Bath House sights in Japan
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Onsen Hoyōland
Onsen Hoyōland has wonderful giant mud baths, as well as mixed-gender and open-air bathing.
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Dōgo Onsen Honkan
The main building at Dōgo Onsen, Dōgo Onsen Honkan, was constructed in 1894, and designated as an important cultural site in 1994. The three-storey, castle-style building incorporates traditional design elements, and is crowned with a statue of a white heron in commemoration of its legendary origins.
Although countless famous people have passed through its doors, Dōgo Onsen Honkan rose to popularity following its inclusion in the famous 1906 novel Botchan, which was authored by Sōseki Natsume, the greatest literary figure in Japan's modern age. Even if you're well-versed in the ins and outs of onsen culture, Dōgo can be a bit confusing as there are two separate baths…
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The Hells
Beppu's most hyped attraction is the 'hells' or jigoku, a collection of hot springs where the water bubbles forth from underground, often with unusual results. You can purchase an around ¥2000 coupon that covers all except two (Hon Bōzu Jigoku and Kinryū Jigoku). Unlike Unzen, where you see the geothermal wonders natural, raw, and unadorned, these have been turned into mini-amusement parks, each with a different theme.
If you're pressed for time and unsure if this is your cup of, er, onsen water, peek at the postcard pack in the station, which has good pictures, and you'll know instantly whether these are worth your time.
The hells are in two groups - eight at Kannawa, …
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Hebi-no-yu
The Myōban area has a number of wonderful hidden baths, tucked away out of the public eye. High in the mountain greenery is a free rotemburo, the Hebi-no-yu (Snake Bath).
The Beppu station information desk ladies (volunteers all!) are also happy to make you a hand-drawn map.
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Shōnin-ga-hama Sand Bath
Between JR Beppu station and the Kamegawa onsen area, try the very popular Shōnin-ga-hama Sand Bath ; it has a great beach location and English is spoken.
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Takegawara Onsen
The Hells, though mildly interesting, shouldn't distract you from the real hot springs. Scattered around the town are eight onsen areas. Onsen enthusiasts spend their time in Beppu moving from one bath to another - experts consider at least three baths a day de rigueur. Costs range from around ¥100 to around ¥1000, though many (and two of the best) are free. Bring your own soap, washcloth and towel, as many places don't rent them.
There's an onsen festival during the first weekend in April. Some of the baths alternate daily between male and female so that each gender can appreciate each side. Near JR Beppu station, the classic Takegawara Onsen dates from the Meiji era. …
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Ō-Edo Onsen Monogatari (Ō-Edo Onsen Story)
Public bathing in onsen (hot springs) is a Japanese obsession, and, believe it or not, they’ve managed to find an actual hot spring 1400m below Tokyo Bay. Of course, Ō-edo Onsen is so much more than just a mere hot springs complex. Something of Disneyland-meets-health-spa, this bathing theme park re-creates an old Japanese downtown indoors, selling old-timey foods, toys and souvenirs. Wander around in your yukata (light cotton kimono) and you’ll fit right in. Sure it’s kitschy, but what the hey… Bathing opportunities (most separated by gender) include indoor and outdoor pools, a foot bath, a bed of hot stones and the opportunity to be buried in hot sand. Massage servic…
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Hyōtan Onsen
The Hells, though mildly interesting, shouldn't distract you from the real hot springs. Scattered around the town are eight onsen areas. Onsen enthusiasts spend their time in Beppu moving from one bath to another - experts consider at least three baths a day de rigueur. Costs range from around ¥100 to around ¥1000, though many (and two of the best) are free. Bring your own soap, washcloth and towel, as many places don't rent them. There's an onsen festival during the first weekend in April.
Some of the baths alternate daily between male and female so that each gender can appreciate each side. Hyōtan Onsen has a rotemburo and also offers sand baths (yukata rental around…
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Shibaseki Onsen Baths
The Hells, though mildly interesting, shouldn't distract you from the real hot springs. Scattered around the town are eight onsen areas. Onsen enthusiasts spend their time in Beppu moving from one bath to another - experts consider at least three baths a day de rigueur. Costs range from around ¥100 to around ¥1000, though many (and two of the best) are free. Bring your own soap, washcloth and towel, as many places don't rent them.
There's an onsen festival during the first weekend in April. Some of the baths alternate daily between male and female so that each gender can appreciate each side. Shibaseki Onsen Baths are near the smaller pair of hells. You can also rent a …
reviewed
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Mushi-yu Steam Bath
The Hells, though mildly interesting, shouldn't distract you from the real hot springs. Scattered around the town are eight onsen areas. Onsen enthusiasts spend their time in Beppu moving from one bath to another - experts consider at least three baths a day de rigueur. Costs range from around ¥100 to around ¥1000, though many (and two of the best) are free. Bring your own soap, washcloth and towel, as many places don't rent them.
