Complete Guide to Yakushi’s Clear Water|Famous Water Spot at Murasugi Hot Spring in Niigata and Historic Garden in Itabashi Ward
What is Yakushi’s Clear Water
“Yakushi’s Clear Water” is a name that exists for multiple famous water and spring water spots throughout Japan. The most famous are the spring water known as one of the “Seven Clear Waters of Gozu” in Murasugi Hot Spring in Agano City, Niigata Prefecture, and the clear water related to the “Yakushi Spring Garden” in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo.
Both are named after their connection to “Yakushi Nyorai” (Medicine Buddha), and have a history of being cherished by local people since ancient times. This article provides detailed explanations of these two “Yakushi’s Clear Waters,” including their characteristics, history, access methods, and nearby tourist attractions.
Yakushi’s Clear Water in Murasugi Hot Spring, Agano City, Niigata Prefecture
What are the Seven Clear Waters of Gozu
At the foot of Mount Gozu in Agano City, Niigata Prefecture, seven famous waters known as “Seven Clear Waters of Gozu” are scattered throughout the area. Yakushi’s Clear Water is one of them, a natural spring water that flows out in the Murasugi Hot Spring area. Mount Gozu has been worshipped as a sacred mountain since ancient times, and the clear water flowing from its foothills has been treasured as a valuable water resource for the region and as an object of faith.
Characteristics of Yakushi’s Clear Water at Murasugi Hot Spring
Yakushi’s Clear Water at Murasugi Hot Spring is located up a slope beside the public bath “Yakushi no Yu.” It flows out from the base of a giant cedar tree, a spot where one can feel the strength of nature.
The spring water maintains high transparency throughout the year, with cool, clear water flowing continuously. Since ancient times, local people have used this water as drinking water, and it has become an element that enhances the appeal of Murasugi Hot Spring when combined with the hot spring itself.
Location and Access
Address: 4627 Murasugi, Agano City, Niigata Prefecture (across from Yakushi no Ashiyu)
Access Methods:
- Approximately 15 minutes by car from “Mizuhara Station” on the JR Uetsu Main Line
- Approximately 20 minutes by car from “Yasuda IC” on the Bandai Expressway
- Approximately 40 minutes by car from central Niigata City
Located in the center of Murasugi Hot Spring town, it is easy to stop by when staying at a hot spring inn. It is in an easy-to-find location across from Yakushi no Ashiyu (foot bath), making it easy to include in a hot spring sightseeing course.
Tourist Attractions Around Murasugi Hot Spring
Yakushi no Ashiyu (Foot Bath)
A free foot bath facility right near Yakushi’s Clear Water. It uses the source water of Murasugi Hot Spring and is a place of relaxation for tourists and local people alike. After refreshing your throat with the clear water, you can spend a luxurious time healing fatigue in the foot bath.
Mount Gozu
Mount Gozu, with an elevation of 912 meters, is a popular spot for mountain climbing and hiking. From spring to autumn, the fresh greenery and autumn leaves are beautiful, allowing you to fully enjoy nature. From the summit, a spectacular view stretches out overlooking the Echigo Plain and the Sea of Japan.
Ideyu Hot Spring and Imaita Hot Spring
Hot spring destinations that rival Murasugi Hot Spring in the Gozu Hot Spring region. Each has different spring qualities and atmosphere, allowing you to enjoy hot spring touring. Murasugi Hot Spring, known as a radium hot spring, is said to have high therapeutic effects.
Lake Hyoko
A white swan migration site designated as a National Natural Monument. From mid-October to late March each year, thousands of white swans migrate here, creating a spectacular sight. Located about 10 minutes by car from Murasugi Hot Spring, depending on the season, you can enjoy a combination of swan watching, hot springs, and famous water exploration.
Tanbano Shrine
A historic shrine in Agano City that commands local faith. Its natural and serene grounds allow visitors to calm their minds while paying respects.
The Appeal of Murasugi Hot Spring
Murasugi Hot Spring is a hot spring destination with approximately 700 years of history, known as a radium hot spring. As evident from the name of the public bath “Yakushi no Yu,” it has deep connections with Yakushi Nyorai and has prospered as a therapeutic bathing destination since ancient times.
While the hot spring town maintains a picturesque atmosphere, it also has modern accommodations, making it enjoyable for people of all ages. Local sake and dishes using Niigata ingredients are also attractions, allowing you to fully experience Niigata’s charms combined with the hot springs.
Yakushi Spring Garden in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo
History of Yakushi Spring Garden
The “Yakushi Spring Garden” in Azuki-sawa, Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, is a garden that reproduces the atmosphere of the Edo period, centered on clear water that once flowed out in the grounds of Daizen Temple, which used to exist in this location.
During the Edo period, the eighth shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune visited Daizen Temple while falconry hunting in the Shimura area. At that time, he is said to have praised the clear water flowing out in the temple grounds and, in reference to the temple’s principal deity Yakushi Nyorai, named it “Clear Water Yakushi.” This water became a place of faith and relaxation for travelers along the Nakasendo Road and people visiting famous Edo sightseeing spots, becoming widely known as one of the famous sights of Edo.
Overview of Yakushi Spring Garden
The present Yakushi Spring Garden opened in 1989 as an Itabashi Ward public park. It is a pond stroll garden restored based on illustrations from the “Edo Meisho Zue” (Famous Places of Edo), and though small in scale, it is a space where one can sense the fragrance of Edo culture.
At the center of the garden is a spring-fed pond that conveys the remnants of the former Clear Water Yakushi. Surrounded by the quiet of a location removed from the bustle of the city, the garden has become cherished as an urban oasis by local residents and tourists alike.
