Shima Onsen and Kashikojima: Day-Use Hot Spring Prices

The hot springs spreading across Kashikojima and its surroundings in Ago Bay in Shima are resort baths enjoyed alongside the scenery of an intricate ria coast. Bathing while overlooking calm inlets dotted with pearl-cultivation rafts combines quiet with a sense of openness. Known as a place that hosted an international summit, the area is sprinkled with refined inns.

Highlights

Kashikojima is the base for touring Ago Bay, and a sightseeing boat through the bay reveals the distinctive scenery woven by countless islands and cultivation rafts. From an observation deck, the deeply indented coastline opens out in one sweep, and the view of the bay tinted by the setting sun is especially fine. Pearl-themed experiences and shops handling local seafood make the area a pleasure to wander.

Enjoying the Seasons

Calm through all four seasons, Ago Bay invites pleasant cruising and marine leisure from spring through autumn, while winter brings Ise-Shima seafood into season. The colors of the sky over the bay at dusk shift with each season. Gazing at the changing scenery while soaking is the way to spend time here.

Access and Basic Information

Kashikojima Station, the terminus of the Kintetsu limited express, is the gateway, with direct access from the Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto areas. By car, use the Ise Expressway and the Second Ise Road. At inns overlooking Ago Bay, such as Kashikojima Hojoen, garden open-air baths and view-filled large baths let you savor the sea, and some inns welcome day bathers. Staying at an inn facing the bay lets you enjoy the view at leisure from your room or bath.

Practical Travel Notes

If you use a day-use bath, some inns limit reception to early afternoon through evening, so confirming with each inn in advance is the surest course. Fees vary by inn, and asking about the bathing tax and whether towels are provided is reassuring. Some inns lie within walking distance of Kashikojima Station while others offer pick-up, so if you carry much luggage, check whether transfer is available. The sightseeing boats around Ago Bay run on set schedules, so if you plan to ride, look up departure and arrival times first for a smoother trip. To catch the sunset, build your walk and bath times around the hour of sundown for a memorable stay.

A Quick Tip

With many spots famed for sunsets, checking the time of sundown when planning your walk or bath makes for a memorable stay. Sightseeing boats run on limited schedules, so confirm departure times in advance.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality (Himawari no Yu): Alkaline simple hot spring, water temperature 41.8°C, pH 8.6. Heated and run through a circulating filtration system. Its reputed benefits include neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, joint stiffness, bruises, sprains, chronic digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, sensitivity to cold, recovery from illness, recovery from fatigue and general health promotion
• Spring quality (Kashikojima Hoshoen): The Ise-Shima Onsen baths Asanagi no Yu and Yunagi no Yu. Source temperature 38.4°C, circulating filtration system, heated but with no water added
• Day-use bathing (Kashikojima Hoshoen): 12:00-17:00 (at other times the baths are for overnight guests only). 2,000 yen for adults (aged 12 and over, including bathing tax), 1,000 yen for children (aged 4-11). A face towel is included and bath towels are lent free of charge
• Maintenance at Kashikojima Hoshoen: On Mondays the men's large bath, on Wednesdays the men's and women's garden open-air baths, and on Fridays the women's large bath are available only from 13:30 (the other baths operate as usual)
• Washing area at Kashikojima Hoshoen: The garden open-air baths have no washing area, so you wash yourself in the large bath with a view
• Day-use bathing (Himawari no Yu): 9:00-23:00 (last admission 22:00). For bathing only it is 1,400 yen for adults (junior high school age and over) and 1,000 yen for children (age 4 through elementary school); for visitors who have entered Parque Espana it is 1,100 yen for adults and 800 yen for children. All prices include a towel, a loaned bath towel and the 150 yen bathing tax. The facility may close for periods of maintenance
• Open-air baths: Kashikojima Hoshoen has garden open-air baths overlooking Ago Bay, and Himawari no Yu has an open-air bath with a sweeping view of Izo-no-ura. Himawari no Yu also has a fully glass-walled large bath of about 200 square meters, a bubble bath and a sauna (the women's bath has a salt sauna, with the salt provided free of charge)
• Tattoos: Bathing is not permitted for people with tattoos at either Kashikojima Hoshoen or Himawari no Yu
• Families with children: Under Mie Prefecture's ordinance implementing the Public Bathhouse Act, mixed bathing is not allowed from age 7 at either facility
• Parking: Kashikojima Hoshoen has its own free parking on site (121 passenger cars and 14 buses, no reservation needed). For Himawari no Yu, use the Hotel Shima Spain Village parking lot, which is free of charge for up to 2 hours (200 yen for each additional 30 minutes; exchange your parking ticket for a 2-hour free ticket at the front desk)
• Access: Kashikojima Hoshoen is about 3 minutes by free shuttle bus from Kintetsu Kashikojima Station (running on a fixed timetable from 8:40 to 18:30, no reservation needed). It takes about 2 hours 10 minutes from Nagoya by Kintetsu limited express and about 2 hours 35 minutes from Osaka-Namba. By car it is about 40 minutes from Ise-Nishi IC or Ise IC on the Ise Expressway via the Ise-Futami-Toba Line, the Second Ise Road and National Route 167
• Access to Himawari no Yu: It is located in Sakazaki, Isobe-cho, Shima City, Mie Prefecture. It is linked to Parque Espana by a connecting entrance, and a free shuttle bus runs between it and the rotary in front of the park entrance (bus stop 5) (note the time of the last service)
• Time to allow: 1-2 hours for bathing alone; half a day if you combine it with an Ago Bay cruise or a meal
• To avoid the crowds: Day-use bathing at Kashikojima Hoshoen has a window of only 5 hours, so it tends to get busy around 13:00 when lunch plans overlap. Himawari no Yu is open until late at night, and the hours after dinner are calmer

Sources of This Information

The day-use bathing hours and fees, spring quality, source temperature, whether circulating filtration and heating are used, the maintenance schedule by day of the week, the policy on tattoos, the shuttle bus and the number of parking spaces at Kashikojima Hoshoen were confirmed on the hot spring page, day-use plan page, news section and access page of the hotel's official website. The water temperature, pH, spring quality, water treatment, bathing fees, opening hours, parking fees and cautions for Himawari no Yu come from the official website of Shima Spain Village Himawari no Yu. The opening days, opening hours and admission fee of the Ise-Shima Summit Memorial Hall were confirmed on the Shima City official website. As details may change, please check the official information before you set out.