Ebisudani Onsen and Kanzarashi Soba
Ebisudani Onsen is a natural hot spring in Bungotakada’s striking Ebisu valley. The rustic establishment features outdoor baths (rotenburo) for taking in the area’s unique landscape while bathing, and has separate baths for men and women. The unusual brown color of the water here is due to the presence of iron. The sulfate spring is believed to help heal cuts as well as aid symptoms such as neuralgia and chronic skin problems.
The onsite restaurant serves a local dish known as Kanzarashi soba (buckwheat) noodles in mid-February, made by soaking the grains of buckwheat in extremely cold water for several days during the winter before being dried, ground, and made into noodles. This cold soak results in soba noodles with a particularly mild and sweet flavor.