Yudomari Onsen

Yudomari Onsen sits on Yakushima's coast, its pools divided by gender with a fence down the middle. At around 39 degrees Celsius, the water stays comfortable enough for longer soaks than hotter coastal springs allow. On clear nights, locals gather here to catch up and watch the stars, giving it a communal, unhurried atmosphere. A second set of pools farther down the path toward the sea has even better ocean views and is gender-mixed. Yudomari is open 24 hours, seven days a week. A 100-yen donation for cleaning and maintenance is encouraged. Water temperatures drop noticeably in late autumn and winter.