Takamatsu Crater no Yu Tennen Onsen Kirara: Day-Use Hot Spring

This hot spring facility is in Ichinomiya-cho, Takamatsu City. About a five-minute walk from Ichinomiya-ji, the 83rd temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage, it offers lodging as well as day-use bathing, and is known as a regular base for pilgrims about to complete their circuit. Because it is open from 6:00 in the morning until midnight, its strength is that you can use it at the start or at the close of a journey.

"Takamatsu Crater no Yu," Drawn from 300 Meters Underground

The source rises from just under 300 meters underground at the western edge of the Takamatsu Crater. The flow is abundant at about 270 liters per minute, and its distinguishing feature is a high content of metasilicic acid. The facility named this water "Takamatsu Crater no Yu." The name "Kirara" comes from the way a meteorite is said to have fallen from the ancient cosmos, glittering as it came.

What the Takamatsu Crater Is

The Takamatsu Crater is not a hollow visible from the surface but a buried collapse structure found through gravity surveying. Centered on Bussho-zan-cho in the southern part of the Takamatsu Plain, it is estimated to be about 4 kilometers in diameter and one to two thousand meters deep.

Regarding how this structure formed, a debate over "whether or not it was caused by a meteorite impact" continued for about ten years from 1994. Shuichi Hasegawa of the Faculty of Engineering, Kagawa University, summarized this history as "A Review of the Takamatsu Crater Controversy" in the Japan Society of Engineering Geology's journal "Journal of the Japan Society of Engineering Geology," Vol. 50, No. 6 (2010). The paper analyzes how media coverage ran ahead of the science and created expectations among citizens that differed from the scientific facts, and describes efforts to prevent confusion by explaining the matter on the basis of surface geology, geophysical surveys and borehole sample data. Soaking in the tub while thinking about the enormous structure spreading beneath your feet, and the controversy around it, is an entertainment of its own.

Highlights

Indoors you will find a sauna and jet baths, so you can move between a variety of tubs as if touring several springs. The abundant spring water welling up from deep underground is its pride.

Enjoying the Seasons

Open late into the night throughout the year, it is easy to drop by at the end of a journey or between sightseeing stops. Pairing it with a visit to nearby Ichinomiya-ji, the 83rd temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage, is also a fine idea.

