Onsen Tamago Hot Spring Eggs
Onsen tamago are eggs placed in rope nets and left in the hot water of a hot spring for around 30-40 minutes to be poached by the low temperature heating.
Onsen Tamago 温泉卵
If you stay at a hot spring resort in Japan, you may well be served an onsen tamago (hot spring egg) for breakfast or dinner.
Hot Spring Egg
These weird looking eggs are traditionally cooked in the waters of the hot spring. The eggs are placed in rope nets and left in the hot water for around 30-40 minutes - the low temperature heating causes the egg yolks to harden more than the egg white. The eggs are thus poached within the shells.
Hot Spring Egg
The eggs are usually eaten in a light sauce made of mirin, dashi and soy sauce with chopped spring onions sprinkled over the top. The image below is a food model of an onsen tamago at the interesting Onsen Museum in Gero.
These eggs can be enjoyed at most onsen in Japan. Beppu, Gero and Arima all serve them.
Model of a hot spring egg at the Onsen Museum in Gero, Gifu
