Echizen Itou Onsen Taicho no Mori: Day-Use Hot Spring

Standing in a place linked to Taicho, the high monk said to have opened Mount Hakusan, is Echizen Itou Onsen Taicho no Mori. Set in the quiet surroundings of the Echizen hill country, it is cherished as a hot spring inn that can be used for overnight stays or day trips.

Highlights

From the calm large bath and open-air bath you can view the scenery of the green mountain village. The namesake monk Taicho was born in Echizen Province in 682 in the Nara period and is said to have opened Mount Hakusan in 717, a high monk of the mountain asceticism tradition. In the surroundings, where his legends remain, old shrines, temples, and natural sights are scattered about.

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring mountain cherries and fresh greenery, in summer the cool breeze of the hills, in autumn vivid foliage, and in winter snowy scenery, you can savor the passing of the seasons at leisure. Dishes reflecting local seasonal produce are another pleasure, letting you fully enjoy the bounty of the countryside hills.

Access and Basic Information

It lies in the hill country about thirty minutes by car from the Sabae Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway, and also about thirty minutes by car from JR Fukui Station. Since public transport is limited, a visit by car is convenient. It also welcomes day visitors for bathing, with fees typically from several hundred to over a thousand yen. It is a quiet setting well suited to multi-night stays.

Practical Travel Notes

The recommendation is early summer with fresh greenery or autumn with foliage, the seasons when the hill-country nature is most beautiful. For those who want to spend time quietly away from the bustle, a multi-night stay is recommended, allowing a relaxed sojourn. Nearby are sights distinctive to Echizen such as the Echizen coast, the home of Echizen ware, and the Echizen Crab Museum, making this a base for enjoying both the hills and the sea. Since a visit by car is standard, for day-use bathing it is reassuring to check the opening hours in advance.

A Quick Tip

Because it is ideal for those who want to spend time quietly away from the bustle, staying several nights for a relaxed sojourn is also recommended. In the countryside hills where the legends of Taicho live on, try spending a quiet, peaceful interlude.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality: Alkaline simple spring (hypotonic, alkaline, low-temperature spring)
• Source temperature: 33.8 degrees
• Indications: Neuralgia, muscle pain, frozen shoulder, chronic digestive complaints, haemorrhoids, sensitivity to cold, bruises and recovery from fatigue
• Open-air bath: Yes (separate for men and women). There are also indoor baths (separate for men and women), a bubble bath, a cold-water bath and a sauna
• Day-use bathing hours: 8:00 to 22:00 (last admission 21:00)
• Day-use bathing fee: 520 yen for adults (junior high school age and above) and 310 yen for elementary school students
• Discount: Every Friday is Ladies' Day, when women pay 310 yen
• Closed: Every Tuesday (open when Tuesday is a public holiday)
• Tattoos: Not permitted (including stick-on designs)
• Amenities: Shampoo, body soap and hairdryers are provided free of charge. Towels are available to rent or buy for a fee
• Dining area: 11:30 to 14:00 (last orders 13:30). You cannot eat if you arrive during the bathing-only hours, so time your visit accordingly if you want lunch as well
• Accommodation: Check-in 16:00 / check-out 10:00. Plans range from room-only to stays with an Echizen crab dinner
• Parking: Available (about 130 spaces for cars and 6 for large vehicles)
• Access (public transport): About 50 minutes from JR Fukui Station on the Keifuku Bus Ota Line, getting off at the Taicho-no-Mori bus stop. Services are limited, so check the return times before you board
• Access (car): About 40 minutes from the Sabae IC on the Hokuriku Expressway. The Echizen coast is about 20 minutes away by car
• How long to allow: About 1 hour for bathing alone, or 2 to 3 hours with a meal and a rest
• Location: 88-55-1 Ogura, Echizen Town, Nyu District, Fukui Prefecture

Combining with the Area

About 20 minutes' drive brings you out to the Echizen coast, so this is an easy place to slot a bath into the journey to or from a seafood outing. Echizen Town is also home to the pottery village of Echizen ware and to Tsurugi Shrine, associated with Oda Nobunaga, making it a base for taking in both the countryside and the coast in a single day.

Information Sources

The opening hours, bathing fees, closing day, Ladies' Day and dining hours were confirmed in the guidance on the official website of Echizen Itou Onsen Taicho-no-Mori. The spring quality (alkaline simple spring), source temperature of 33.8 degrees, indications, layout of the bathing areas, and the amenities and towel policy also come from the hot spring page of the same official website. The address, number of parking spaces (130 for cars and 6 for large vehicles) and bus access from JR Fukui Station come from Echizen Kanko Navi, the tourism guide of Echizen Town, and from the tourism information published by the Fukui Prefecture Tourism Federation. The ban on tattoos comes from the facility information posted on accommodation booking sites. The dates relating to Taicho and Ochisan Otani-ji (founded in 692, and 758, 767, 1306, 1532, 1574 and 1880) come from the commentary of the Ota Culture and History Museum in Echizen Town. Details are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.