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[Kitami Onsen (Ponyu Onsen)] Day Trip Onsen and Hot Springs with Smooth and Slippery Touch Can Be Enjoyed at Sanko-so

March 27th, 2015

CONTENTS

Kitami Onsen (Ponyu Onsen)
List of Day Trip Onsen
- Sanko-so
List of Accommodations

Kitami Onsen (Ponyu Onsen)

Kitami Onsen (Ponyu Onsen) is a hot spring place in Rubeshibe-cho, Kitami city located in the northwestern part of Kitami city. Sanko-so (三光荘) is built along Kitami National Route (北見国道 * National Route 38), and it is adjacent to Kitami Onsen Golf Course (北見温泉ゴルフ場). The distance is around 1 km from the center of the Rubeshibe to here, and there are restaurants and convenience stores in the center of the Rubeshibe. Speaking of the Rubeshibe, Onneyu Onsen is famous. There are Road Station "Onneyu Onsen" (道の駅おんねゆ温泉), Yamano Aquarium (山の水族館), Norh Fox Ranch (北きつね牧場) and Tsutsuji Park (つつじ公園). In addition, this district is a white runner bean‐producing center, and White Runner Bean Mousse (白花豆ムース) is famous, too. By the way, Tasty restaurants in the Rubeshibe, Kaneshime (加根志め) that is famous for Tower Tendon is popular in particular.

Ponyu Sanko-so, Kitami Onsen(Ponyu) — Signboard

As for the Ponyu Onsen (ポンユ温泉), Ainu people found a hot spring gushing out place, and built an onsen hut in 1890. The Ponyu means small onsen in Ainu language. Mr. Manzo Kawaharada (河原田万蔵) took over a right of the onsen from the Ainu peolpe in 1897, and built an onsen inn named "Momijiyama Onsen" (紅葉山温泉) next year. After that, some owners changed, its onsen was renamed "Kitami Onsen Sanko-so" in 1957, and up to now. The hot springs are Simple alkaline hot spring, and ph is around 9.5, so those have smooth and slippery touch. Soft springs with abundant nature’s beauty mineral like sulfur have a good reputation.

Yamano Aquarium

Yamano Aquarium (山の水族館) is a small aquarium beside Roadside Station "Onneyu Onsen" (道の駅おんねゆ温泉) near Onneyu Onsen (温根湯温泉) in Rubeshibe located in the west part of Kitami city, and was named because only freshwater fishes are displayed (* the Yamano Aquarium means "An aquarium in a mountain" in English). Another name is Aquarium in Northland (北の大地の水族館). The aquarium is famous for a success story. It was renewed and designed by Mr. Hajime Nakamura (中村元), only aquarium producer in Japan, and has became a popular tourist attraction since 2012. The aquarium once had about 20,000 visitors, but about 300,000 visitors come at present. Admission is JPY 670. A parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

White Runner Bean Mousse

Fujiya Confectionery (ふじや菓子舗) is a long-established confectionary in Onneyu Onsen (温根湯温泉), Rubeshibe-cho located in the western part of Kitami city and was founded in 1932. As for white runner bean, Rubeshibe-cho has been the top produce in Japan. Therefore they has been producing cakes using the white runner bean since the old days. Because I heard that one of the cakes, white runner bean mousse (白花豆ムース) were famous, I visited here to purchase it. The price was JPY 290. Article is here

KITAMI

Kitami (北見) that about 120,000 people live is the 9th largest commercial city in Hokkaido, and is one of regional hub cities of the Northeastern Hokkaido area. The Kitami became incorporated with Rubeshibe town (留辺蘂), Tanno town (端野) and Tokoro town (常呂) in 2006, and has became the largest city by area in the Hokkaido. In Japan, it is the 4th latgest city by the area. The Kitami is also an agriculture city, and Onion and White Runner Bean are famous as a local product. As for a climate, it is hot that temperature rises to nearly 30 degrees in a summer, and it is cold that temperature falls to nearly -25 degrees in a winter, and it snow hard, too. Article is here

List of Day Trip Onsen

Visitors can take a day trip bath at the Sanko-so.

Sanko-so

Sanko-so is a small-sized long-established onsen ryokan founded in 1898, and is popular with local poeple and onsen fans, and owns hot spring sources, and is well-known for enjoying free flowing hot springs. The appearance and the interior decoration of the building is very shibui, and it has a historical atmosphere. An entrance fee to a bath facility is JPY 500. A staying is possible, too.

There are 2 indoor baths and 1 cascading bath at a public bathhouse. The sunny tiled bathroom is small but cozy. A conbinatoion of white tiles and sky blue tiles is good. Each indoor baths use different hot spring sources, 100% natural free flowing (1)(2) hot springs.

The large indoor bath is the size that about 12 people can take a size, and uses (2) hot springs. Water temperature is around 43 C. A whirlpool bath is set at the bath, too. The small indoor bath is the size that about 4 people can take a bath, and uses (1) hot springs that have been used by the Ainu people. Water temperature is around 36 C. The cascading bath is beside the bath. The small indoor bath is suitable for taking a long bath. A local people enjoyed a long bathing when I visited here. By the way, the hot springs are used as hot water of showers and faucets at wash places.

Ph of the hot springs is 9.6, and it has very smooth and slippery touch. Because fresh hot springs are overflowing freely from the baths, even the marble of the bath edge is very slippery. I slipped, and almost falled down. Everyone, be careful for falling down.

The hot springs are (1)(2)simple alkaline hot spring, and are clear and colorless and have sulfur taste and slightly sulfur smell. A drinking hot spring facility is provided, too, and the hot springs are drinkable. But It has no effect. The sum total of the hot spring ingredients are (1) 0.358 g/kg and (2) 0.347 g/kg. Shampoos and body soaps are provided at the bathhouse. A restroom and free hair dryers are installed at a dressing room.

Atmosphere of Kitami Onsen (Ponyu Onsen) Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Kitami Onsen (Ponyu Onsen)

Types of Hot Springs	(1)Simple alkaline hot spring (Type: Alkaline, Osmotic Pressure: Low, Spring Temperature Type: Hot spring) (2)Simple alkaline hot spring (Type: Alkaline, Osmotic Pressure: Low, Spring Temperature Type: Hot spring)
Water temperature of Hot Spring Source	(1)38 C (2)43 C
ph	(1)9.6 (2)9.6
Indications	Neuralgia, Muscular pain, Arthralgia, Frozen shoulder, Motor paralysis, Tightening of the joint, Bruise, Sprain, Relieving fatigue, Chronic digestive diseases, Hemorrhoid, Cold sensitivity, Convalescent convalescence, Healthy increase
Contraindications	Acute disease(when there is the heat in particular), Active tuberculosis, Malignant tumor, Severe heart disease, Respiratory failure, Renal insufficiency, Hemorrhagic disease, High anemia, Other diseases during condition of a patient progress generally
Indications of drinking	Nothing
Facilities	Indoor bath(3). * Sex-Segregated Bathhouse.
Entrance fee to the bath facility	Adult: JPY 500. Child: JPY 150.
Business hours	09:00-21:30
Regular closing day	Irregular closing day
Parking lot	A free parking is provided (10 cars)
Telephone number	+81-157-42-2288
Home page	Home page is here
Reservation	Jalan is here, Rakuten is here
Mapcode	402 737 104*38