Iide Onsen

Iide Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture takes its name from Mt. Iide (Iide-san)—one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains (Nihon Hyakumeizan), a majestic volcanic peak on the border between Yamagata, Fukushima, and Niigata prefectures whose ancient beech forests, alpine wetlands, and exceptional flower meadows have made it one of the most beloved and botanically celebrated of Tohoku's mountain destinations. Simple alkaline waters provide the restorative mineral soak that complements a mountain hiking experience at the base of one of Tohoku's most biologically diverse peaks, where the seasonal explosion of alpine flowers in late spring and summer attracts naturalists from across Japan. The simple alkaline character of the spring matches the uncomplicated natural grandeur of the mountain for which it is named—a spring of straightforward mineral warmth that honors the unadorned magnificence of one of Tohoku's most celebrated volcanic summits.