters. Although millions of Japanese bathe in onsen every year with few noticeable side effects, there are still potential side effects to onsen usage, such as aggravating high blood pressure or heart disease. Legionella bacteria have been found in some onsen with poor sanitation. For example, 295 people were infected with Legionella and seven died at an onsen in Miyazaki Prefecture in 2002. Revelations of poor sanitary practices at some onsen have led to improved regulation by hot-spring communities to maintain their reputation. There have been reports of infectious disease found in hot bodies of water worldwide, such as various Naegleria species. While studies have found

416-461: Is unknown, but historical records show it has a history of at least about 1,300 years. Many of the earliest records of onsen bathing document Japanese Emperors or members of the imperial family staying at onsen for long periods of time. At the time, onsen were thought to be sacred and to have healing properties. It is now believed those who traveled to onsen in these early records were seeking cures to disease or other ailments by bathing in

448-592: The Kinosaki Straw Craft Museum  [ ja ] where they can participate in a straw craft-making workshop, the Kinosaki Literary Museum  [ ja ] to learn about the writers of Kinosaki Onsen, as well as many shops and cafes. Some of the area's specialties in these shops and restaurants include snow crab , Tajima beef , and onsen-boiled eggs . The Sanin Main Line provides

480-533: The onsen bath water, since this can be considered unclean. People normally set their towels off to the side of the water when enjoying the baths, or place their folded towels on top of their heads. By 2015, around half (56%) of onsen operators had banned bathers with tattoos from using their facilities. The original reason for the tattoo ban was to keep out yakuza and members of other crime gangs who traditionally have elaborate full-body decoration. However, tattoo-friendly onsen do exist. A 2015 study by

512-700: The onsen water. This ancient practice of bathing in onsen to cure illnesses, often for long periods such as a week, is referred to as tōji ( 湯治 ). Some of the oldest onsen in Japan are considered to be Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture , Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture , and Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture . Until around the Edo period , onsen had close religious ties to Buddhism with temples often being built near onsen sources. During

544-453: The Edo period, however, onsen began to gain popularity among the general population thanks in part to depictions of the hot springs in ukiyo-e . It is also during this period that the use of onsen shifted from being primarily for religious and healing reasons to being used for bathing for cleanliness and socializing. In modern times, traveling to hot spring resort towns ( 温泉街 , onsen-gai )

576-587: The Japan National Tourism Organisation found that more than 30% of onsen operators at hotels and inns across the country will not turn someone with a tattoo away; another 13% said they would grant access to a tattooed guest under certain conditions, such as having the tattoo covered up. Some towns have many tattoo-friendly onsen that do not require guests to cover them up. Two such towns are Kinosaki Onsen in Hyōgo and Beppu Onsen in Ōita. With

608-534: The Sengoku family, when they were transferred by the Ashikaga Shogunate from Shinshu. Izushi soba has three distinctions that are key to its special flavor and consistency: grinding the buckwheat in a special way, kneading it to a certain thickness, and cooking them in a way to prevent them from becoming too soft. The soba should have a simple flavor and a slightly chewy texture. It is served cold, on small plates with

640-528: The bathing facilities and traditional inns around them. There are approximately 25,000 hot spring sources throughout Japan, and approximately 3,000 onsen establishments use naturally hot water from these geothermally heated springs. Onsen may be either outdoor baths ( 露天風呂 or 野天風呂 , roten-buro / noten-buro ) or indoor baths ( 内湯 , uchiyu ) . Traditionally, onsen were located outdoors, although many inns have now built indoor bathing facilities as well. Nowadays, as most households have their baths,

672-417: The baths and must be completely nude. However, there are some onsen that allow both men and women to enter together but require swimsuits. Many of these mixed onsen resemble more of a pool or waterpark than the traditional idea of an onsen . In 2016, The Japan Times reported that guests were not normally allowed to wear swimsuits in the baths. However, some modern onsen required their guests to wear

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704-907: The baths daily. These precautions as well as proper onsen usage (i.e. not placing the head underwater, washing thoroughly before entering the bath) greatly reduce any overall risk to bathers. Voyeurism is reported at some onsen . In 2016, The Japan Times reported that this was mitigated in some prefectures of Japan where nude mixed bathing is not permitted, and that visitors must wear swimsuits . In 2021, several people were arrested in connection with an organized group accused of taking photos of women in open-air baths. In addition to typical large public baths ( 大浴場 , daiyokujō ) and outdoor baths ( 露天風呂 , roten-buro ), there are various other methods of experiencing onsen that can be found at various facilities throughout Japan. Examples include: Saunas are also sometimes located at onsen bathing facilities. A relatively cold bath called mizu-buro (水風呂)

