Onsen Attractions and Events
Kamesei Ryokan is located in the Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen spa town. The
streets of the town are nice and flat, and beckon exploration to see
the many spots of natural beauty and historical interest. In the evening,
guests are encouraged to slip on a pair of wooden geta sandals and wander
the souvenir shops, bars, karaoke clubs and ramen stands, and stop for
a fun game of shateki at a shooting gallery.
HISTORY OF THE SPA Togura-Kamiyada lies on the banks of the Chikuma River.
The origin of the hot springs dates back over one hundred years and the
spa has flourished as a place of lodging on the pilgrimage route to Zenkoji
Temple in Nagano City, with its waters known as gShojin Otoshi no Yuh (spiritually
purifying water). With a total of 54 springs, the spa is blessed with bountiful
amounts of mineral water, and is considered gtop classh within Nagano Prefecture.
The hot springs mineral content is primarily pure sulfur, and the water
is colorless and clear, and has a faint sulfur smell. It contains elements
that soften Keratin proteins, and is said to be good for skin diseases.
Furthermore, the hot spring water is soft on the skin, and gives a moist,
velvety feel to the skin -- it is known as gBijin no Yuh (beauty water)
and is popular with women. In addition, sulfur springs act to widen the
capillaries and thus improve blood circulation. It is effective for burns,
skin diseases, rheumatism, neuralgia, sore neck, back pain, beriberi disease,
bronchitis, adult illnesses, sterility, anemia, hemorrhoids, cuts, etc.,
a wide variety of illnesses, and if drunken, acts to detoxify poisons.