There's an onsen festival during the first weekend in April. Some of the baths alternate daily between male and female so that each gender can appreciate each side. North of the town, in the Kannawa onsen area, near the major group of hells, i…
reviewed
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Tsuru-no-yu
The Myōban area has a number of wonderful hidden baths, tucked away out of the public eye. Locals built and maintain Tsuru-no-yu (the easiest to reach), a lovely free rotemburo up on the edge of Ogi-yama. During July and August, a natural stream emerges to form the milky blue bath. Take a bus to Konya Jigoku-mae bus stop (25 minutes northwest from JR Beppu station). Walk up the small road that hugs the right side of the graveyard until the road ends.
Dive into the bushes to your left, and there's the bath. The Beppu station information desk ladies (volunteers all!) are also happy to make you a hand-drawn map.
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Ichinoide Kaikan
The owner of Ichinoide Kaikan is an onsen fanatic, so much so that he built three pool-sized rotemburo in his backyard. The view, overlooking Beppu and the bay, is the city's finest. Bathing is free when you order a set menu (teishoku; around ¥1100), and the chefs prepare it while you swim. To get there by bus and walking, inquire at the Foreign Tourist Information Office. A shared taxi (from Beppu, around ¥900) might be a good investment.
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Dōgo Onsen
According to legend, Dōgo Onsen was discovered during the ancient age of gods when a white heron was found healing itself in the spring. Since then, Dōgo has featured prominently in a number of literary classics, and garnered a reputation for the curative properties of its waters. The mono-alkaline spring contains sulphur, and is believed to be particularly effective at treating rheumatism, neuralgia and hysteria.
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Myōban Onsen Area Baths
In this quiet and hilly area you will find numerous baths as well as odd thatched-roof huts that are Edo-era replicas of the huts in which bath salts were made. You can go inside (the salts resemble yellow-brown mould), wander the 'hell' outside, and even purchase salts for a bath from hell when you return home.
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Nabeyama-no-yu
The Myōban area has a number of wonderful hidden baths, tucked away out of the public eye. Nabeyama-no-yu is the last of the wild onsen of Myōban.
The Beppu station information desk ladies (volunteers all!) are also happy to make you a hand-drawn map.
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Spa World
Next door to Festival Gate is the superspa known as Spa World. Billed as the world's largest spa, it consists of two floors of baths, one Asian themed and one European themed, and a rooftop waterworld with pools and waterslides, along with restaurants and relaxation areas.
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Kagomma Sentō (Onsen)
Kagoshima boasts no less than 50 public onsen baths. Local favourite Nishida Onsen (M0090; 255-6354; 12-17 Takasu) is just a few minutes' walk from JR Kagoshima-Chūō. Kagomma Sentō (Onsen) is five minutes' walk from the Sakurajima Port.
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Asama Onsen
Hot-spring resort Asama Onsen northeast of town isn't rustic, but its history is said to reach back to the 10th century and include writers and poets. The waters are also said to be good for gastrointestinal and skin troubles, and women's disorders.
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Mugen-no-Sato
This collection of privately available small rotemburo is ideal for a romantic, secluded dip. Ask for a kazoku-buro (private bath). Mugen-no-sato is five minutes' walk west from Horita.
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Kitahama Termas Onsen
For an onsen experience next to the beach, head to Kitahama. There are separate baths for men and women; the outside rotemburo mixes it up, but you'll need a bathing suit.
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Hot Plaza Asama
Among dozens of baths and inns (and the youth hostel) at Asama Onsen, Hot Plaza Asama has many pools in a traditional building. Buses from Matsumoto Station take about 20 minutes.
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Nishida Onsen
Kagoshima boasts no less than 50 public onsen baths. Local favourite Nishida Onsen is just a few minutes' walk from JR Kagoshima-Chūō.
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Ekimae Kōtō Onsen
Ekimae Kōtō Onsen is very simple and hot, and just a couple of minutes' walk from the station.
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Higashi-yu
On most nights you can visit the local sentō(public bath), Higashi-yu.
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Shibaseki Onsen Baths
The Hells, though mildly interesting, shouldn't distract you from the real hot springs. Scattered around the town are eight onsen areas. Onsen enthusiasts spend their time in Beppu moving from one bath to another - experts consider at least three baths a day de rigueur. Costs range from around ¥100 to around ¥1000, though many (and two of the best) are free. Bring your own soap, washcloth and towel, as many places don't rent them.
There's an onsen festival during the first weekend in April. Some of the baths alternate daily between male and female so that each gender can appreciate each side. Shibaseki Onsen Baths are near the smaller pair of hells. You can also rent a …
reviewed
