Brompton Winter Snow Ride to Hot Sprin

Brompton's snow ride toward hot spring in the mountain valley. I went to famous Kita Onsen (North Hot Spring) where some of the impressive scenes in the movie "THERMÆ ROMÆ" were taken. I used a pair of stud tyres Schwalbe Winter for the ride. The original plan was RIDE&HIKE to the mount Chausu, one of the peaks of Nasu Mountain but I was not able to the trailhead due to heavy snow on the road. Instead, I visited Kita Onsen to enjoy atmosphere of an isolated hot spring in the snow valley. 

Equipments: 

Brompton M6L-X w/Schwalbe Winter 

Brompton Rucksack 

Gopro　Hero7 

Asics GEL-Trabuco 12 GTX 

Monbell Compact Snow Spike 

Monbell Drytec Easyfit Spatz

Brompton snow ride in Mt. Hakkoda, Aomori prifecture.

Brompton and I went out for a snow ride in Mt. Hakkoda. Mt. Hakkoda, situated at the northern end of Japan's main island, is famous for terrible snow storm in winter. 

In order to ride on the snow road, Brompton was equipped with Schwalbe Winter, a pair of 16-inch stud tires.

Arriving at Aomori airport, I hurried up to Sukayu hot spring lodge by car. 

Sukayu is famous for deep snow, usually reaches 3 to 5 meters in winter. Snowfall beyond 1 meter over night is quite common here. Snowfall recorded 538 cm high in one day on Feb. 26, 2013. A good place to experience a snow adventure as well as nice hot spring.

The lodge is a historic hot spring accommodating people for the past 200 years.

Sukayu lodge preserves its historic wooden bath house and bath tab.  Hot spring here is extremely fresh because it directly comes out from the bottom of bath tab. Yes, the bath house is build just on the natural hot spring.

Let's go out for a snow ride! Please watch a movie below.

While road was completely covered with snow, Schwalbe winter tires ensure a comfortable ride.

However, it's too cold. Strong snow storm blew with wind speed of over 10 meters per second.

Due to deep snow, I can't continue to ride any more. I started to push Brompton.

Finally Brompton and I arrived the distination, Hakkoda Hotel. 

Receptionist opened the door to invite me in.

I had a lunch reservation at the main dining.

Wonderful meals awaited me. bon appetit.

Brompton hill climb: Ubayu Hot Spring in Yamagata Prefecture

Last Sunday I climbed up toward the end of the mountain trail in another part of Azuma Mountain Range located over Northeast Japan to enjoy hot spring which has cured local people for 500 years.  The name of the hot spring is "Ubayu Onsen". Ubayu's Uba means a mountain witch and Yu means hot spring. 

The hill climb ride is supposed to be  8.45 km in distance and 527 meters to ascend.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7516310950

Early in the morning I took a bullet train from Tokyo to Fukushima Station to change to a local railway running through mountain range between Fukushima Prefecture and Yamagata prefecture.

Local railway line starts at Fukushima station to go through a dozen of tunnels and bridges in the deep mountain range.

Finally arriving in Toge Station. The name "Toge" literary means "Mountain Pass" in Japanese. Very simple name because the station is located just on the Pass. The station was built in the age of steam for switch-backs to tackle one of Japan's toughest climbing railway routes; even after electrification for a while (now the yamagata Shinkansen and local trains run without switch-backs.)

Brompton and I started from Toge Station. The trail continues narrow and steep but I can enjoy such a view everywhere.

The trees provide shades all the way through Ubayu hot spring.

The slope is getting steeper grade in the last half way to the destination.

Still 2 kilo meters to go.

Experiencing extra steep slope of 22%.

Even a wagon vehicle struggles at one of the sharp bends with extreme slope.

Suddenly the valley of the hot spring appears in my sight. Famous Ubayu hot spring comes from that half-cup crater.

Upon arrival, I checked in at Ubayu Hot Spring Inn for bathing. It only costs 600 Japanese yen. (approx. 5 US dollars)

What fresh hot water it is!

The location is dynamic. It is surrounded by a trace of large scale volcanic eruption of 15,000 years ago. Volcano is still active. Hot water gushes out from the naked mountain surface. The hot spring is bluish white and smells like sulfur. 

Lying on the shallows of this hot spring pool and looking up a volcanic crater. It's nice and healing.

It was a great day in fall after hard hill climb ride with Brompton to be soaked and healed in the best "hidden bath" ever.

 

Brompton hill climb: Nuruyu Hot Spring in Fukushima Prefecture

 Last Sunday I climbed up toward the end of the mountain trail in Azuma Mountain Range located over Northeast Japan to enjoy hot spring which has cured local people for 300 years.

The name of the hot spring is "Nuruyu Onsen". Nuruyu means relatively low temperature water of about 30-40 degree Celsius. 

The hill climb ride is supposed to be 9.5 km in distance and 762 meters to ascend.

[data]

Distance 9.51 km

Time 1:18:43

Average Speed 7.2 km/h

Total Ascend 762 m

Equipment M6L-X 38T chainring

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7472747300

An hour later, I reached Nuruyu Onsen Nikaido Inn. The historic buildings are registered tangible cultural property.

A lovely cat welcomed me and Brompton.

The hot spring is famous for curing. The spring directly comes from the earth beside the bath house. It is not at all oxidized, very fresh hot water. Japanese hot spring enthusiasts believe that fresh onsen maximizes efficacy to cure  illness, injury and fatigue.

Wow. Nuruyu of 31.8 degree Celsius cools my overheated legs and cures muscle pain.

On the way down, I looked over Mt. Azuma, beautifully sitting there with the September blue sky. It is one of the best rides after my return to Japan.

