“This place is beautiful,” says former Japanese football star Hidetoshi Nakata. “It's like the hidden beauty of Japan.”
The 41-year-old Nakata is talking about the town of Ginzan Onsen, a popular winter destination in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
For Nakata, the significance of this region goes far beyond its beauty.
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He brought us here so we could sample his passion for sake, a craft he has pursued for nearly a decade since retiring from professional football in 2006. (See the video below.)
“There are many sake producers all across Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. But here in Yamagata especially... it's famous for making sake.”
'Silver hot spring'
According to sake experts, colder temperatures shape both the production and the flavor.
In winter, the charming and captivating Ginzan Onsen, part of Japan's northern Tohoku region, is never short on chilly weather.
Perched on a mountainside, it feels like you've stepped into a Hayao Miyazaki film. We're surrounded by gently sloping, powder-dusted mountains and snow-covered trees, a landscape of white and green.
Ginzan Onsen literally translates to “Silver Mountain Hot Spring,” named after the Nobesawa Ginzan silver mine that operated here during the Edo period, roughly five centuries ago.
Ginzan Onsen sits atop natural hot springs that feed steaming water into its various ryokan, or traditional Japanese inns.
These historic buildings line both sides of the street and look out over the pristine, soothing Ginzan River, which runs through the center of the village.
A striking 22-meter waterfall, picturesque wooden bridges, and an open-air foot bath add even more charm to the town's postcard-perfect view.
These days, the village is mostly filled with tourists who have made the journey to enjoy the surrounding nature and its flawless townscape.
The little town is dotted with visitors seeking warm food, a hot onsen (or hot spring), and the perfect shot.
Photographers from around the world travel to Ginzan Onsen to capture its beauty: by day a glittering winter wonderland, and by night a moody, romantic retreat, when the lights of the buildings dance in the river's reflection.
See for yourself in the video at the top of this piece.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, it's a 3.5-hour trip on the JR Yamagata Shinkansen line to Oishida Station. Catch a bus at Oishida Station for the 40-minute ride to Ginzan Onsen.
