Tendo Onsen is a historic hot spring resort in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Tendo is famous as one of Japan’s major centers for producing shogi pieces, and the hot spring town features various shogi-inspired objects, designs, and decorations. Visitors can therefore experience the local culture as well as enjoy the hot springs.
Hotels and traditional Japanese inns are concentrated mainly on the east side of Tendo Station, offering a range of accommodation styles from modern hotels to quiet Japanese-style ryokan inns.
The town also has foot baths, hand baths, and a drinking fountain for the spring water, making it possible to enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional hot spring resort while walking around town rather than simply staying at an accommodation.
The surrounding area is also home to tourist orchards where visitors can pick some of Yamagata’s famous fruits, including cherries, grapes, and apples. A trip to Tendo Onsen can therefore combine hot springs, local food, nature, and sightseeing.
Tendo Onsen rises from an alluvial plain on the eastern edge of the Murayama Basin. Mount Maizuru lies to the southwest of the hot spring town, while Mount Hachiman is located to the southeast, surrounding the urban area with mountains.
The hot spring was discovered in 1911 when people drilling a well in the Kamata district encountered hot spring water. The following year, in 1912, the hot spring officially opened. It was initially known as Kamata Onsen before being renamed Tendo Onsen in 1924.
In 1955, centralized management of the hot spring sources began, helping establish the resort town in its modern form. In 2011, the resort celebrated its 100th anniversary, and in 2021, a new No. 10 hot spring source and a traditional-style onsen tower were completed.
Today, three foot baths are available around the hot spring town. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll while exploring the area around Mount Maizuru and other sightseeing attractions in Tendo. The relaxed atmosphere created by more than a century of history is one of the town’s enduring charms.
The water at Tendo Onsen is a colorless, transparent sulfate spring known for its light, smooth feel on the skin. The water contains minerals including sodium and calcium, and visitors can experience the spring water at foot baths and hand baths throughout the resort area.
Spring type: Sodium-calcium sulfate spring
Source temperature: 69°C
The hot spring has traditionally been associated with benefits for conditions including arteriosclerosis, chronic skin conditions, muscle pain, joint stiffness, bruises, chronic digestive disorders, sensitivity to cold, and recovery after illness.
Tendo Onsen is located almost in the center of Yamagata Prefecture and has developed as a convenient base for sightseeing around Yamagata. The resort offers a variety of accommodations, from modern hotels to traditional Japanese inns, allowing travelers to choose according to their preferred travel style.
Several of Yamagata’s well-known sightseeing destinations are also nearby. Wakamatsu-ji Temple, famous as a temple associated with matchmaking and good relationships, and Risshaku-ji Temple, better known as “Yamadera,” can both be reached in approximately 10 minutes by car.
The scenic Okama crater lake in the Zao Mountains is approximately one hour away by car. By combining a stay at Tendo Onsen with visits to Yamadera, Zao, and attractions within Tendo itself, travelers can conveniently experience Yamagata’s nature, history, and culture.
One of the things to look for when visiting Tendo Onsen is the city’s strong connection with shogi culture. Tendo is one of Japan’s leading production centers for shogi pieces, and shogi-inspired designs and objects can be found throughout the hot spring town.
Hotels and traditional inns in the city have also hosted professional shogi title matches. For shogi enthusiasts, staying in Tendo provides an opportunity to experience the history and culture of the game in a setting closely connected with shogi craftsmanship.
Visitors can also experience Tendo’s shogi culture through Kakikoma, an activity in which participants use a brush to write characters onto a shogi piece. It offers a hands-on introduction to the traditional craft while allowing visitors to create their own unique piece as a souvenir.
At the Tendo City Shogi Museum, visitors can see a variety of shogi pieces created through the skills of local craftsmen and learn more about the long relationship between Tendo and shogi.
In spring, one of the highlights near Tendo Onsen is the weeping cherry trees along the Kuratsu River. During the peak blooming season, the trees are illuminated at night, adding a colorful glow to the hot spring town.
Visitors staying at a ryokan or hotel can enjoy an evening walk beneath the illuminated cherry blossoms, combining a relaxing hot spring stay with the beauty of spring.
From summer through autumn, tourist orchards around Tendo offer a variety of fruit-picking experiences. Seasonal fruits appear in succession, with cherries from around mid-June, grapes from around mid-August, and apples from around late September.
Visitors can enjoy freshly picked fruit while combining the experience with a stay at the hot springs, making it an excellent way to discover Yamagata’s seasonal flavors.
Autumn also brings opportunities to enjoy La France pears, one of Yamagata’s signature fruits. In November, a marathon event featuring an all-you-can-eat La France pear experience is held, creating a distinctive combination of sport and local food culture.
One of the more unusual events associated with Tendo Onsen is the “National Beautiful Lips Contest.” Held from June through September, the event is open to overnight guests at Tendo Onsen regardless of age or gender.
It is a lighthearted activity that visitors can join as a memorable part of their stay, reflecting the friendly and playful character of Tendo’s hot spring town.
Tendo Onsen offers much more than traditional hot spring bathing. Visitors can explore the town on foot while stopping at foot and hand baths, discover Tendo’s long shogi-piece-making tradition, sample seasonal fruits, and enjoy the changing scenery throughout the year.
Each season offers something different, from cherry blossoms in spring to cherries in early summer, grapes and apples in late summer and autumn, and La France pears in autumn.
Tendo Onsen is also a convenient base for visiting nearby destinations such as Yamadera, Wakamatsu-ji Temple, and the Zao Mountains. For travelers looking to experience Yamagata’s hot springs, local culture, seasonal food, and sightseeing at a relaxed pace, Tendo Onsen offers a distinctive and welcoming hot spring-town experience.