Why not to go to the beautiful Tohoku, Japan, with Brompton

Let's go to the beautiful Tohoku, Japan, with your Brompton. There are full of wonderful culture, beautiful nature and fantastic hot springs.

All of Tohoku has already recovered from the disaster. You can see beauty of Zao Ski Resort, a Lake Inawashiro, a modest factory of traditional red cow toys in Aizu, an atelier workshop of Mage-wappa lunch boxes in Akita, Nyuto Onsen hot springs and Sanriku Kaigan, all of where I frequently visited to be moved.


The following link shows you one of the best hot springs in Tohoku.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ONSEN IN JAPAN | Tsuru no Yu 

Related Brompton Anywhere articles:
Secret springs hunting before summer is over in Hachimantai (vol.2)
Secret springs hunting before summer is over in Hachimantai
Hot spring experience after a volcanic mount trail ride
Go over the ridge again: Tsuchiyu Pass
Nyuto Onsen Hot Spring
Ubayu Hot Spring - An ultimate onsen

Let's go to Nakabusa Hot Spring for a snow ride and downhill

Yesterday I went to Nakabusa Hot Spring for a snow ride and downhill with Brompton equipped with Scwalbe Winter, a pair of 16-inch stud tires. 

Nakabusa Hot Spring is known as a lodge with an abundant hot spring yield. The lodge has 16 independent hot spring heads and wells, the largest number among hot spring lodges in Japan. Behind the Lodge there was Yakeyama, meaning burning mountain, where geothermal power is great and everyone can steam egg, potato and other food just by burying things. Nakabusa Hot Spring is also famous as one of the bases of trekking and climbing for the North Alps of Japan. The lodge is located at the trail head for Tsubakuro-dake (Mt. Swallow). 

During winter  it completely becomes isolated from outside due to road closure. Those who want to climb Tsubakuro-dake (Mt. Swallow) during winter or who want to experience the hot spring need to start from the closed Miyagi Gate to go for 4-hour walk to reach the trail head or Nakabusa Hot Spring Lodge.

But I have come across a good idea. Why don't use a bike with stud tires instead of walking a distance of 12 km? Though the closed road may covered by snow, Brompton and I can go through it by using Schwalbe Winter Tires with studs.


[data]
route: JR Azumioiwake Station (551m above the sea-level) to Nakabusa Hot Spring (1,462m)
distance: 17.6km 
duration: 3 and half hours
max. difference of an elevation: 910m
average % of slope: total 5.1% ascent 6.5% descent 5.6%
acquired elevation: ascent 952m descent 48m

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zVh_vanqLQwc.kucNwk0f5oF4&usp=sharing

It was a first time use of the Schwalbe Winter 16 inch tires this season. Last year I used them several times and were perfect but I was a bit concerned with the condition of this challenging route. Nakabusa Hot Spring is located at 1,500 meters above the sea level. The last few miles might be snow-covered. 

Early in the morning I arrived in JR Azumioiwake where was the nearest station of Nakabusa Hot Spring though it was still 17 km away to go and about 1,000 meters to ascend.

I unfolded my Brompton and left the station at 7:30 am when rain changed into snow flakes. 

On the way to the hot spring, Brompton and I got through the gate of Ariake Shrine whose god was Mt. Ariake of 2,268 meters. The road to Nakabusa shares the way to Ariake Shrine.

30 minutes later, we were arriving at Miyagi Gate which is closed for cars due to snow during winter. Only hikers and bikes can go.

Brompton and I entered the world of monochrome.

Snow coverage gradually increased as an elevation rose.

The road was completely covered by snow beyond 1,000 meter high. It was too cold to use iPhone.... My iPhone 5S suddenly shut down due to extremely low temperature for its battery when I took it out from my pocket to share a snow road view with my Brompton friends....

While it was too cold for iPhone, I was sweating a lot as the steep hill with more than 10% slope continued. 

Before I knew it, the sun started to shine. The weather report was correct.

However, snow was getting more and more. 

At last Brompton and I were approaching the hot spring.

A little before noon, we reached Nakabusa Hot Spring.

It's time to dip myself into hot spring. I hurried to an open air bath first. Look! In the center, there was a rock-build spout. Because of high temperature over 90 degree centigrade of hot spring, it is necessary to pour it down from the top of the tower to the tub in order to cool down to about 40-43 degree.

It was wonderful experience to look over the mountain and blue sky when bathing.

I noticed that I was thirsty. Let's drink a bottle of S. Pellegrino as usual.

2 pm. It was about time to go down the mountain. People in the lodge gathered to say good bye to Brompton and me. A tiny snowman also made farewell to me. Thanks and see you again!

Brompton and I started downhill. It was already obscured in the Nakabusa Valley because of its deepness. 

Sunset was earlier in this season. Brompton and I needed to hurry but care. The temperature was below zero. A pair of the Schwalbe Winter tires provided excellent grip and control on the icy snow road. Perfect! But I needed to control the speed and must be careful of using brake. 

The beauty of the monochrome color again. Brompton in the world of "Frozen".

Due to the low temperature and snow fall, the Brompton looked like a cake covered with sugar powder.

The road surface was frozen like mirror. I needed to ride carefully even with the Schwalbe Winter.

Continued downhill. I was able to see the end of the Nakabusa Valley from the cleavage. There was sufficient sunlight outside the valley. I still have a couple of time before the sunset.

When I looked up, there was Mt. Ariake, wearing cotton clouds. It was beautiful.

We arrived at the station. Let's go home for dinner.

It was a great ride with the Schwalbe Winter in this season. The performance was perfect even under tough conditions of the hilly road with snow and ice.