Jarman International sent JI Core 50 members Paul Walsh and Sophie Chow to join the wild and hidden Extreme Onsen tour in Fukushima Prefecture, guided by Café & Activity Nowhere.
The Extreme Onsen tour involves hiking roughly 40–60 minutes through natural scenery to Numajiri Motoyu, a spring of natural, mineral-rich hot water. The hot spring was discovered during the Edo period (1603–1868), and the quality of its water is said to be among the highest in Japan. Tour participants can enjoy a soak among the dozens of natural hot spring pools, called yatenburo in Japanese, halfway up Mt Adatara.
“The mountain path isn’t heavily maintained, so you can still see the untouched natural landscape,” Sophie said of the tour. “As we hiked, the guide explained the local history and the background of the hot spring. Nomajiri Onsen flows down like a waterfall from the mountain, forming small natural pools where visitors can bathe in swimwear. This type of experience is extremely rare even within Japan. However, because some areas have relatively high sulfur levels, it’s safer to go with a local guide. After completing the entire route, Paul and I also shared some feedback and suggestions with the guide and the organizers regarding the overall experience.”
The Extreme Onsen tour is also promoted by the government’s Greater Tokyo and Edo Shogun Roads tourism initiatives, which aim to entice visitors into the prefectures surrounding the metropolis.
Based in Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture, the outdoor activity organization Café & Activity Nowhere runs a campground and other activities, such as mountain biking, in addition to the Extreme Onsen tour.
Consulting for tourism activities is one of Jarman International’s core services, and we are honored to be able to contribute to amazing experiences in special locations such as this.