Sakihana Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

Sakihana Onsen is a sulfur spring with a faint green tint, welling up beside the Agano River. Its charm lies in an idyllic setting that looks out over the gently flowing surface of the river and the calm line of the surrounding mountains. Inns stand along the riverbank, and the spa is a favorite among those seeking a quiet stay.

Highlights

The jade-tinted water and the view of the Agano River spreading right before you are the main attractions. Combining your visit with a river boat ride or a riverside walk makes for an even richer time. The clear water shifts its hue with the light and the weather, so you can enjoy its changes along with the river scenery.

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring brings cherry blossoms by the water, summer a cool river breeze, autumn the foliage along the Agano River, and winter a quiet river scene dressed in snow, offering waterside charm through all four seasons.

Access and Basic Information

It is right by Sakihana Station on the JR Banetsu West Line, and you can glimpse the spa town from the train window. Access from the Niigata City direction is good as well. The water is a sulfur-bearing spring, and its soft, skin-friendly feel has earned it a name as a beauty bath.

Practical Travel Notes

Many of the inns face the river, and some offer day-trip bathing in view baths or open-air pools overlooking the water. Whether day-use bathing is available and its hours differ by inn, so it is safest to inquire in advance. The spa town is within walking distance of Sakihana Station, making it easy to reach by train. As a sulfur spring, watch for discoloration of metal jewelry, and rehydrate after bathing. Seasonal river boat cruises are sometimes held on the Agano, letting you pair bath-hopping with time by the water.

A Quick Tip

Many inns face the river, so checking the view from the rooms or baths in advance will make your choice more rewarding. The river scenery changes greatly between day and dusk, so it is worth timing your stay with that in mind.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Estimated time: About one to two hours for a bath (half a day with a meal)
• What to bring: A towel and a change of clothes; take off precious metals as this is a sulphur spring
• Best season: The fresh greenery and autumn leaf seasons are beautiful (watch for snow in winter)
• Avoiding the crowds: Day-use reception hours are limited, so book or check in advance
• Nearby stops: Michi-no-Eki Aga no Sato and the Agano River boat ride, the SL Banetsu Monogatari steam train, Yasuda Yogurt and Muramatsu Park

📚 Sources

This article is compiled from tourism information for Niigata Prefecture and information published by the individual facilities. Fees, opening hours and closing days may change, so please check each facility's official information before setting out.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Day-use bathing: Sakihana Onsen Suigyoku no Yu Satorikan (3008 Satori, Gosen City, Niigata Prefecture) / a day-trip plan combining a bath and a meal is available 10:30-14:30 / please enquire about prices and availability (TEL 0250-47-2211)
• Spring quality: A weakly alkaline sulfur spring with a pH of 7.8. The water shines emerald green, and at Satorikan it is used free-flowing in the open-air bath of the large public bath and in the private open-air bath
• Access: About a 5-minute walk from Sakihana Station on the JR Banetsu West Line (the inn offers a pick-up service). By car it is about 12 minutes from the Yasuda IC on the Banetsu Expressway (coming from the Niigata side) and about 20 minutes from the Mikawa IC (coming from the Fukushima side)
• What needs a reservation: The day-trip plan must be booked in advance. The private open-air bath costs 2,000 yen (excluding tax) for 50 minutes
• Note on meals and shopping: There are no convenience stores or restaurants in the Sakihana Onsen area. The nearest convenience store is about 10 minutes by car on the far bank of the Agano River, and restaurants are about 15 minutes by car in the town centre. Bring drinks and snacks with you
• Bathing etiquette: Because this is a sulfur spring, precious metal items such as rings and necklaces can become discoloured. Take them off before bathing
• Things to enjoy nearby: The Agano River Line boat cruise departing from the "Aga no Sato" roadside station (on the hour from 9:00 to 15:00, 2,000 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for children / 40 minutes). If you wish, you can also disembark at Sakihana Port. The Sakihana Onsen underwater fireworks festival is held on the second Friday of June every year, when the inns become very busy

*The section of the article headed "representative facility for day-use bathing" contained a description of Tsubame Onsen (Myoko City), a different hot spring resort, so it has been replaced with a facility that actually exists at Sakihana Onsen.

(Sources: official website of Sakihana Onsen Suigyoku no Yu Satorikan and others. As of July 2026)