Bandai Atami Onsen, boasting a history of over 800 years as the hidden retreat of Koriyama, has long been referred to as 'Tohoku's Atami', healing many travelers. Here, a dramatic legend surrounding a princess continues to be passed down.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Princess Hagi, a noblewoman from Kyoto, was afflicted with a severe illness. One night, guided by the deity Fudo Myo-o, she received a divine message to 'head to Tohoku and seek the 500th river.' After much hardship, she finally found a spiritual spring bubbling up by the banks of the 500th river. It is said that upon bathing there, the princess swiftly overcame her illness and regained her unparalleled beauty. The name '500th River' flowing through the hot spring town originates from this journey of salvation.
As if to corroborate the legend, the quality of the spring is known as 'the hot spring that creates beauty.'
With the charm of modern industrial heritage like the Marumori Power Station and the gentle murmurs of the 500th river showcasing the changing seasons, why not experience the 'emotion of rebirth' that Princess Hagi must have felt in this place where history and nature intersect?
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