Practical Information

• Source: rises from just under 300 meters underground at the western edge of the Takamatsu Crater. Flow of about 270 liters per minute. Rich in metasilicic acid
• Hours: 6:00 in the morning to midnight (last reception 23:00). On the third Tuesday it opens from 17:00
• Closed: open all year
• Bathing fee: adults (junior high school age and above) 750 yen, children (age 0 and above) 350 yen
• Coupon tickets: a book of 10 bathing tickets is 6,800 yen. There is also a morning-bath coupon book of 10 tickets for 5,800 yen, limited to those entering between 6:00 and 9:00
• Soap: shampoo and body soap are provided in the bathing area
• Towels: rental towel set (bath towel plus face towel) 300 yen
• Tattoos: people with irezumi or tattoos (including fake tattoos), people who are heavily intoxicated, and people deemed to be members of or associated with organized crime groups may not enter
• Food and drink: under public health center guidance, bringing food or drink into the building is not permitted
• Payment: cash and cards are accepted, but the bathing fee generally cannot be paid by card. If you are visiting only for a bath, having cash ready is the sure approach
• Parking: free. Large vehicles can also park
• Access (car): 200 meters west of the intersection of Shin-Kuko-dori (National Route 193) and the Miki-Kokubunji Line (Route 12). About 15 minutes straight on from Takamatsu-nishi IC on the Takamatsu Expressway
• Access (rail and bus): about a 10-minute walk from Kuko-dori Station on the Kotoden Kotohira Line, or about 7 minutes by taxi from Bussho-zan Station. About a 7-minute walk from the Kotoden Bus "Ichinomiya" stop. About 20 minutes by taxi from JR Takamatsu Station
• Access (air): about 20 minutes by taxi from Takamatsu Airport
• Restaurant: breakfast service 6:15 to 14:00. Open weekdays 6:15 to 21:00 (last order 20:30) and weekends and holidays 6:15 to 22:00 (last order 21:30). From 14:00 to 17:00 only drinks and desserts are served. Tempura set 1,680 yen, Sanuki Japanese set 1,980 yen, seafood bowl 1,880 yen, shrimp tempura bukkake udon 850 yen and more
• Takeout bento: sold 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:30. If you wait in the car park it can be brought out to your car. Ordering before your bath means you can pick it up without waiting
• Body care and massage: 10:00 to 23:00 (17:00 to 23:00 on the third Tuesday), no closing days. You can use body care alone without bathing, and room wear is lent free of charge. Telephone reservations take priority (087-815-6620)
• Lodging: standard rooms (30 square meters, one room) from 6,500 yen per person on weekdays; deluxe rooms (55 to 70 square meters, 2DK/3LDK) from 12,000 yen per person on weekdays. Check-in is at 15:00, but if you arrive earlier you can leave your luggage at the front desk and use the large bath. Reservations are accepted from four months ahead
• For pilgrims: about a 5-minute walk from Ichinomiya-ji, the 83rd temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage
• To avoid the crowds: the morning bath period from 6:00 is the time to aim for. Only on the third Tuesday does it open at 17:00, so if you plan a morning visit, check the day of the week
• Time to allow: about 1 hour for a bath only, or about 2 hours including a meal
• Address: 800-1 Ichinomiya-cho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture (TEL 087-815-6622)

A Quick Tip

Because it stays open late, it is an easy choice to round off a day of sightseeing.

📚 Sources

The location of the source (just under 300 meters underground at the western edge of the Takamatsu Crater), the flow of about 270 liters per minute, the high metasilicic acid content, the origin of the facility name, the business hours and the 17:00 opening on the third Tuesday, the fact that it is open all year, the bathing fees and the coupon and morning-bath coupon books, the price of the rental towel set, the provision of shampoo and body soap, the ban on entry for people with tattoos, the ban on bringing in food and drink, the payment methods (the bathing fee generally cannot be paid by card), the free car park, access by each means of transport, the hours and prices of the restaurant and takeout bento, the body care hours, the lodging rates and check-in arrangements, and the 5-minute walk from Ichinomiya-ji were all confirmed under the hot spring guide, restaurant, lodging guide, pilgrimage, massage and facility information items on the official Tennen Onsen Kirara site. That the Takamatsu Crater is a buried collapse structure found through gravity surveying, its scale of about 4 kilometers in diameter and one to two thousand meters deep centered on Bussho-zan-cho, and the course of the controversy that ran for about ten years from 1994 come from the paper "A Review of the Takamatsu Crater Controversy" by Shuichi Hasegawa (Faculty of Engineering, Kagawa University), "Journal of the Japan Society of Engineering Geology," Vol. 50, No. 6 (2010).

