Kawayu Onsen
onsen
Kawayu Onsen
川湯温泉
Overview
Hot Water River where thermal water bubbles from riverbed, allowing natural bathing in geological gift setting.
Hot spring town in the Kawayu district of Akan-Mashu National Park, its waters heated by Mt. Io, an active volcano 2.5 kilometers away. The sulfuric spring water has a low pH of around 1.6, giving it the antibacterial properties that have drawn visitors since the town's first inn opened in 1898. A footbath in the town center, fed directly by geothermal springs, is free to use and lit at night. Kawayu Jinja Shrine nearby has one of Japan's only hot-spring-fed temizuya purification basins at its entrance. Surrounding the town, the national park offers canoeing, cycling, and hiking through volcanic terrain.
Local tips
From late November to mid-February, the tourism board excavates a large communal bath (sennin-buro) directly in the Oto River bed, heated naturally by geothermal activity to 40 to 42°C along a 1km stretch. Entry to the river bath is free. At other times of year, the riverbed returns to a regular river but the surrounding ryokans maintain private baths fed from the same spring. Access is by Kumano Kotsu bus from Shingu Station (40 minutes).
Practical info
- Japanese name
- 川湯温泉
- Nearest station
- Kumano-Nachi-Taisha Bus Stop (30 min bus)
- Payment
- Cash only
- Reservations
- not required
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