# Naruko Onsen

> A hot spring town in the hills of northwest Miyagi, about 45 minutes from Furukawa on the JR Rikuu East Line. Naruko is a kokeshi town: its dolls have heads fitted into the body that squeak when you turn them, and a street of doll shops leads up from the station. Takino-yu, the public bath beside the Onsen Shrine, costs 300 yen. In late October Naruko Gorge turns red and the town fills up.

- Prefecture: Miyagi
- Type: Onsen
- Address: Osaki, Miyagi, Japan
- Opening hours: Mon–Sun 07:30–21:00
- Hours note: Hours are for Takino-yu, the public bath. It is open every day, New Year included.
- Official site: https://www.welcome-naruko.jp/

Naruko is a working onsen town rather than a resort. The inns are mostly small, the main street climbs from the station past kokeshi shops, and on cold evenings you can smell sulfur before you see where it comes from. Kokeshi are why many people know the name. Naruko's style fits the head into the body with a tight joint, so turning it makes a squeak. Kokeshi-dori, the street of doll shops, is the place to buy one. The National Kokeshi Festival is held here each year at the end of August or the start of September. The Japan Kokeshi Museum, closed from January to March, is on the road toward the gorge. For the water, go to Takino-yu, a small public bath next to the Onsen Shrine. The sulfur water comes from the shrine's spring and runs straight into separate men's and women's indoor tubs. It costs 300 yen for adults and 100 yen for children, paid at a ticket machine, and is open 7:30 to 21:00 every day. Bring your own towel and soap. Naruko Gorge is a few kilometres west. The two places everyone stands are the lookout at the Naruko Gorge Rest House and the Ofukazawa bridge over the gorge, and around 150,000 people come during the leaf season, so traffic jams on Route 47 are normal at weekends.

## FAQ

### How much is Takino-yu and when is it open?

Adults pay 300 yen and children 100 yen at the ticket machine; the adult price went up from 200 yen in April 2024. It is open 7:30 to 21:00 every day, New Year included. It is a simple bath with indoor tubs only, so bring your own towel and soap.

### When is Naruko Gorge at its best, and how do I get there?

The leaves usually peak from late October to mid-November. From Naruko-Onsen Station it is about 13 minutes by taxi or about 70 minutes on foot. In 2026 the temporary Momiji-go bus runs from the station to the gorge's Nakayamadaira entrance from 26 October to 8 November for 450 yen. Weekends at the peak bring heavy traffic, so the bus or a weekday visit is the easier choice.

### How do I get to Naruko Onsen?

Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Furukawa and change to the JR Rikuu East Line. Naruko-Onsen Station is about 45 minutes and 680 yen from Furukawa, with no change. Trains are not frequent, so plan around the timetable.

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Source: Naruko Onsen — Japan Voyage