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BASICS

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BASICS

Hashiriyu and Atami Onsen: From Ancient Sacred Spring to Tokugawa Era

Atami Onsen originates in Hashiriyu — one of Japan's three oldest hot springs, sacred to mountain ascetics. From Yoritomo to Tokugawa Ieyasu and modern literary retreats, a millennium of memories layer here.

Atami Onsen traces its origins to Hashiriyu — “the running hot spring” — one of Japan’s three oldest hot springs (with Dogo and Arima), sacred to mountain ascetics and inseparable from Izusan Shrine’s religious complex. From Minamoto no Yoritomo’s medicinal visits to Tokugawa Ieyasu’s “shipped water” carried to Edo Castle, and on to modern literary retreats by Ozaki Koyo and Tanizaki Junichiro, a millennium of layered memory inhabits this town.

Last updated: May 2, 2026

Hashiriyu Geyser — 70 °C spring gushing from a mountain cave

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

View of Atami hot spring town

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Portrait of Tokugawa Ieyasu — initiated the "shipped water" tradition

Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

Kiunkaku in Atami — modern literary heritage

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Omiya no Matsu in Atami — setting of Konjiki Yasha

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

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