Amanohashidate Onsen Chie no Yu: Day-Use Hot Spring

Welling up right beside Amanohashidate, one of Japans three famed views, Chie no Yu is a public bath easy to drop into between sights. Inside, wrapped in the scent of wood, a soak in the soft water eases the fatigue of travel. Named after the nearby Chion Temple, it has long been loved locally as a beauty spring. It is a rare public bath in Miyazu, a reassuring option for day trippers.

Highlights

• Superb access right beside Amanohashidate Station
• A beauty spring that settles gently into the skin
• A calm interior with the warmth of wood
• A variety of baths including an open air pool and a hand and foot bath

Enjoying the Seasons

Amanohashidate is lovely in every season, with spring cherry blossoms, summer seas, autumn foliage and winter snow to enjoy year round alongside sightseeing. After touring the lookout famed for the upside down view or walking the sandbar, warming up at Chie no Yu makes the trip feel complete. In winter, savoring Tango seafood such as snow crab from the Sea of Japan is a real delight. Visiting Chion Temple after the bath and trying its famous chie mochi is another popular way to round off the day.

Access and Basic Information

• About one minute on foot from Amanohashidate Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway
• About 10 minutes by car from the Miyazu Amanohashidate interchange
• The spring is a radioactive iron sodium chloride type
• Open from around midday until about 9 in the evening
• Regular closing on Wednesdays and Thursdays, though this may change, so check ahead
• Day bathing is roughly 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for elementary school children

Practical Travel Notes

• As a finishing touch to sightseeing, a bath of about thirty minutes to an hour is enough to enjoy it.
• The location pairs well with a half day loop touring the Amanohashidate Viewland or Kasamatsu Park lookouts and crossing to the far shore by sightseeing boat.
• The area gets crowded in the early afternoon when visitors gather near the station, so stopping by in the evening after the last boats can feel more relaxed.
• Towels can be rented or bought, so you can visit empty handed. Nearby souvenir shops and eateries make a post bath stroll easy too.
• Within walking distance is Chion Temple, one of Japans three Monju halls, well worth pairing with your visit.

A Quick Tip

With a handy location as a base for Amanohashidate sightseeing, it is ideal as a finishing touch after the cable car or a sightseeing boat. It is often closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so always check the opening days before you go. The ease of stopping by empty handed is part of the charm, and rinsing off at the end of your itinerary before heading home makes for a comfortable finish.