Discover Iwami: Hot Spring Traditions and Culture

Iwami appeals to travelers who want to learn about a hot spring resort through its history and culture as well. Iwai Onsen dates back 1,300 years and is one of the oldest hot springs in the San'in region. The town's history also includes the inns 岩井屋 and 明石家. Each has its own distinctive features: at 岩井屋, the hot spring water takes center stage, while 明石家 is known for its traditional wooden construction and connection to literary history.

Hot Spring History and Spring Water

At 岩井ゆかむり温泉, the spring water emerges at a temperature of 47.6 °C at one corner of the parking lot. The water in the bathing pool reaches a comfortable temperature. This communal bath is supplied entirely by natural spring water. The source and the pool therefore provide two different points of reference for describing the water: its temperature as it emerges and its comfortable warmth in the bathing pool.

The name ゆかむり温泉 also points to a traditional bathing culture. The custom known as 湯かむり is associated with 岩井温泉: a towel is placed on the head, and hot water is scooped up with a ladle and poured over the head. This tradition adds a cultural perspective on bathing to the information about the spring.

At the inn 岩井屋, the hot spring water for the bath 長寿の湯 emerges directly from beneath the laid pine boards. This bath was included in the selection of Japan's 100 famous hot springs. The distinction applies to 長寿の湯. Along with the spring at 岩井ゆかむり温泉, this example shows that Iwami's hot spring history cannot be told through just one spring or one bath.

Inns and Architectural History

明石家 is a three-story Japanese wooden inn that has been in existence for 300 years. The writer Shimazaki Tōson stayed there. The building is thus connected both to traditional wooden construction and to a specific literary biography. At 岩井屋, meanwhile, the bath 長寿の湯 is a defining part of the inn's traditional account. These different connections help place the inns within the town's history without reducing them to one shared feature.

Another perspective on architectural history comes from the former school building 旧岩井小学校校舎. Built in 1892, it is considered the oldest building in the pseudo-Western style in Tottori Prefecture. Its architectural features include a second-floor balcony, an entrance portico, and decorative roof cornices. The former school building is also known as a filming location for the movie “第七官界彷徨─尾崎翠を探して”.

Shrine and Regional Setting

Nearby, 御湯神社 enshrines 御井神, the son of Ōkuninushi and Yagami-hime, as well as Ōnamuchi, another name for Ōkuninushi, and Yagami-hime. The shrine is regarded as the guardian shrine of Iwai Onsen. In the wider regional context, the Uradome Coast area of the San'in Kaigan Geopark includes Iwai Onsen as well as the coastal stretch. This makes it possible to distinguish the local bathing tradition, nearby religious connections, and the broader geopark region.

Discover more destinations: Sakaiminato, Yonago, Tottori, Kurayoshi.

For the main travel overview: Tottori Prefecture.