Miyakami: Literature, Hot Springs and Crafts

Miyakami can be explored through a range of themes: literary traces in Manyo Park, bathing and café offerings, pottery and wagashi experiences, and nature in the broader Oku-Yugawara travel area. If you’re looking for a hotel in Miyakami, these varied interests can help guide your travel plans.

Literary Traces in Manyo Park

A passage from Kunikida Doppo’s work “Yugawara-yuki” is engraved on a monument in Manyo Park. Another stone monument commemorates the only poem in the Manyoshu that celebrates a hot spring. The park is also home to Kumano Shrine, also known as Yugongen and revered locally as the shrine of the hot springs. Literary references and a local religious tradition stand side by side here.

Day Baths, Books and a Café

Yugawara Soyu Books and Retreat is located in Manyo Park and comprises two areas with different offerings: the Soyu Terrace day-bathing facility and the Genkan Terrace café area. You can use the Genkan Terrace free of charge. It offers book lending, a café serving light meals such as sandwiches, and a coworking area.

The Soyu Terrace offers spring-fed baths, including two open-air baths, and a lounge. Meals featuring seasonal ingredients are also available; plans that include a meal come with complimentary drinks. The offerings are distinct: the Genkan Terrace brings together books, a café and coworking, while the Soyu Terrace focuses on day bathing and meals. Check the latest operating details and information about meals and plans before your visit.

Pottery and Confectionery Crafts

do陶芸館 offers one-day pottery experiences and classes in both traditional and contemporary techniques. A one-day course is a practical way to try pottery during your trip. If you’d like to take part, confirm the current booking arrangements in advance.

At Mirakuan, you can make seasonal wagashi by reservation. Sessions are held twice a day, in the morning and afternoon, except on Tuesdays. Visits to the factory and art confectionery gallery are also free of charge. The gallery also displays a reconstructed Jinsha, a human-powered railcar considered the model for Ryūnosuke Akutagawa’s short story “Torokko.” Mirakuan’s Mikan Monaka is a confectionery specialty designated by Kanagawa Prefecture; availability may vary. Check workshop reservations, access to the visits, and product availability in advance.

Nature and the Seasons in Oku-Yugawara

The broader Oku-Yugawara travel area is a hot-spring destination by a stream, with inns steeped in tradition. Camellias bloom there in spring, while the foliage turns red in autumn. For autumn scenery, explore the trails in the Amateruyama and Ikemine areas, as well as Momiji-no-sato. The Ikemine Trail is in Oku-Yugawara; these routes and scenic spots are part of the wider area and should not be confused with the places in Manyo Park.

Oku-Yugawara also broadens the literary picture beyond Miyakami: the area is associated with Hideo Kobayashi, Chiyo Uno and Fumiko Hayashi. For getting around the region, a bus runs from JR Yugawara toward Oku-Yugawara. The trip to Oku-Yugawara-Iriguchi or the terminus at Oku-Yugawara takes about 16 minutes. If you plan to use this service, check the timetable in advance.

For the broader travel overview: Yugawara.