The source of life of Wakura Onsen is revived – the next step with water supply

Due to the damage caused by the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the supply of hot springs from the source of Wakura Onsen (Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture) was stopped, but on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 16, 2024, hot water began to gush out from the source. (Past photo: Wakura Onsen Yumoto Square)

Wakura Onsen is an old hot spring resort with a history of about 1,200 years, and is one of the leading hot spring resorts on the Noto Peninsula, visited by about 800,000 tourists every year. Due to the earthquake, about 2,700 reservations were canceled at 22 ryokan that are members of the Wakura Onsen Tourism Association, and the water supply is still cut off.

Currently, most of the inns are closed due to the earthquake, but some inns accept contractors involved in the restoration work as guests. Stakeholders are hoping to see the revival of this source as a sign of hope.

Koizumi, president of Wakura Onsen Joint Stock Company, which manages the hot springs, told a TV station, "It's okay because there are hot hot springs, and if the water supply comes, more inns will be able to resume business." Residents who are also involved in urban development who have visited the source of the hot spring say that "hot springs are life for Wakura, and we will do our best to restore them."