About Kamasaki Onsen

Located in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, Kamasaki Onsen is known for the saying “Kizu ni Kamasaki” (“For wounds, Kamasaki”), and has long been beloved by toji (hot spring cure) visitors throughout Japan as the “Medicinal Hot Spring of Ou (Tohoku region).”
Its history dates back to the 15th century, when villagers digging in the mountains discovered a natural hot spring. Because it was unearthed with the tip of a sickle (in Japanese, kama means “sickle” and saki means “tip”), it came to be called Kamasaki Onsen.
About a century later, in the 16th century, Ichijo Ichibee—who had once served as a guest retainer of Imagawa Yoshimoto—arrived in the area after leaving Kyoto. He praised the spring highly, declaring it “equal to the famous Arima Onsen,” and with the support of local residents, became the yunushi (hot spring master). Investing his own resources, he began managing the onsen, laying the foundations for today’s Yunushi Ichijo Ryokan.
Kamasaki Onsen was also cherished by samurai. Records show that Date Masamune and Katakura Kojūro bathed here, and documents from the Ichijo family confirm that successive lords of the Sendai Domain visited for bathing (go-nyuto). By the 17th century Edo period, its reputation had spread widely, attracting visitors from afar. People suffering from injuries or illnesses came to seek its healing waters, giving rise to the phrase, “For wounds, Kamasaki.”

With a history of over 500 years, Yunushi Ichijo is the flagship ryokan of Kamasaki Onsen. The inn offers refined Japanese hospitality on a global scale, with staff members who can communicate in English and Chinese. Some staff have even won the gold prize in Japan’s leading hospitality competition.
Its cuisine and services have been highly acclaimed, earning numerous prestigious awards, including:
・★★★+ (Three Red Pavilions) in the Michelin Guide Miyagi
・High-rating award from JTB (over 90 points in guest evaluations)
・1st place in Jalan.net’s “Best Inns to Stay” ranking
・Rakuten Travel Award – “Customer’s Voice Grand Prize, Tohoku Region”
These accolades underscore Yunushi Ichijo’s reputation as one of Japan’s finest ryokan experiences.

Carrying on its centuries-old tradition of hospitality, Yunushi Ichijo has opened a new chapter with the creation of THE YUKAWA, located near Kamasaki Onsen on the banks of the serene Yukawa River, embraced by lush forests and nature.
This untouched natural setting, where the Yukawa flows gently, provides the stage for a next-generation luxury ryokan—one that fuses 500 years of hospitality with contemporary sensibilities.
The Yukawa River, whose name literally means “hot water river,” is believed to carry purifying energy, with a constant flow of vital ki (spiritual energy). Breathing deeply in this atmosphere, guests feel both mind and body cleansed.
All guest suites feature river-view terraces facing the Yukawa. Opening the windows invites the refreshing breeze of the forest, while stepping onto the terrace offers an immersive sense of being enveloped by nature. Here, surrounded by pure air and abundant natural energy, guests can fully restore both body and spirit, savoring an exceptional and transformative stay.