Location and Access
Address: Azuki-sawa, Itabashi Ward, Tokyo
Access Methods:
- Approximately 10 minutes on foot from “Shimura-sakaue Station” on the Toei Mita Line
- Along the Nakasendo Road, at the former Daizen Temple site
Thanks to its location right beside the Nakasendo Road, it can be visited as part of a historical sightseeing route.
Garden Highlights
Spring-fed Pond
The spring-fed pond, which serves as the center of the garden, is a place where one can feel the legacy of the clear water that Tokugawa Yoshimune once praised. Water still flows from it today, and seasonal plantings are arranged around the pond.
Pond Stroll Garden
The pond stroll garden, which recreates the Edo-period garden style, is designed so that various landscapes can be enjoyed while walking around the pond. Though small in scale, the meticulously maintained garden is impressive.
The World of Edo Meisho Zue
The garden has been restored based on illustrations from the “Edo Meisho Zue,” reviving the scenery that Edo-period people saw in the modern age. For history enthusiasts, it is a valuable spot where one can experience the famous sights of that era.
Tourist Attractions Around Itabashi Ward
Nakasendo Road
The Nakasendo Road, which runs right beside Yakushi Spring Garden, was one of the five major highways of the Edo period. You can enjoy a sightseeing walk while feeling the history.
Shimura Castle Ruins
The ruins of a medieval castle that once existed in Shimura, Itabashi Ward, now developed as Shiroyama Park. A spot worth visiting combined with historical sightseeing.
Points to Remember When Visiting Yakushi’s Clear Water
For Niigata’s Murasugi Hot Spring
Best Season: You can visit throughout the year, but spring with fresh greenery (April-May), autumn with fall colors (October-November), and winter with swan migration (November-March) are particularly recommended.
Clothing: Since the focus is on walking through the hot spring town, wear comfortable walking shoes. In winter, there is snowfall, so cold-weather clothing and non-slip shoes are necessary.
Time Required: Viewing the clear water alone takes about 10 minutes, but if you include the foot bath and hot spring town sightseeing, you should set aside 1-2 hours.
What to Bring: If you want to take the spring water home, bring a container such as a plastic bottle. A towel is handy if you plan to use the foot bath.
For Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward
Opening Hours: Since it is developed as a park, you can generally visit freely. However, as lighting is limited at night, daytime visits are recommended.
Time Required: The garden is small, so even leisurely viewing takes about 30 minutes. Combined with sightseeing along the nearby Nakasendo Road, you can enjoy about an hour of sightseeing.
Photography: The scenery is beautiful in each season, and particularly during the new greenery and autumn leaf seasons, it is a popular photography spot.
Cultural Value of Yakushi’s Clear Water
Value as Famous Water
Famous waters called “meisui” exist in various parts of Japan, and Yakushi’s Clear Water is one of them. In particular, the Seven Clear Waters of Gozu in Niigata Prefecture is a group of famous waters linked to mountain worship that has shaped regional culture.
Clear water has been cherished not only as water for daily use but also as an object of faith and a place of healing. In modern times, the culture of valuing spring water as a gift from nature continues to be passed down.
Connection to Hot Spring Culture
Yakushi’s Clear Water at Murasugi Hot Spring is closely tied to hot spring culture. The practice of warming the body in hot springs and refreshing the throat with clear water has become part of bathing culture.
The combination of Murasugi Hot Spring, known as a radium hot spring, and clear spring water provides an ideal environment for people seeking physical and mental health.
Inheritance of Edo Culture
The Yakushi Spring Garden in Itabashi Ward is a cultural heritage that revives famous sights from the Edo period in the present day. The connection to Tokugawa Yoshimune, a historical figure, and the restoration of the landscape depicted in the “Edo Meisho Zue,” make it a valuable resource for studying Edo culture.
Yakushi’s Clear Water and Regional Promotion
Use as a Tourism Resource
In Agano City, Niigata Prefecture, famous water tours visiting the Seven Clear Waters of Gozu and tourism plans combining hot springs are being proposed. Yakushi’s Clear Water serves as one of the important tourist attractions at Murasugi Hot Spring, playing a role in enhancing the region’s appeal.
Spring water from the Gozu mountain system is also used in sake brewing, and the connection between clear water and sake culture has become a regional characteristic. Many tourists visit to enjoy Niigata sake combined with hot spring stays.
Environmental Conservation Efforts
Maintaining clear spring water requires preserving the surrounding environment. Agano City conducts nature conservation activities on Mount Gozu, pursuing sustainable tourism initiatives.
Itabashi Ward also puts effort into maintaining the Yakushi Spring Garden, working cooperatively with residents to achieve both the inheritance of Edo culture and environmental conservation.
Conclusion
Yakushi’s Clear Water exists in two different regions: Murasugi Hot Spring in Agano City, Niigata Prefecture, and Itabashi Ward, Tokyo. Both are named after their connection to Yakushi Nyorai and have become precious places conveying regional history and culture to the present day.
Yakushi’s Clear Water at Murasugi Hot Spring is a spot where one can feel the gifts of nature as one of the Seven Clear Waters of Gozu, offering enjoyment of sightseeing combined with hot springs. Scattered around the area are spots to fully experience Niigata’s nature, such as the white swan migration site at Lake Hyoko and Mount Gozu.
Yakushi Spring Garden in Itabashi Ward is a historic garden that restores a famous sight from the Edo period, a valuable space where one can experience Edo culture in the midst of the city.
Both of Yakushi’s Clear Waters offer visitors clear water and the stories of history. When you take a hot spring trip or historical sightseeing, please be sure to stop by. The coldness and clarity of the water will surely be an unforgettable experience.
