Iki Yunomoto Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

Yunomoto Onsen rises in an inlet of Yunomoto Bay, on the northwest side of Iki Island floating in the Genkai Sea. When the water wells up it is colorless and transparent, but on contact with the air the iron it contains oxidizes and it clouds to a reddish-brown, rust-like color. Because the sea is close it is salty, and locally it has long been called shio-yu, or "salt water." In the registry of the Japan Spa Association it is designated a National Health Resort Hot Spring and a National Health Hot Spring, and it is a small-scale spa area with seven lodging facilities and a capacity of 300 people. Gazing over the calm bay, you can settle deep into this historic spa.

Highlights

The sun setting over the bay and the quiet fishing harbor scene soothe the heart. Iki is also known as an Island of the Gods, dotted with shrines and ancient burial mounds, so touring its history alongside the springs is a joy. Fresh fish from the surrounding sea and the islands own seafood are a major appeal. Old legends tied to birth waters and blessings for children linger at Yunomoto Onsen.

The Legend of Empress Jingu, and a Therapeutic Bath Opened in 1624

The waters of Yunomoto carry a legend that Empress Jingu discovered them in the 5th century during her expedition to the three Korean kingdoms, and had them used as the first bath for her son, Emperor Ojin. Partly because it is a district with many large families, it has been believed in as a "bath of child blessings."

It appears in written records in the Edo period. In 1624 (Kan'ei 1) under the Tokugawa, therapeutic bathing was established here and the place was called Onsenzan Ioin. It is said that the nearby Kanzeonji temple received the hot spring and ran it, and it took the form of a modern hot spring inn only after the Taisho era began. Among the Yunomoto springs, the source that has welled up since the oldest times is called "Furuyu" (the old bath), and Hirayama Ryokan draws from this Furuyu.

A Concentration Roughly 15 Times the Standard for Therapeutic Springs

According to Iki Kanko Navi, the Yunomoto Onsen area has 13 sources, and the water is so highly concentrated that it is roughly 15 times or more the standard value for therapeutic springs under the Hot Spring Act. The source temperature reaches 69 degrees, and every hot spring facility has its own source, using the water as 100 percent free-flowing spring water. Because it contains ample iron and salt, it excels at retaining warmth and moisture, and locally it is called the "bath of heat."

At Oku-Iki no Sennenyu Hirayama Ryokan, the center of day-trip bathing, it is publicly stated as part of its registration with the Japan Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns that the water is free-flowing with no added water, no heating and no recirculation. This is a spa area that does not fudge how its water is used.

Enjoying the Seasons

Summer brings crowds to the islands lovely beaches, perfect for healing the body in the water afterward. Autumn and winter bring abundant Genkai Sea seafood, and the warm golden water grows all the more inviting. All year round you are wrapped in the relaxed pace of island time.

Access and Basic Information

Reach Iki by ferry or high speed boat from Hakata or Karatsu. Getting around the island is easiest by car, and rental cars are available. Inns with bay views are plentiful, and some facilities offer day use bathing. The water is a sodium chloride spring, a reddish brown cloudy bath rich in iron.

