Shibi Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

In the north of Satsuma at the foot of Mount Shibi, Shibi Onsen is a storied spring long cherished as the water of the gods because it wells up from beneath a shrine. The slightly silky water is also called a beauty bath, prized for how good you feel after soaking. In this quiet mountain village you can taste the mood of an old fashioned bathing place.

Highlights

• The legend of water of the gods welling up from beneath a shrine
• A silky touch that earns it the name of a beauty bath
• A quiet mountain village scene at the foot of Mount Shibi
• A village run public bath with a foot bath and a drinking spring alongside the indoor pool

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring brings fresh, invigorating greenery to the village, and autumn delights the eye with foliage across Mount Shibi. Summer offers cool mountain air, and winter makes lingering in the silky water within the stillness truly special.

Access and Basic Information

• About 30 minutes by car from JR Izumi Station, in the mountains of Shibi in Satsuma town
• Reachable by car from an interchange on the Kyushu Expressway, with parking available
• A simple sulfur spring cherished as a silky beauty bath
• A village run public bath lets you drop by easily at a reasonable fee

Practical Travel Notes

• The village run public bath at the heart of Shibi Onsen charges a reasonable fee of a few hundred yen. It stays open from early morning until night and is loved as a daily bath by local residents. It closes about once a year for tank cleaning, so those coming from afar should check ahead.
• Beside the indoor bath there is a foot bath and a drinking spring. When trying the drinking spring, mind your condition and the amount, and follow the posted notices.
• Because the water contains sulfur, light colored towels and metal jewelry may discolor. If that concerns you, leave them behind for peace of mind.
• Public transport is limited, so a car is convenient for visiting. Mount Shibi and the surrounding gorge spread nearby, making a stroll a pleasant addition to your visit.

A Quick Tip

Shibi Onsen is a quiet, old fashioned bathing place, and the public bath is part of local daily life. Mind the spirit of sharing with others as you slowly savor the silky water of the gods. Looking forward to the smooth feeling after your bath, allow plenty of time for your visit.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality and indications: A simple sulfur spring (hypotonic, alkaline, high-temperature spring). It is colorless and clear with a faint smell of hydrogen sulfide. Bathing is said to be good for chronic skin conditions, chronic gynecological conditions and cuts, while drinking the water is said to be good for diabetes, gout and constipation
• Source temperature and pH: The source temperature is 50.3 degrees and the pH is 9.4. About 200 liters a minute gush up naturally from beneath the worship hall of Shibi Shrine
• Day-use bathing (Shibi district public bathhouse): 5:00-21:00 (reception until 20:30), open year-round. The bathing fee is 300 yen for visitors from outside the district, and 100 yen for district residents and district residents aged 70 and over. The fees were revised on April 1, 2026
• Rest house Kami-no-Yu Fureaikan: 8:00-17:00, closed every Tuesday and on New Year's Day and New Year's Eve. For 1,000 yen per person you can bathe as many times as you like within the opening hours, and you are free to bring your own food and drink. Booking in advance is recommended
• Amenities: Towels, soap and shampoo can be bought at the bathhouse. The hairdryer costs 100 yen to use
• Open-air and private baths: The public bathhouse has only separate indoor baths for men and women, with no open-air bath or private bath. There is a footbath outside
• Drinking the water: There is a drinking fountain where you can drink the spring water. You can also take it home in a plastic bottle
• Parking: About 100 spaces, shared with Shibi Shrine
• Access: About 30 minutes by car from JR Izumi Station. By public transport, take the Nangoku Kotsu shuttle bus from Izumi Station, get off at Miyanojo Station, then about 15 minutes by taxi. From JR Sendai Station it is about 55 minutes by Iwasaki Bus to Miyanojo Station, then about 15 minutes by taxi. It is about 45 minutes from the Yokogawa interchange on the Kyushu Expressway
• Time needed and crowds: About an hour if you are only taking a bath. Early morning and evening see a lot of local users, so daytime is more relaxed
• Payment: It is reassuring to have cash ready for the bathing fee
• Points to note: Because the water contains sulfur, silver accessories and light-colored towels may become discolored
• Address: 2165 Shibi, Satsuma Town, Satsuma District, Kagoshima 895-1803 (telephone 0996-59-8975)

Information Sources

The opening hours, bathing fees, closing days and number of parking spaces, and the conditions for using Kami-no-Yu Fureaikan, were confirmed on the Shibi district public bathhouse page of the official website of Satsuma Town (updated May 7, 2025). The spring quality, source temperature, pH, indications, flow rate, provided items, footbath and drinking fountain, the dates relating to Mount Shibi and Shinkoji Temple, and the process and season for aoshi-gaki persimmons are based on the official website of the Shibi Onsen Association. The travel times for access are based on the guidance on the Kagoshima Prefecture tourism site and on the association's site. Fees, opening hours and closing days are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.