Ginzan Onsen is a remote hot spring village located in Yamagata prefecture, Japan. This small town is famous for its old historical ryokans (Japanese typical inn) and its Ghibli animation-style architecture. During the winter the village becomes completely covered in snow, creating a fairy tale-like atmosphere.

Transportation

Ginzan Onsen is best reached by car. Getting there by public transportation is not easy and time-consuming, but still possible. First, from Tokyo, take the JR Yamagata Shinkansen to Oishida Station. Secondly,  change to the local bus bound for Ginzan Onsen (bus schedule here). The whole trip takes around 4 hours and costs about 13.000 Yen (One way). Please note the bus can get crowded during peak season (winter) and will stop accepting people if too full. However, Ryokans in Ginzan Onsen provide a free shuttle bus from Oishida station if you are spending the night. If you are a foreign visitor traveling to the Tohoku region you can save a lot by using the JR east Tohoku pass. In fact, the pass only costs 30000 Yen and can be used for unlimited rides for 5 consecutive days. You can purchase the pass on Klook.