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

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Source: It wells up from just under 300 meters below ground at the western edge of the Takamatsu Crater. The yield is about 270 liters per minute. The water is rich in metasilicic acid
• Opening hours: 6:00 in the morning to midnight (last admission 23:00). On the third Tuesday of the month it opens at 17:00
• Closing days: Open all year round
• Bathing fees: 750 yen for adults (junior high school age and above) and 350 yen for children (aged 0 and over)
• Multi-ticket books: A book of 10 bathing tickets costs 6,800 yen. There is also a morning-bath book of 10 tickets for 5,800 yen, limited to those entering between 6:00 and 9:00 in the morning
• Soap: Shampoo and body soap are provided in the bathhouse
• Towels: A towel set to rent (bath towel plus face towel) costs 300 yen
• Tattoos: People with tattoos of any kind (including fake tattoos), people who are heavily intoxicated, and anyone regarded as a member of or connected to organized crime groups are not admitted
• Food and drink: On the instructions of the public health center, you may not bring food or drink into the building
• Payment: Cash and cards are accepted, but as a rule the bathing fee cannot be paid by card. If you are only coming for a bath, it is safest to have cash ready
• Parking: Free of charge. Large vehicles can park too
• Access (by car): 200 meters west of the crossroads of the New Airport Road (National Route 193) and the Miki-Kokubunji Line (Route 12). About 15 minutes straight on from the Takamatsu-nishi Interchange on the Takamatsu Expressway
• Access (by rail and bus): About a 10-minute walk from Kuko-dori Station on the Kotoden Kotohira Line, or about 7 minutes by taxi from Busshozan Station. About a 7-minute walk from the Ichinomiya stop on the Kotoden bus. About 20 minutes by taxi from JR Takamatsu Station
• Access (by air): About 20 minutes by taxi from Takamatsu Airport
• Restaurant: Breakfast is served 6:15-14:00. It is open 6:15-21:00 on weekdays (last orders 20:30) and 6:15-22:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (last orders 21:30). From 14:00 to 17:00 only drinks and desserts are served. Dishes include a tempura set at 1,680 yen, a Sanuki Japanese set at 1,980 yen, a seafood rice bowl at 1,880 yen and bukkake udon with prawn tempura at 850 yen
• Takeaway bento: Sold 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:30. If you wait in the car park they will bring it out to your car. Order before your bath and you can collect it without waiting
• Body care and massage: 10:00-23:00 (17:00-23:00 on the third Tuesday), with no closing days. You can have body care without bathing, and roomwear is lent free of charge. Telephone reservations take priority (087-815-6620)
• Accommodation: A standard room (30 square meters, studio) starts at 6,500 yen per person on weekdays, and a deluxe room (55 to 70 square meters, 2DK/3LDK) starts at 12,000 yen per person on weekdays. Check-in is at 15:00, but if you arrive earlier you can leave your luggage at the front desk and use the large baths. Reservations open four months ahead
• Pilgrimage: About a 5-minute walk from Ichinomiya-ji, temple 83 of the Shikoku pilgrimage
• To avoid the crowds: The morning bath period from 6:00 is your best bet. Only on the third Tuesday does it open at 17:00, so check the day of the month if you are planning a morning visit
• Approximate time needed: About 1 hour for a bath alone, or around 2 hours including a meal
• Address: 800-1 Ichinomiya-cho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture (tel. 087-815-6622)

Information Sources

The location of the source (just under 300 meters below ground at the western edge of the Takamatsu Crater), the yield of about 270 liters per minute, the high metasilicic acid content, the origin of the facility's name, the opening hours and the 17:00 opening on the third Tuesday, the fact that it is open all year round, the bathing fees and the multi-ticket and morning-bath ticket books, the price of the towel rental set, the provision of shampoo and body soap, the ban on visitors with tattoos, the ban on bringing in food and drink, the payment methods (with the bathing fee generally not payable by card), the free parking, the access details from each form of transport, the times and prices for the restaurant and takeaway bento, the opening hours for body care, the accommodation rates and check-in arrangements, and the position about a 5-minute walk from Ichinomiya-ji were all confirmed in the hot spring guide, restaurant, accommodation guide, pilgrimage, massage and facility information sections of the official Natural Hot Spring Kirara website. That the Takamatsu Crater is a buried depression structure discovered by gravity surveying, that it measures about 4 kilometers across and between one and two thousand meters deep, centered on Busshozan-cho, and the course of the debate that ran for about ten years from 1994, come from the paper Verification of the Takamatsu Crater Controversy by Shuichi Hasegawa (Faculty of Engineering, Kagawa University), in Journal of the Japan Society of Engineering Geology, vol. 50, no. 6, 2010.

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