Inunakiyama Onsen Yamanoyu: Day-Use Hot Spring Prices

In the hills of Izumisano City, Osaka, the Inunakiyama hot spring rises in the Inunaki Valley and is treasured as one of the few natural secret springs in the prefecture. At Yamanoyu (Yumoto Onsenso) you can enjoy a slightly cloudy simple sulfur spring in a free-flowing style, known as a beauty water that leaves the skin smooth. Cradled by mountains famed as a center of mountain asceticism, it lets you forget the bustle of the city and relax at ease.

Highlights

• A free-flowing simple sulfur spring. Slightly cloudy with a faint sulfur scent, it feels gentle on the skin and leaves it moist and smooth.
• A calm indoor bath and open-air bath where you soak to the murmur of the mountain stream.
• Nearby Shipporyuji Temple invites you to experience waterfall training and the history of mountain faith. It is also known as a sacred site linked to the monk Kukai.
• A location relatively close to Kansai International Airport, easy to visit before or after a trip.

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring brings fresh greenery, summer a cool valley breeze, and autumn a mountain range painted in red and gold, so the scenery shifts through the year. The autumn foliage season is especially rewarding, with the luxury of gazing at the coloring slopes while you soak. With hiking trails also nearby, combining a walk on Mount Inunaki with the hot spring is a popular way to enjoy the area.

Access and Basic Information

• Address: 2234 Oki, Izumisano City, Osaka
• Access: From JR Hineno Station or Nankai Izumisano Station, take the Nankai Bus bound for Inunakiyama to the last stop, then about a 3-minute walk.
• Day bathing: around 10:00 to 18:00, with a fee of about 700 yen (subject to change; check the latest information).
• Parking: free (about 15 spaces). Drive with care on the mountain road.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season: around November, when foliage colors the valley, is the most beautiful, and around May with its fresh greenery is refreshing too.
• Avoiding crowds: weekends in foliage season draw hikers and worshippers, so weekdays or early mornings are calmer.
• Time to set aside: one to two hours for bathing alone, or about half a day if you add a visit to Shipporyuji Temple or a valley stroll.
• Real nearby spots: Shipporyuji Temple, the Gyoja Falls, and the Inunakiyama hiking course are all within walking distance. Kansai International Airport and the Rinku Town outlet mall are within driving distance too.
• Budget sense: even with a meal or drink added to the day-bathing fee, you can enjoy a visit for about 1,000 to 2,000 yen per person.

A Quick Tip

The valley can grow chilly, so a light jacket is reassuring. Buses run infrequently, so check the timetable in advance. Pairing the visit with waterfall training or a visit to Shipporyuji Temple makes for a refreshing day for body and mind.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Address: 2234 Ogi, Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture (Yumoto Onsenso 072-459-7015 / day-use bathing at Yamanoyu 072-459-7515)
• Spring quality: Simple sulphur spring. Slightly cloudy white, it is known as a "beauty spring" that leaves the skin smooth after a soak
• How the water is used: Free-flowing spring water
• Reputed benefits: Neuralgia, joint pain, sensitivity to cold, chronic digestive complaints, skin conditions and more
• Day-use bathing: 10:00-18:00, 700 yen, open every day
• Tattoos: No policy has been made public, so call ahead to check
• Amenities: This is a drop-in bath at a small hot spring inn. It is reassuring to bring your own towel and soap
• Access (train and bus): From Hineno Station on the JR Hanwa Line or Izumisano Station on the Nankai Main Line, take the Nankai Bus bound for "Inunakisan" to the last stop, then walk about 3 minutes. Buses are infrequent, so check the return times on your way there
• Access (by car): There is a car park. The road is a mountain road, so allow plenty of time for the drive
• Time needed: 1-2 hours for the bath alone, or about half a day if you combine it with a visit to Shipporyuji Temple and a walk through the gorge
• Shipporyuji Temple: Open to visitors 7:00-17:00. It is about a 25-minute walk from the bus stop to the main hall, along an approach about 1,500 metres long with an elevation gain of about 80 metres
• Footwear and clothing: The approach is a mountain path with steps and slopes, so comfortable walking shoes are essential. It is cooler along the gorge than in town, so an extra layer is reassuring
• Strollers and wheelchairs: The approach to Shipporyuji Temple is a mountain path with significant changes in elevation, making a visit with a stroller or wheelchair difficult
• In the rain: Bathing is unaffected by the weather, but the approach becomes slippery in the rain. Stay away from the waterfall when the water is high
• Avoiding the crowds: Weekends in the autumn foliage season are busy with hikers and worshippers. Weekdays or early in the morning are calmer
• Budget guide: Around 1,000-2,000 yen per person for a day-use bath plus a drink or two

Sources of Information

The spring quality (simple sulphur spring), the reputed benefits, the fact that Mount Inunaki is a sacred site of Shugendo and the head temple of the Shingon Inunaki school, the Gyoja waterfall and Shugendo experiences, its selection for the "Osaka Prefecture 100 Greenery Sites," the way it has been called "the hot spring closest to the world" since Kansai International Airport opened, and the closure of the Inunaki Onsen Center in mid-July 2024 all come from the guide to Inunakiyama Onsen on the official website of Izumisano City. The fact that Yamanoyu uses free-flowing spring water, the day-use bathing hours (10:00-18:00), the price (700 yen) and the fact that it opens every day, along with the address, telephone number, bus access and availability of parking, are based on the Yumoto Onsenso / Yamanoyu page on the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau's official website "OSAKA-INFO." The visiting hours of Shipporyuji Temple, the distance and walking time from the bus stop to the main hall, and the length and elevation gain of the approach come from information published by the Izumisano City Tourism Association and Shipporyuji Temple. Fees, hours and access are subject to change, so please check official information before you go.