Epia Mikado: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices (Kagawa)

This hot spring facility sits in a mountain village that opens out at the northern foot of the Asan Mountains, in the south of Manno Town, Kagawa Prefecture. Located inside the "Michi-no-Eki Kotonami" roadside station along National Route 438, it brings together a day-use hot spring, a restaurant serving hand-cut soba, and the "Seiryu no Sato" farmers market in one place. The area has a strong mountain-village atmosphere that is unusual for Kagawa Prefecture, and just across the prefectural border lies Tokushima. It is also used as a rest stop on drives that cut north to south across Shikoku.

"Stone Milk," Exhibited by Hiraga Gennai at an Edo Materia Medica Fair

The water here is called "Mikado Onsen." In a passage left by Hiraga Gennai, the inventor born in Sanuki during the Edo period, he wrote of "white, milk-like hot water dripping from the stone wall of Okubayashi... the local people call it stone milk and treasure it." In 1762 (Horeki 12), Gennai exhibited the water of this Mikado Onsen at the fifth materia medica fair held at Yushima in Edo. The present-day Mikado Onsen was developed on the south side of that "stone milk."

Gennai appears inside the building too. In the autumn of 2024, a mural of Master Gennai enjoying a kinako soft-serve ice cream was installed on the front wall, so you can now have your photo taken with him.

Knowing How the Water Is Handled and How the Baths Are Built

Epia Mikado's spring quality is an alkaline hypotonic cold mineral spring. The pH is 9.62, and it contains radon at 4.2 x 10 to the minus 10 curies per kg (1.2 mache per kg). Its appeal is the slightly viscous feel on the skin typical of alkaline water.

The bathing area is centered on the large source-water tub, which is built a little deeper than usual. There are also a jacuzzi bath, a sauna and a cold-water bath. Note, however, that the jacuzzi bath does not use hot spring water. There is also no open-air bath. Knowing these two points in advance keeps expectations aligned with reality.

A water cooler is placed at the entrance to the bathing area, and at the back of the changing room there is a small rest room and a coin-operated massage chair. Along the corridor leading to the baths there are two 32-tatami-mat rest rooms and a Noh stage, so the layout lets you relax after your bath.

Highlights

Amid the clear mountain air, the main bath is a fine spot to relax and work up a sweat. After bathing you can enjoy Sanuki udon and dishes made with local ingredients at the dining area, and pick up fresh produce at the farmers market to take home.

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring greenery, summer river play, autumn foliage in the valley, and winter snow scenes all reflect the changing seasons of the hills. Buying local produce to take home adds to the pleasure of the trip.

