Tomonoura Onsen Hotel Oufutei: Day-Use Hot Spring Prices

This hot spring hotel overlooks the Seto Inland Sea in Tomonoura, a place that retains the look of an old port town. Sensuijima floats just before your eyes, and you can enjoy the bright, open seascape. Day-use bathing is accepted, making it an easy stop during sightseeing.

Highlights

The greatest draw is the open-air bath with its sweeping view of the Seto Inland Sea. Soaking in natural hot spring water that boasts one of Japan highest radium contents, you can gaze at passing boats and the scattered islands. A sauna is available too, so you can spend time tuning up while looking out over the sea.

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring the sea takes on a softened color, in summer the blue sky and island silhouettes are beautiful, and in autumn a clear sunset dyes the Seto Inland Sea. In winter you warm your body in the bath while looking out at the calm sea. Bathing at dusk lets you enjoy beautiful sky colors in any season.

Access and Basic Information

The hotel is in Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, about 25 minutes by car or bus from JR Fukuyama Station. Day-use bathing reception runs roughly 11:00 to 18:00 (last entry around 17:00), with fees about 1,600 yen for adults and 800 yen for elementary students. Bath towels are lent free in the changing room, while large towels are available to rent for a fee. The spring is a simple weak-radioactive cold spring boasting one of Japan highest radium contents. It pairs well with a stroll through the streets of Tomonoura. Reception hours and fees may change, so check the official information before visiting.

Practical Travel Notes

If you combine it with a walk through Tomonoura old streets, stopping by in the evening after strolling the joyato lantern and harbor lets you bathe while watching the sun set into the sea. Bathing alone takes about an hour, while including a town walk runs half a day. The budget for day-use bathing is around 1,600 yen for an adult. Taking the ferry over to Sensuijima is popular too, and extending your trip after your bath makes for a full day. If heading from Fukuyama Station by public transport, buses are limited, so it is reassuring to plan around the timetable.

A Quick Tip

Combining this with a walk through the old streets of Tomonoura is recommended. Taking the ferry over to Sensuijima is also fun, so consider extending your trip after your bath. The open-air bath at dusk is especially fine.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Day-trip bathing hours: 11:00-18:00 (last reception 17:00), except during closure periods
• Day-trip bathing fees: 1,600 yen for adults and 800 yen for elementary school children (both including tax). One preschool child goes free with each adult
• Amenities: Bathing towels are lent free of charge in the changing room. Bath towels are rented for 330 yen (including tax). Shampoo and the like are provided
• Spring quality: Hypotonic, weakly alkaline cold mineral spring. It is a cold mineral spring containing radium (a simple weakly radioactive cold mineral spring) and is heated before use
• Bathing hours for overnight guests: The large bath and open-air bath on the third floor are open 5:00-9:30 and 11:00-24:00 (the men's and women's baths are switched the following morning). The rooftop open-air bath with a view is open 14:00-21:50 (last reception 21:00) and 6:00-8:50 (last reception 8:00)
• Private bath: The rooftop private open-air baths "Sansan" and "Toto" cost 5,500 yen (including tax) for 50 minutes. For overnight guests only
• Closure information: The rooftop open-air bath with a view and the rooftop private baths are closed from December 1 to the end of February. The third-floor open-air bath will be closed for renovation work from October 1 to the end of December 2026 (planned)
• Access (by bus): Tomotetsu buses run from the south exit of JR Fukuyama Station every 15 minutes during commuting hours and every 20 minutes at other times. For overnight guests there is a free shuttle bus from the south exit of Fukuyama Station taking about 30 minutes, which is strictly by reservation made no later than the day before
• Access (by car): About 25 minutes from Fukuyama Station. About 40 minutes from either the Fukuyama-Higashi IC or the Fukuyama-Nishi IC on the Sanyo Expressway
• Parking: There is a free surface car park on the hotel grounds. At busy times you may be directed to a paid car park nearby
• Time required: About an hour for a bath alone. Half a day if combined with a walk around the town of Tomonoura
• In wet weather: The large bath and indoor baths on the third floor are inside, so they can be used whatever the weather. The rooftop open-air baths may be closed in bad weather
• Footing: The streets of Tomonoura have many changes in level, with narrow alleys, stone paving and the gangi (stepped landing places) around the Joyato lantern, so comfortable walking shoes will give you peace of mind
• Avoiding the crowds: Day-trip reception closes at 17:00. Avoid the period around 16:00, when people gather to catch the evening view, and go between 11:00 and the early afternoon for a calmer visit
• Budget guide: 1,600 yen for day-trip bathing alone, or about 1,930 yen if you rent a bath towel
• Checking in advance: Whether day visitors are being accepted varies from day to day, so it is safest to call (084-982-1123 / reception 9:00-18:00) before you set out
• Address: 136 Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture

A Port Town to Walk After Your Bath

At the tip of the great gangi landing in Nishimachi, just a short walk from the hotel, stands the Joyato lantern, the symbol of Tomonoura. Built in 1859 (Ansei 6) with donations from the people of Nishimachi, this lighthouse has long been known locally as the "torodo" (lantern tower). It stands more than 10 m high from its base, making it one of the largest surviving Edo-period Joyato lanterns in Japan.

The townscape of Tomo-cho itself was selected in 2017 as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, covering about 8.6 hectares. The gangi around the harbour, the site of the ship inspection station and the rows of townhouses along the narrow alleys preserve the appearance of an Edo-period port city just as it was. Walk along the harbour from the Joyato lantern, take the ferry across to Sensuijima and then come back for a bath - putting your day together like this rounds off Tomonoura perfectly.

Information Sources

The reception hours and fees for day-trip bathing, the description of the spring quality, the conditions for lending towels and bath towels, the types of sauna and their temperatures, the conditions, fees and winter closure of the rooftop open-air bath with a view and the private open-air baths, and the period of renovation work on the third-floor open-air bath, were confirmed from the "Tomonoura Onsen" page of the official website of Hotel Oufutei. The address and telephone number, the frequency of Tomotetsu buses from the south exit of Fukuyama Station, the journey time and reservation conditions for the free shuttle bus, the travel times from the Fukuyama-Higashi and Fukuyama-Nishi ICs and the free surface car park come from the "Access" page of the same site. The year the Joyato lantern was built (Ansei 6), its height and its local name, and the year of designation and the area of the Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in Tomo-cho, are as stated on the official Fukuyama City pages. Opening hours, fees and construction periods are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.