Ginzan Onsen is a hot spring area on the banks of the Ginzan River, located in Yamagata Prefecture. It's beautiful as in a fairy tale. Let's check in Ginzan Onsen in winter! Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture is famed for its nostalgic and traditional Japanese-style hotels along the scenic banks of the Ginzan River. This place was chosen as the setting of a famous NHK drama - "Oshin" which was broadcast in many countries including Vietnam. Therefore, if you have ever seen this movie, this place will surely make you feel a little familiar. It is said that the hot springs here can heal cuts, burns and chronic skin diseases. The beautiful buildings surrounded by an unspoiled rural setting ensure that visitors will feel pleasant when coming to Ginzan Onsen at any time of year. The long summer days are the perfect time for leisurely strolls down the idyllic streets in a yukata. In winter, the town takes on a magical color. Covered in snow, the scenery of buildings shimmering in the soft light of gas lamps will leave you with an unforgettable impression. Ginzan Onsen is a hot spring area located in Yamagata Prefecture. This hot spring has an inn complex with many rows of houses along the banks of the Ginzan-gawa River, many of which were built from the Taisho period (1912-1926) to the Showa period (1926-1989). It used to have a two-storey inn and thatched wooden houses, but during the great flood of 1923, most of the houses here were swept away by the fierce currents. After that, people replaced them with wooden inns in the 3-storey or 4-storey design. Now, due to the strong development of Western culture in Japan, the inn architecture here also gradually changes with the times. In particular, this hot spring area gives visitors a warm feeling, subtly the special atmosphere of the Taisho era - the era of cultural explosion, Western trends. The neighborhood creates a special impression, making visitors feel like they go back to the old days. Here, visitors can enjoy many 4-season pleasures such as cherry blossoms in spring; lush green landscape, branches and leaves sprouting buds in summer; red leaves in autumn; white snow in winter. Each season features a distinctive landscape. In the evening, the gas street lamps are lit, the orange light from the street lamps creates an atmosphere that makes you feel homesick. The Ginzan Onsen can be accessed by a combination of JR trains and buses From Tokyo, take the JR Yamagata Shinkansen to Oishida Station (3 hours 20 minutes), then take a bus to Ginzan Onsen (35 minutes). When traveling by train, you can use the Japan Rail Pass, but it cannot be used for buses. Keep in mind that buses only depart from Oishida Station every 60 – 90 minutes. Visitors traveling by car must park in a designated parking area outside the town center. Many hostels offer a shuttle service into town from the parking lot. -- Photo: Trang Le Thi Kieu #$gnal$#