Ginzan Onsen

Common card · No. 469560

Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉) is an onsen (hot spring) area in Obanazawa, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Its name means "silver mine hot spring". Ginzan Onsen's economy grew due to silver mining and production and eventually transitioned to tourism when it opened dozens of hot spring resorts and ryokan along the central river that runs through the town. The mountains that surround this town yield rich hot spring water that is used both in the private hotels and public baths in the city centre. The centre of town is a pedestrian-only district. After nightfall, the bridges and streets are lit by gaslight. In the winter Ginzan Onsen receives heavy snow. On the far side of town a 22-foot waterfall, Shirogane-no-Taki Falls, emerges from the mountains not far from the old silver mine, Nobesawa Ginzan. Internationally, this town saw a sharp rise in foreign tourism thanks to the famous snow-covered sights in the winter. There are no modern buildings within the town, the architecture is constructed from bare...

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