Sengen Park

Located at the northern end of the hot springs town is Sengen Park, where you can see the geysers close by. A geyser is a natural wonder of steam and hot water spouting from the ground. The sight of the hot water of over 80 degrees blowing up in to the air every 3 hours is quite a sight. On the other hand, there is a geyser called Tessen Pond in Jigokudani (Hell Valley). This is a different type of geyser where boiling water seeps up from the ground. By the way, in Hokkaido, there are other famous geysers such as Shikabe onsen (hot springs) and Rausu onsen (hot springs). Another highlight of this park is the huge colored metal bar, which surrounds the premises. For the protection of the hot springs, these Nine bars were left behind by god. Each color of the bars carries a special meaning, such as good health, wealth, or a happy household. It is said that the ninth golden bar lies dormant deep under the grounds of the park. Based on the legend of Jigokudani, that bar is in fact an "Oni demon" that was placed there as part of revitalization efforts for the town. It is said that this spot was selected based on the nine traditional astrological signs and it is starting to become a renowned spiritual spot.