Practical Information

• Spring quality: alkaline hypotonic cold mineral spring. pH 9.62, radon content 4.2 x 10 to the minus 10 curies per kg (1.2 mache per kg)
• Expected effects: beautiful skin, recovery of health, peripheral circulation, nerve disorders
• Tubs: the large source-water bath (a little deeper than usual), a jacuzzi bath, a sauna and a cold-water bath. The jacuzzi bath does not use hot spring water
• Open-air bath: none
• Hours: 9:00 to 20:00 (last reception for bathing 19:30)
• Closed: every Tuesday (open on public holidays). It stays open throughout the Obon period
• Bathing fee: general 650 yen (junior high school age to 69), children 350 yen (age 4 to elementary school), 550 yen for those aged 70 and over (proof required). Manno Town residents aged 70 and over pay 350 yen on showing a "hot spring bathing certificate"
• Coupon tickets: books of 11 tickets, 6,500 yen for adults, 5,500 yen for those aged 70 and over, 3,500 yen for children. Valid for one year from purchase
• Points: 10 points earns one free bath. The 3rd, 13th and 23rd of every month are "Mikado Days" with double points
• Buying a bathing ticket: purchase at the ticket machine in front of the bath reception
• Tattoos: people with irezumi or tattoos may not enter. Paint-on stickers are also covered
• With children: children aged 7 and over or 120 cm and taller may not use mixed bathing. They use the bathing area for their own gender
• Soap and supplies: rinse-in shampoo and body soap are provided. Hair dryers, cotton swabs and tissues are always available at the washstand in the changing room. You can bathe empty-handed
• Towels: rental is 300 yen for a set of bath towel and face towel, or 200 yen for a face towel only. For sale is a face towel with a drawstring bag at 320 yen
• Restaurant "Mikado": from March 1 to November 30, 10:00 to 20:00 (last entry 18:30, last order 19:00); from December 1 to February 28, weekdays 10:00 to 19:30 (last entry 18:00, last order 18:30) and weekends and holidays 10:00 to 20:00. Every Thursday, last order is 14:00 and it closes at 14:30. Hand-cut soba, the yamazato set meal, salt-grilled amego trout and more
• Winter specialty: botan-nabe (wild boar hotpot) set meal (December 9 to March 9). A single serving is 3,000 yen, and a set with udon, rice, a small side dish and pickles is 3,500 yen
• Shop: 9:00 to 20:00. Soft-serve ice cream 9:00 to 19:30. Kinako soft-serve 400 yen, Kotonami gelato 400 yen and others
• Parking: use the Michi-no-Eki Kotonami car park. 130 spaces for standard cars, 5 for large vehicles and 1 accessible space. Available 24 hours
• Toilets: there are toilets available 24 hours opposite the information hall
• Access: along National Route 438, on the border between Kagawa and Tokushima Prefectures. The nearest interchange is Mima IC on the Tokushima Expressway. Public transport in the surrounding area is limited, so arriving by car is the norm
• Free shuttle bus: a free shuttle bus to Epia Mikado operated by Manno Town runs every Wednesday and Thursday (inquiries to the Manno Town Office Health Promotion Division). A free shuttle bus operated by Epia Mikado runs every other Friday for the Kotonami district only (on first use you need to decide a pick-up point and contact Epia Mikado)
• Winter road conditions: because it is in the mountains, there can be heavy snow from the end of December to early March
• Time to allow: about 1 hour for a bath only, or about 2 hours including a meal and shopping at the farmers market
• Address: 2355-1 Kawahigashi, Manno-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa Prefecture (TEL 0877-56-0015)

A Quick Tip

The farmers market has the widest selection early in the day, so shop in the morning after your bath. Bring your own towel or check availability at the reception.

📚 Sources

The passage on "stone milk" written by Hiraga Gennai and the fact that he exhibited Mikado Onsen's water at the fifth materia medica fair at Yushima in Edo in 1762 (Horeki 12), the pH of 9.62 and the radon content, the layout of the tubs (large source-water bath, jacuzzi bath, sauna and cold-water bath) and the fact that the jacuzzi does not use hot spring water, the absence of an open-air bath, the business hours, last reception, bathing fees, coupon tickets and points system, the ban on entry for people with tattoos, the age limit for mixed bathing, the provided soaps and hair dryers, and the towel rental and sales prices were confirmed on the "Hot Spring Guide" page of the official Epia Mikado site (Kotonami Development Public Corporation). The spring quality "alkaline hypotonic cold mineral spring," the rest rooms, Noh stage, water cooler and massage chair inside the building, the mural of Master Gennai (installed in autumn 2024), and the opening hours of the shop and soft-serve ice cream come from the shop and facility introduction pages of the same site; the restaurant's seasonal hours and the price of the botan-nabe come from the dining and banquet plan page; the operating days of the free shuttle buses come from the hot spring bus page; and the 350 yen rate for town residents aged 70 and over comes from the "For Town Residents Aged 70 and Over" page. The bathing fee and closing day were also confirmed on the facility guide of the Manno Town official site. The number of parking spaces and 24-hour availability, the location along National Route 438, and the nearest interchange come from the Michi-no-Eki "Kotonami" information page of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Shikoku Regional Development Bureau.

*Details are subject to change, so please check official sources before visiting.*