Practical Information

• Spring quality: Sodium chloride spring. The benefits Hirayama Ryokan lists include neuralgia, rheumatism, gastrointestinal illness, skin conditions and burns. In the Japan Spa Association registry, cuts, peripheral circulatory disorders, sensitivity to cold, depressive states and dry skin are listed among the indications
• How the water is used: Hirayama Ryokan is free-flowing from the source, with no added water, no heating and no recirculation. Across the whole spa area as well, each facility has its own source and uses 100 percent free-flowing spring water
• Source temperature: Hirayama Ryokan's source is 66.5 degrees. Across the Yunomoto Onsen area the maximum is 69 degrees, with 13 sources
• Day-trip bathing (Hirayama Ryokan): First session 8:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00), second session 19:00-21:00 (last entry 20:00). From 17:00 to 19:00 the baths are reserved for overnight guests. Day-trip bathing may be declined during busy periods
• Fees (Hirayama Ryokan): Adults 800 yen, elementary school children 300 yen, preschoolers 150 yen. The family bath is 3,000 yen per hour
• Towels and amenities (Hirayama Ryokan): A hairdryer, liquid soap, body soap, shampoo and conditioner are provided. A face towel is 100 yen to rent or 200 yen to buy; bath towels are rental only at 300 yen. Since the water clouds to a rust-brown, borrowing the towels provided is the safe choice
• Bath layout (Hirayama Ryokan): Indoor baths - 2 for men and 1 for women; open-air baths - 1 each for men and women; 2 private baths; and 1 steam bath each for men and women
• Other day-trip facilities: Takamine Onsen is open 8:00-19:00 at 500 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary school children and free for preschoolers. Yamaguchi Onsen is open 6:30-19:00 (family bath 7:00-20:00) at 400 yen for adults, 150 yen for children and 80 yen for preschoolers, with the family bath at 1,000 yen for one adult and 1,500 yen for two. Sukoyaka Onsen is open 9:00-21:00 (last admission 20:00) at 400 yen for adults and half price for junior high school age and under, with the family bath at 700 yen and the first bath of the day at 1,200 yen. Manpuku Onsen is currently closed
• Bath tour: A bath-tour booklet covering six inns costs 1,650 yen, saving 790 yen over the normal price
• Parking: Hirayama Ryokan has parking. You park in the large lot 100 meters beyond the inn's entrance
• Getting to the island: From Hakata Port by jetfoil it is about 1 hour 5 minutes to Ashibe Port and about 1 hour 10 minutes to Gonoura Port. By ferry it is about 2 hours 10 minutes to Ashibe Port and about 2 hours 20 minutes to Gonoura Port. From Karatsu-Higashi Port it is about 1 hour 45 minutes by ferry to Indoji Port. From Nagasaki Airport it is about 30 minutes to Iki Airport with Oriental Air Bridge
• Getting around the island: Yunomoto Onsen is about 20 minutes by car from Gonoura Port. Local buses are operated by Iki Kotsu, and a one-day free pass costs 1,000 yen. The bus stop is Yunomoto. Since services are limited a rental car is convenient, and there are unstaffed, 24-hour rental car services on the island
• Rough time needed: One to two hours for bathing alone. Because Hirayama Ryokan reserves 17:00-19:00 for overnight guests, the morning or after 19:00 is the easier window for a day trip
• Wheelchairs: Wheelchair rental on the island is listed in the access guidance of Iki Kanko Navi
• Preparing for cancellations: Boats can be cancelled due to weather. You can check the day's operating status with Kyushu Yusen or Kyushu Norimono info.com
• Address: Hirayama Ryokan is at 77 Tateishi Nishifure, Katsumoto-cho, Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Yunomoto Onsen is the area facing Yunomoto Bay in Katsumoto-cho, Iki City
• Nearby: Saruiwa (Monkey Rock) is about 10 minutes by car from Hirayama Ryokan, and Tsukiyomi Shrine, the head shrine of all Tsukiyomi shrines in Japan, is also about 10 minutes by car (its approach continues up steep stone steps). Kojima Shrine, which floats in the sea at high tide, is about 20 minutes by car. There are also Harahoge Jizo and the Iki City Ikikoku Museum (about 20 minutes by car)

Practical Travel Notes

Some inns in Yunomoto accept day use bathers, with fees ranging by facility from a few hundred to around a thousand yen. Hours differ by inn, and reception can change with crowds or cleaning times, so inquiring in advance is reassuring. The iron rich water warms the body well but readily colors white towels, so keep that in mind. Local buses on the island are limited, so a rental car is handy for touring efficiently. Ferries and fast boats can be canceled in bad weather, so a schedule with some slack is wise.

A Quick Tip

Because the iron rich water can transfer color to towels, it is safer to avoid fine white ones. Boat schedules can change with the season and weather, so check the times early. After your bath, be sure to enjoy the fresh seafood of Iki.

