Arakawa Gorge Hot Springs

A hot spring resort located in the upper reaches of the Arakawa River in Sekikawa Village, Iwafune County, Niigata Prefecture. It is a collective term for four hot springs: Yuzawa, Takase, Kira, and Takanosu. Its base is Echigo-Shimonoseki Station on the JR Yonesaka Line, and the three hot springs of Kira, Takase, and Yuzawa at the valley's mouth are close to each other on both banks of the Arakawa River. Yuzawa Onsen and Takase Onsen on the right bank are long-standing therapeutic hot springs. Kira Onsen is a modern hot spring town developed after World War II on the left bank. Takanosu Onsen, located in the Arakawa Gorge about four kilometers upstream, is the center of gorge exploration and also has a campsite, making it a base for hiking. Currently, the fifth hot spring to be opened, Katsuranoseki Onsen, has been added, and tourism is being promoted under the name Echigo Sekikawa Onsenkyo.

[Hisao Yamazaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

新潟県岩船(いわふね)郡関川村(せきかわむら)の荒川上流にある温泉郷。湯沢、高瀬、雲母(きら)、鷹ノ巣(たかのす)の4温泉の総称。JR米坂(よねさか)線の越後下関(えちごしもせき)駅が基地で、谷口の雲母、高瀬、湯沢の3温泉は荒川両岸に近接する。右岸の湯沢温泉、高瀬温泉は古くからの湯治場。雲母温泉は左岸に第二次世界大戦後開発された近代的温泉街。4キロメートルほど上流の荒川峡谷内にある鷹ノ巣温泉は、峡谷探勝の中心でキャンプ場もあり、ハイキングの基地をなす。現在は5番目に開かれた桂の関温泉(かつらのせきおんせん)を加えてえちごせきかわ温泉郷の名で観光PRを図っている。

［山崎久雄］

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