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality: Alkaline hypotonic cold mineral spring. pH 9.62, radon content 4.2 x 10 to the power of minus 10 curies/kg (1.2 mache/kg)
• Expected benefits: Beautiful skin, recovery of general health, peripheral circulation and nerve disorders
• Baths: A large bath fed by the source (a little on the deep side), a jacuzzi bath, a sauna and a cold plunge bath. The jacuzzi bath does not use hot spring water
• Open-air bath: There is none
• Opening hours: 9:00-20:00 (last admission for bathing 19:30)
• Closing days: Every Tuesday (open on public holidays). It stays open throughout the Obon period
• Bathing fees: 650 yen for general visitors (junior high school age to 69), 350 yen for children (aged 4 to elementary school age) and 550 yen for those aged 70 and over (proof required). Residents of Manno Town aged 70 and over pay 350 yen on presentation of a hot spring bathing certificate
• Multi-ticket books: A book of 11 tickets costs 6,500 yen for adults, 5,500 yen for those aged 70 and over and 3,500 yen for children. Valid for one year from purchase
• Points: 10 points earn one free bath. On the 3rd, 13th and 23rd of every month, Mikado Day, points are doubled
• How to buy a bathing ticket: Buy from the ticket machine in front of the bathhouse reception
• Tattoos: People with tattoos of any kind are not admitted. This includes stick-on transfers
• With children: Children aged 7 and over, or 120 cm or taller, cannot bathe in the bath of the opposite sex. They use the bathhouse for their own sex
• Soap and amenities: Rinse-in shampoo and body soap are provided. Hairdryers, cotton buds and tissues are kept at the washbasins in the changing room. You can bathe empty-handed
• Towels: Rental costs 300 yen for a set of a bath towel and a face towel, or 200 yen for a face towel only. A face towel with a drawstring bag is sold for 320 yen
• Restaurant Mikado: From March 1 to November 30 it is open 10:00-20:00 (last entry 18:30, last orders 19:00); from December 1 to February 28 it is open 10:00-19:30 on weekdays (last entry 18:00, last orders 18:30) and 10:00-20:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Every Thursday last orders are at 14:00 and it closes at 14:30. It serves handmade soba, a mountain-village set meal, salt-grilled amago trout and more
• Winter specialty: The boar hot pot set meal (December 9 to March 9). A single serving on its own is 3,000 yen, and the set with udon, rice, a small side dish and pickles is 3,500 yen
• Shop: 9:00-20:00. Soft-serve ice cream is available 9:00-19:30. Kinako soybean-flour soft serve is 400 yen and Kotonami gelato 400 yen, among others
• Parking: Use the car park of the Kotonami roadside station. 130 spaces for ordinary cars, 5 for large vehicles and 1 for disabled visitors. Available 24 hours
• Toilets: There are toilets available 24 hours opposite the information hall
• Access: Along National Route 438, on the border between Kagawa and Tokushima Prefectures. The nearest interchange is Mima on the Tokushima Expressway. Public transport in the area is limited, so coming by car is the norm
• Free shuttle bus: A free shuttle bus to Epia Mikado run by Manno Town operates every Wednesday and Thursday (enquiries to the Health Promotion Division of the Manno Town Office). A free shuttle bus run by Epia Mikado itself operates every other Friday, for the Kotonami district only (first-time users need to decide on a pick-up point and contact Epia Mikado)
• Road conditions in winter: As this is in the mountains, there can be heavy snow from the end of December to early March
• Approximate time needed: About 1 hour for a bath alone, or around 2 hours including a meal and shopping at the farmers' market
• Address: 2355-1 Kawahigashi, Manno Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture (tel. 0877-56-0015)

Information Sources

The passage on the stone's milk written by Hiraga Gennai and the fact that water from Mikado Onsen was exhibited at the 5th medicine fair in Yushima, Edo, in the 12th year of Horeki (1762), the pH of 9.62 and the radon content, the composition of the baths (the large bath fed by the source, the jacuzzi bath, the sauna and the cold plunge bath) and the fact that the jacuzzi does not use hot spring water, the absence of an open-air bath, the opening hours, last admission, bathing fees, multi-ticket books and points system, the ban on visitors with tattoos, the age limit for mixed bathing, the soap provided and the hairdryers, and the rental and sale prices for towels were confirmed on the Hot Spring Guide page of the official website of Epia Mikado (Kotonami Development Public Corporation, a general incorporated foundation). The spring quality of alkaline hypotonic cold mineral spring, the lounge, Noh stage, water cooler and massage chairs in the building, the mural of Master Gennai (installed in autumn of the 6th year of Reiwa), and the opening hours of the shop and its soft-serve ice cream come from the shop and facility introduction page of the same site; the restaurant's seasonal opening hours and the price of the boar hot pot come from the dining and banquet plan page; the operating days of the free shuttle buses come from the page on buses to the hot spring; and the 350 yen rate for town residents aged 70 and over comes from the page for residents of the town aged 70 and over. The bathing fees and closing days were also confirmed in the facility guide on the official Manno Town website. The number of parking spaces and their 24-hour availability, the location along National Route 438 and the nearest interchange come from the information page for the Kotonami roadside station published by the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Details are subject to change, so please check official information before you set out.