Yakushima’s recommended hot springs

Hello everyone! This is Yakushima Guide Shima Asobi ＼(^o^)／.
Especially in the summer, guests who join river and sea tours often ask me, "Are there any hot springs I can use after checkout, or places where I can take a day trip to enjoy a hot spring? I'm going back on the afternoon (evening) flight!" (^_^;)
I understand how you feel! However, the hot spring situation on Yakushima is changing almost every year. In fact, some facilities have stopped offering day trips since the COVID-19 pandemic passed.
So, this time, I'd like to introduce "Yakushima's recommended hot springs, day trip facilities, and hot spring inns."
Please stay with me until the end if you'd like. m(__)m.

The blog below also introduces recommended accommodations and rental car information on Yakushima.
Please take a look if you're interested (*^^*).

You can also find useful information here: Please check it out if you'd like (^^)

"Yuamigi(bathing clothes)" are convenient for outdoor hot springs on Yakushima.

Also, Yakushima has its own unique hot spring situation. .
Outdoor hot springs are incredibly relaxing, but having a yuamigi(bathing clothes) makes it even more enjoyable!
If you can afford it, I highly recommend it (^^)
However, disposing of wet yuamigi(bathing clothes) while traveling can be a hassle, so there are disposable "yuamigi(bathing clothes)" available, so please look around for them.

Local people make their own or buy them (my wife made her own too 🎵).
I make mine myself. Men's "yuamigi(bathing clothes)I bought this. It's very useful because I can use it at the beach or river when I need to change clothes (＾∀＾).

Day-trip hot springs

Yunokonoyu ~Miyanoura~

Yunoko no Yu is located at the back of the parking lot of the Comprehensive Nature Park, midway along the Shiratani Line.

Originally, it was renovated in 2009 using a hot spring facility in the Yunoko area, long beloved as a therapeutic hot spring resort. It now requires a reservation (30 minutes) for full use. The bathtub is tiled and features a Goemon-style bath. There are two bathrooms, so we recommend calling ahead to make a reservation!

In particular, in the evenings, it is often used by locals and those descending from Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, so reservations can be difficult to get. The water is replaced every time and heated over firewood for 30 minutes, making it a truly luxurious hot spring, even though it's not visible from the outside.

Google Maps Yunoko no Yu

Kusugawa Onsen ~Kusugawa~

This is a traditional hot spring that has been loved by locals for a long time.
The Yunokawa River flows right next to the hot spring, and you can enjoy the sound of the river while relaxing in the water. Towels, shampoo, etc. are not provided, so please be sure to bring your own.
The water is a simple sulfur spring, not slimy and refreshing. Because it is a cold spring, it is heated in a boiler. Therefore, please refrain from leaving the water running. m(__)m.

Google Maps Kusugawa Onsen

Manten Onsen [Jomonnoyado Manten] ~ Koseda ~

Manten Onsen is the hot spring facility of Hotel Jomon no Yado Manten, located very close to the airport.
With an indoor bath, an open-air bath, a cypress open-air bath, and a sauna, it's a great place to relax and soak without worrying about time (*^^*). The water is alkaline and simple, exfoliating for skin-beautifying benefits.
Amenities include a towel set and shampoo and conditioner, so you can enter empty-handed. Bathing hours are from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, so after enjoying activities in the mountains or rivers, you can relax and soothe your fatigue in Manten Onsen.

Google Maps Manten Onsen [Jomon no Yado Manten]

Onoaida Onsen ~Onoaida~

This hot spring, beloved by locals, features free-flowing spring water bubbling up from the rocks at your feet. The water is 49 degrees! Locals who bathe every day are used to it and enjoy it without any problems, but first-time visitors should be prepared for a challenge (lol). Even I, when I bathe for the first time in a while, prepare myself before soaking (^^).
The water is a simple sulfur spring, warming you from the inside out. The trailhead for Janokuchi-Falls is located right next to it, and people often come here to soothe their tiredness after trekking down the mountain.

For details on hiking the Janokuchi-Falls, a secret among those in the know, please refer to the blog below. (^o^)

Google Maps Onoaida Onsen

Yakushima Onsen [samana hotel Yakushima] ~ Onoaida ~

Yakushima Onsen is a hot spring facility at Samana Hotel Yakushima (formerly JR Hotel Yakushima), located on the coast of Onoaida.
The water is a slightly viscous alkaline simple hot spring with a variety of health benefits. There is also an open-air bath, so you can soak in the hot spring while gazing at the ocean, relieving the fatigue of everyday life and the mountains.
A towel set and shampoo and conditioner are provided, so it's a great place to stop by during a drive (*^^*).

Google Maps Yakushima Hot Springs [samana hotel Yakushima]

Outdoor hot spring where you can take a day trip

The wild atmosphere is brimming with nature, and bathing in a hot spring while watching the sunset and starry sky is the best!
It's convenient to bring a bathing suit when using an outdoor hot spring, so please feel free to check it out (^ω^).
We also have disposable "yuamigi(bathing clothes)" and Men's "yuamigi(bathing clothes).

Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen (Underwater Hot Spring) ~Hirauchi~

This rare hot spring springs from the sea, and at high tide it's underwater. It's a rare hot spring that can only be enjoyed two hours before and after low tide. I often visit when I'm driving or have business south. (*^^*)
The source water temperature is about 46 degrees, and as the tide goes out, it slowly changes from seawater to hot spring water.

The water quality is excellent, and you can choose between warm and hot water! And best of all, the ocean is right there, so the view is amazing. At night, if the weather is nice, you can enjoy a relaxing soak while gazing at the starry sky. Swimsuits are not allowed, but bathing suits and towels are OK. However, there is no changing room, so you'll need to hide in the shade of a rock while undressing. Please place your clothes and towels on the rocks where they won't get wet. It is considered good etiquette to pour hot water over yourself before entering.

Google Maps Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen (Undersea Hot Springs)

Yudomari Onsen ~ Yudomari ~

Yudomari Onsen was renovated and reopened in March 2023! Previously, there was only a separate bath for men and women, but now with the addition of a roof and enclosure, you can enjoy a relaxing soak even on rainy days.

The pillar in the middle wrapped in black cloth separates the men and women. The ocean side is open, so you can still bathe while looking out at the ocean, just like before (*^^*). The water is alkaline, a simple hot spring that springs from the source on the beach. It's low at about 38 degrees, so you can enjoy a long, relaxing bath. (Please refrain from bathing in the cold winter months (^_^;)). Swimsuits are not permitted, but towels and bathing suits are OK.

Google Maps Yudomari Onsen

Public baths where you can take a day trip

Ōuranoyu ~Isso~

Ōura no Yu was once a hot spring, but it has since dried up, so now it uses boiling groundwater. Apparently, the water used to contain so much iron that towels would turn red. It's a small public bath that can only fit five people.
Right next to it is the Ōura Campground and a swimming beach, making this the perfect bath to warm up quickly after a day of swimming. You can see the ocean from the window and hear the sound of the waves. It's a place where the old Yakushima still remains.

Google Maps Ōuranoyu

Also, the Green Hotel Yakushima has closed its public baths to visitors since June 2023. (Only hotel guests are allowed to use the baths.) That's because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (^_^;)

Recommended hot spring inns

Jomon no Yado "Manten" ~ Koseda ~

Manten is a natural hot spring inn located just a one-minute walk from the airport. Miyanoura and Anbo are also about a 15-minute drive away. There are drugstores and discount shops nearby, making it very convenient for purchasing travel essentials.

The entire hotel was renovated in 2015, making it even more comfortable.
As mentioned in reviews, the staff are incredibly friendly, so if you're worried about the weather or have any questions about your travels, it's a great place to ask for help. (*^^*) 　

Google Maps: Natural Hot Spring Inn, Jomonnoyado "Manten"

Samana Hotel Yakushima (formerly JR Hotel Yakushima) ~Onoaida~

Samana Hotel Yakushima is located in the Onoaida village, in a prime location with Mount Mochomu in the background and the vast expanse of ocean stretching from the East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

Day-trip bathing is also available, and you can relax in the mellow natural hot springs and enjoy cuisine made with an abundance of local ingredients.

The hotel has an elevator, fully accessible rooms, aromatherapy massages, and rooms with natural hot springs, so you might as well spend a relaxing time here.

Google Maps samana hotel Yakushima (formerly JR Hotel Yakushima)

Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel ~Onoaida~

Iwasaki Hotel stands majestically with Mt. Mochomu in Onoaida in the background.
The expansive grounds include a strollable garden, filled with bird songs, tangerine orchards, apple camellias, and other plants, making it a perfect place for a morning stroll. The large communal bath features an indoor bath, an open-air bath, and a sauna, allowing you to enjoy the hot springs while taking in the views. The sulfur spring water is effective for fatigue recovery, muscle pain, neuralgia, and gynecological disorders.

It also boasts the only heated pool on Yakushima (with swimsuit rentals), making it a great place to swim on rainy days. (^^) Hiking boots, rainwear, and walking sticks are also available for rental at the shop, so please make a reservation in advance if you need them. Numbers are limited.
This hotel is the perfect place to relax in the hot springs after a trek.

Google Maps Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel

Summary

So, this time we introduced "Yakushima's recommended hot springs and day-trip bathing facilities."
Looking back, we see that there are a wide variety of hot springs and baths. Yakushima is prone to a lot of rain and is often affected by the weather, so you may not be able to find a good time at an outdoor hot spring. In those cases, it might be a good idea to go to an indoor hot spring or a ryokan (Japanese inn) and enjoy a luxurious soak while soothing yourself from trekking or everyday fatigue. (^^)

Planning a trip can be difficult, but we hope this blog will be helpful for your trip. (*^^*)