Yagen Valley

Much of the Shimokita Peninsula is sparsely inhabited due to its remote, rugged terrain. No exception, the Yagen Valley (–òŒ¤Œk—¬, Yagen Keiryū) in the middle of the peninsula is a quiet, isolated area offering hiking, hot springs and little else.

Two of the Yagen Valley's hot spring baths are named after the kappa, a mythical Japanese animal, that lives in ponds, rivers and lakes and tends to be somewhat devious; its favorite snack is small children. However, kappa are not really evil, just a bit mischievous. They can be persuaded to exchange a meal of children for a cucumber, another favored snack. In fact, the Japanese word for a sushi roll filled with cucumber is kappamaki due to the kappa's love of the vegetable.

The two kappa baths are located in the Oku-Yagen area ("Inner Yagen Valley") in the back of the valley, facing the river and offering pleasant views. The Meoto Kappa no Yu offers open-air, gender-segregated baths and comes with changing room facilities and a small restaurant. The Kappa no Yu is equipped with a roof and changing room facilities. Formerly mixed, the pool now changes between women-only and men-only every two hours.

Hiking is also possible in the Yagen Valley. Easy paths take hikers along the riverside and through some of the old growth forest. There are only a few lodging options in the valley, and they include small ryokan and minshuku (small inns).