📚 Sources

The spring quality, benefits, day-trip bathing hours and fees, family bath, amenities, towel charges, parking and address were confirmed on the official website of Oku-Iki no Sennenyu Hirayama Ryokan (the Sennenyu and Access pages). The source temperature of 66.5 degrees, the statement of no added water, no heating and no recirculation, and the bath layout follow the facility page of the Japan Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns. The 13 sources, the source temperature of 69 degrees, the concentration of roughly 15 times the therapeutic standard and the fact that every facility uses free-flowing spring water, as well as the hours and fees of Takamine Onsen, Yamaguchi Onsen, Sukoyaka Onsen and Manpuku Onsen and the bath-tour booklet, follow the hot spring feature and day-trip hot spring articles on Iki Kanko Navi. The designation as a National Health Resort Hot Spring, the seven lodging facilities with a capacity of 300 people, and the indications come from the Japan Spa Association's spa area information; the travel times by boat and plane from the access guidance of Iki Kanko Navi; and the one-day free pass for local buses from the list of transport options on the same site. The legend of Empress Jingu, the opening of therapeutic bathing in 1624 (Kan'ei 1) and the name Onsenzan Ioin, and the term Furuyu, follow the descriptions on the official website of Hirayama Ryokan. Details are subject to change, so please check official sources before setting out.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality: Sodium chloride spring. The benefits listed by Hirayama Ryokan include neuralgia, rheumatism, gastrointestinal complaints, skin conditions and burns. The registration with the Japan Spa Association lists cuts, peripheral circulatory disorders, sensitivity to cold, depressive states and dry skin among its indications
• How the water is used: Hirayama Ryokan uses free-flowing spring water with no added water, no heating and no recirculation. Throughout the hot spring village, each facility has its own source and the water is 100 percent free-flowing
• Source temperature: The source at Hirayama Ryokan is 66.5 degrees. Across the Yunomoto hot spring village as a whole the maximum is 69 degrees, and there are 13 spring sources
• Day-trip bathing (Hirayama Ryokan): First session 8:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00), second session 19:00-21:00 (last entry 20:00). From 17:00 to 19:00 the baths are reserved for overnight guests. Day-trip bathing may be turned away during busy periods
• Prices (Hirayama Ryokan): Adults 800 yen, elementary school students 300 yen, small children 150 yen. The family bath costs 3,000 yen per hour
• Towels and amenities (Hirayama Ryokan): A hairdryer, liquid soap, body soap, shampoo and conditioner are provided. Face towels can be rented for 100 yen or bought for 200 yen, and bath towels are rental only at 300 yen. As the water is a cloudy rust-red color, renting one of the towels provided is the safer choice
• Bath layout (Hirayama Ryokan): 2 indoor baths in the men's section and 1 in the women's, 1 open-air bath each for men and women, 2 private baths, and 1 steam bath each for men and women
• Other day-trip facilities: Takamine Onsen is open 8:00-19:00 and costs 500 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary school students and is free for preschool children. Yamaguchi Onsen is open 6:30-19:00 (family baths 7:00-20:00) and costs 400 yen for adults, 150 yen for children and 80 yen for small children, with the family bath costing 1,000 yen for one adult and 1,500 yen for two. Sukoyaka Onsen is open 9:00-21:00 (last admission 20:00) and costs 400 yen for adults and half price for junior high school students and younger, with a family bath at 700 yen and the first bath of the day at 1,200 yen. Manpuku Onsen is currently closed
• Bath-hopping: A bath-hopping booklet covering six inns costs 1,650 yen, which is 790 yen cheaper than paying the usual rates
• Parking: Hirayama Ryokan has parking. You park in the large car park 100 meters beyond the inn's entrance
• Getting to the island: From Hakata Port it is about 1 hour 5 minutes by jetfoil to Ashibe Port and about 1 hour 10 minutes to Gonoura Port. By ferry it is about 2 hours 10 minutes to Ashibe Port and about 2 hours 20 minutes to Gonoura Port. From Karatsu-Higashi Port it is about 1 hour 45 minutes by ferry to Indoji Port. From Nagasaki Airport it is about 30 minutes to Iki Airport with Oriental Air Bridge
• Getting around the island: Yunomoto Onsen is about 20 minutes by car from Gonoura Port. Local buses are operated by Iki Kotsu, and a one-day free pass costs 1,000 yen. The bus stop is Yunomoto. Services are infrequent, so a rental car is convenient, and there are unstaffed rental car services on the island available 24 hours
• How long to allow: 1-2 hours for bathing alone. At Hirayama Ryokan the baths are reserved for overnight guests from 17:00 to 19:00, so for day trips the morning or after 19:00 are the easier time slots
• Wheelchairs: The access guide on Iki Kanko Navi lists wheelchair rental on the island
• In case of cancellations: Boats are sometimes cancelled due to weather. You can check the day's operating status with Kyushu Yusen or at Kyushu Norimono info.com
• Location: Hirayama Ryokan is at 77 Tateishi Nishi-fure, Katsumoto-cho, Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Yunomoto Onsen lies in Katsumoto-cho, Iki City, in the area facing Yunomoto Bay
• Nearby: Saruiwa (Monkey Rock) is about 10 minutes by car from Hirayama Ryokan, and Tsukiyomi Shrine, the head shrine of all the Tsukiyomi shrines in Japan, is also about 10 minutes by car (its approach involves a long flight of steep stone steps). Kojima Shrine, which floats in the sea at high tide, is about 20 minutes by car. Other sights include Harahoge Jizo and the Iki City Ikikoku Museum (about 20 minutes by car)

Sources of Information

The spring quality, benefits, day-trip bathing hours and prices, family bath, amenities, towel charges, parking and location were confirmed on the official website of Okuiki no Sennen-yu Hirayama Ryokan (the Sennen-yu and access pages). The source temperature of 66.5 degrees, the statement that there is no added water, heating or recirculation, and the bath layout come from the facility page of the Association to Protect Japan's Secluded Hot Springs. The 13 spring sources, the source temperature of 69 degrees, the concentration of about 15 times the value stipulated for therapeutic use, the fact that all the facilities use free-flowing spring water, as well as the opening hours and prices of Takamine Onsen, Yamaguchi Onsen, Sukoyaka Onsen and Manpuku Onsen and the bath-hopping booklet, come from the hot spring feature and day-trip hot spring articles on Iki Kanko Navi. The designation as a National Health Resort Hot Spring, the 7 accommodation facilities with a capacity of 300 people, and the indications come from the resort information of the Japan Spa Association; the boat and flight times come from the access guide on Iki Kanko Navi; and the one-day free bus pass was confirmed in the list of transport options on the same site. The legend of Empress Jingu, the opening of the baths for therapeutic use in 1624 (Kanei 1) and the name Onsenzan Ioin, and the old name of the bath come from the description on the official website of Hirayama Ryokan. Details are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.