736-509: The castle itself does not exist anymore, the two front guardhouses were restored in 1968. The original castle foundations are still on top of the mountain and are accessible by hiking only. The most iconic image of Izushi is the Shinkoro clock tower. Built in the Meiji Era, the wooden clock's name means "eight o'clock drum tower". This is in reference to the old system of time in Japan, where shin

768-440: The increase in foreign customers due to growing tourism, some onsen that previously banned tattoos are loosening their rules to allow guests with small tattoos to enter, provided they cover their tattoos with a patch or sticking plaster. There are various health benefits attributed to bathing in onsen . Onsen are particularly renowned for their relaxing and therapeutic effects . These effects are due to properties such as

800-409: The number of traditional public baths has decreased, but the number and popularity of hot spring resort towns ( 温泉街 , onsen-gai ) have increased since the end of Second World War . Baths may be either publicly run by a municipality or privately, often connecting to a lodging establishment such as a hotel, ryokan , or minshuku . The presence of an onsen is often indicated on signs and maps by

832-554: The opening of Japan to the West during the Meiji Restoration . Mixed bathing ( 混浴 , kon'yoku ) is currently banned in Japanese public baths. Depending on the prefecture and local ordinances, children seven years old and younger may be exempt from this ban. Private onsen called "family baths" ( 家族風呂 , kazokuburo ) can be found in many locations throughout Japan. These can be reserved and used for mixed bathing. As at

864-677: The presence of Naegleria in hot spring waters, Naegleria fowleri , responsible for numerous fatal cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis around the world, has not been found to be present in the water at onsen . Nevertheless, fewer than five cases have been seen historically in Japan, although not conclusively linked to onsen exposure. Many onsen display notices reminding anyone with open cuts, sores, or lesions not to bathe. Additionally, in recent years onsen are increasingly adding chlorine to their waters to prevent infection, although many onsen purists seek natural, unchlorinated onsen that do not recycle their water but instead clean

896-563: The symbol ♨, the kanji 湯 ( yu , meaning "hot water"), or the simpler phonetic hiragana character ゆ ( yu ). According to the Japanese Hot Springs Act ( 温泉法 , Onsen Hō ) , onsen is defined as "hot water, mineral water, and water vapor or other gas (excluding natural gas of which the principal component is hydrocarbon ) gushing from underground". The law states that mineralized hot spring water that feeds an onsen must be at least 25 °C (77 °F) originating at

928-837: The temperature, pressure, and mineral composition of the water. A 2014 study conducted in Beppu , a city famous for its onsen , found that regular bathing in onsen has various health benefits such as lowering blood pressure , improving circulation and cardiovascular health, reducing chronic pain and fatigue, and lowering the rate of depression . A survey conducted in Atami , another city famous for its onsen , found that individuals with onsen in their homes were less likely to take blood pressure medication than those without onsen . There are various types of onsen including carbonated springs, iron -containing springs, acidic springs, strong-smelling sulfur springs, among others. Each type of onsen

960-535: The towns of Kinosaki , Hidaka and Takeno (all from Kinosaki District ), and the town of Tantō (also from Izushi District ), were merged into the expanded city of Toyooka . Izushi no longer exists as an independent municipality . Izushi Junior High School's sister school is Whitman Middle School in Seattle . The short-term homestay program has been successful for both schools and has been running, with some exceptions, since March 1999. Izushi has castle ruins ,

992-523: Was a town in Kinosaki District , Hyōgo Prefecture , Japan. On April 1, 2005, Kinosaki, along with the towns of Hidaka and Takeno (all from Kinosaki District ), and the towns of Izushi and Tantō (both from Izushi District ), were merged into the expanded city of Toyooka and they no longer exist as independent municipalities . As of 1 October 2010 , the Kinosaki district of Toyooka had an estimated population of 3,778. Kinosaki

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1024-443: Was the starting point of the day between 7 o'clock to 9 o'clock. A drum would beat to call retainers to the castle to work and signal the businesses in the town that working hours had started. It was formerly part of the gate system into the castle, now only it has only a small moat filled with koi. Izushi is known for being the traditional home of soba noodles in this area of Japan. It was said to have been brought to Izushi with

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