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Shin Tamagawa Onsen
forumWhat families say
Rakuten Travel rating 4.42 out of 5 (1,688 reviews). Guests praise both the buffet and the Japanese kaiseki meals, and many describe the acidic onsen as one of a kind and as Japan's most strongly acidic hot spring, with a wide variety of tubs. Some also praise the mountain views from the rooms. On the other hand, guests report that vending machine prices are high and that no water is provided in the room refrigerator, so it is worth bringing drinks with you.
Categories
Kids Facilities
Crayon Shin-chan collaboration room
Crayon Shin-chan collaboration room
- calendar_monthSeason:Seasonal
A single themed room created in collaboration with the family cities project linking Akita, Saitama and Kumamoto. It has panels of the Nohara family and Crayon Shin-chan manga, and when three guests stay, a sofa bed is added. The room is available for a limited period, from April 15 to November 29, 2026, can be booked for one night only, and has child rates.
- •There is only one such room.
- •It can be booked for one night only.
- •For three guests, an extra bed (sofa bed) is added.
Private-hire bath
Private-hire bath
A private onsen for staying guests only, where a family can bathe quietly on their own. The medium and small baths include tubs with 50% source water, which is less stimulating and easier to share with a young child. It is available from 8 a.m. to 8:40 p.m., and you sign up at the front desk when you arrive.
- •A reservation is required; please sign up at the front desk on arrival.
- •Advance reservations by phone or similar are not accepted.
Overview
Shin Tamagawa Onsen is a mountain onsen resort in Tazawako, Akita Prefecture. Its communal bath draws the same strongly acidic spring water as Tamagawa Onsen, and there is also a private-hire bath reserved for staying guests. Handrails and the removal of floor level changes make the building barrier-free, and family-friendly rooms include 8-mat Japanese-style tatami rooms that take from one to five guests. A Crayon Shin-chan collaboration room is available for a limited period, and no bath tax is charged for elementary school children and younger.
Rooms
The inn is divided into Buildings A, B, C and D, with 185 rooms in total. Room types range from singles (17.2 sq m) and twins (21.9 sq m) to 32 sq m wide twins and doubles, as well as Japanese-style tatami rooms of 8 and 10 mats. The 8-mat tatami rooms take from one to five guests and have child rates. The 10-mat tatami room in Building C is described as a room where everyone from couples to families can relax with peace of mind. The Japanese-style twin rooms use low beds with Simmons mattresses, and the renovated double room in Building D has a Simmons king-size bed. Child rates are also set for several other room types, including twins, wide twins and doubles.
Dining
Both dinner and breakfast are served buffet-style, with more than 40 dishes that change daily. More than half of the main dishes are swapped out each day, so the menu stays interesting even on a long stay. Akita specialties such as kiritanpo hot pot and Hinai jidori chicken teppanyaki are popular, and a wide selection of local Akita sake is available. Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with last entry at 7:15 p.m., and breakfast from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., with last entry at 8:30 a.m.
Baths and Onsen
The onsen draws the same spring source as Tamagawa Onsen: strongly acidic water whose main component is hydrochloric acid. The communal bath, built of Aomori hiba wood, has 15 tubs, and because the 100% source-water tub is strongly stimulating, its temperature is kept lukewarm. If you would rather avoid the more stimulating tubs, or you are bathing with a young child, you can also use the private-hire bath, which is reserved for staying guests. The private-hire bath requires a reservation made in person at the front desk on arrival; advance reservations by phone are not accepted.
Family-Friendly Features
A Crayon Shin-chan collaboration room is available for a limited period. Only one such room exists and it can be booked for a single night, from April 15 to November 29, 2026, with panels of the Nohara family and Crayon Shin-chan manga in the room. When three guests stay, a sofa bed is added. The building is barrier-free, with handrails installed and floor level changes removed as far as possible, and wheelchairs are available to borrow, along with Western-style toilets in the guest rooms and wheelchair-accessible toilets. Bath tax is 150 yen per adult per night and is free for elementary school children and younger.
Access
In summer, from late April to late November, you can reach the inn by private car, taxi or public bus. In winter, from December to late April, snow brings traffic restrictions and the only access is by public bus departing from Tazawako Station. By train, take the Akita Shinkansen to Tazawako Station, then a public bus from in front of the station, which takes about an hour each way and costs 1,700 yen. Parking is free, and in winter free parking is also provided near Tazawako Station.
Access & Information
| location_onAddress | Tamagawa, Tazawako, Semboku-shi, Akita 014-1205 |
|---|---|
| directions_carAccess | If you are setting a car navigation system, please use the phone number 0187-58-3100. |
| trainNearest station | Tazawako Station |
| local_parkingParking | Parking is available free of charge. In winter, free parking is also available near Tazawako Station; please contact the hotel if you would like to use it. |
| callPhone | +81-187-58-3100 |
| paymentsCards | VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UC, NICOS, Mastercard |
| languageOfficial site | https://www.shintamagawa.jp/open_in_new |
Reference price as of August 22, 2026 (stay date 2026-09-12). Please check the booking site for actual rates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What rooms suit a family with children?
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The 8-mat Japanese-style tatami rooms take from one to five guests and have child rates. The 10-mat tatami room in Building C is described as a room where everyone from couples to families can relax with peace of mind, and child rates are also set for several other room types, including twins, wide twins and doubles.
Can we bathe with a young child?
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The onsen is strongly acidic, and the 100% source-water tub in the communal bath is kept lukewarm because it is strongly stimulating. If you would rather avoid the more stimulating tubs, or you are bathing with a small child, you can use the private-hire bath for staying guests, where the medium and small baths include tubs with 50% source water.
How do we reserve the private-hire bath?
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Sign up at the front desk when you arrive. Advance reservations by phone or similar are not accepted, and the bath is available from 8 a.m. to 8:40 p.m.
Is bath tax charged for children?
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Bath tax is 150 yen per adult per night, and it is free for elementary school children and younger.
How do we get there in winter?
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From December to late April, snow brings traffic restrictions and the only access is by public bus departing from Tazawako Station; the ride takes about an hour each way and costs 1,700 yen. From late April to late November you can also come by private car or taxi. Free parking is provided near Tazawako Station in winter.
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Information on this page was compiled by directly consulting Official website, Rakuten Travel, Jalan (last verified: August 2026). Prices, availability and seasonal operations change — please check each booking site for the latest information.
We take care to keep information accurate, but always confirm the latest details on the hotel's official site and booking sites before you book or visit.