Shuzenji Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

With inns lined along the murmuring Katsura River, Shuzenji Onsen is said to be the oldest hot spring in Izu. Legends tie it to the monk Kobo Daishi, and the Tokko-no-Yu bath rising from a sandbar in the river has long been its symbol. Bamboo groves and stone-paved lanes create a calm atmosphere cherished by many writers.

Highlights

The vermilion bridge over the Katsura River at the heart of the town and the path through verdant bamboo are perfect for strolling. A riverside plaza with a footbath lets you rest while gazing at the townscape. Visiting the grounds of Shuzenji temple and nearby historic sites lets you feel layers of more than a thousand years of history. At the Hakoyu day-use bath you can enjoy a soak wrapped in the scent of wood. At night, the lantern-lit streets grow even more dreamlike.

Enjoying the Seasons

In autumn the gorge turns to crimson foliage, making riverside walks at their most beautiful. The fresh green of the bamboo in early summer is equally refreshing, and the town shows a new face in every season.

Access and Basic Information

From Shuzenji Station on the Izuhakone Railway, a bus to the center of the hot spring district takes roughly seven to ten minutes. The Odoriko limited express is convenient from the Tokyo direction. The Hakoyu day-use bath is generally open from about 10:00 to 21:00, with adult admission around 700 yen as a guide (please check the official site for the latest). The footbath overlooking the Tokko-no-Yu and the bamboo path are free to enjoy, suited to casual bath-hopping and a stroll through town.

Practical Travel Notes

The town is compact, and a walk touring the bamboo path, the Tokko-no-Yu, Shuzenji temple, and the vermilion bridge takes about half a day. The lanes wind together, so it is best to explore slowly to savor the atmosphere. The autumn foliage season is especially popular, and weekdays or mornings let you stroll in calm. Budget-wise, footbaths and strolls are free, and day-use bathing under a thousand yen is affordable. The illumination from dusk into night is dreamlike, so an overnight stay to savor it slowly is also recommended.

A Quick Tip

The lanes wind together, so it is best to explore slowly on foot. The evening illumination is especially evocative. Combining the Hakoyu day-use bath with footbath-hopping lets you enjoy a soak easily even when traveling by train.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality: Alkaline simple hot spring. It is said to be beneficial for neuralgia, muscle pain and joint pain, among other conditions
• Bathing area at Hako-yu: Indoor bath only, with no open-air bath. The building is compact and the tub is made of Japanese cypress
• Day bathing (Hako-yu): 10:00 to 21:00 (last admission 20:30). 700 yen for adults (junior high school age and above), 400 yen for elementary school children. Irregular closing days
• Maintenance days: On the second Thursday of every month (except August) the hot spring supply is shut off for servicing, so the bath opens at 15:00
• Discounts: 350 yen for Izu City residents and those who work in the city (show ID showing your address). Guests staying at member inns of the Shuzenji Onsen Ryokan Cooperative also pay 350 yen
• Provided amenities: Body soap, shampoo and conditioner are provided. Towel sets are sold for 200 yen and bath-salt sets for 700 yen
• Parking: Hako-yu has no car park of its own. Use one of the nearby paid car parks; if you use the Koyama car park, Hako-yu will give you a voucher covering 3 hours (worth 300 yen)
• Free hot spring spots: Kawara-yu (foot bath, 5:00 to 23:00), Sugi-no-yu (foot bath, up to 10 people), the purification font at Shuzen-ji Temple (hand bath and drinkable spring water) and Saru-no-Teyu (hand bath) are all free of charge
• Tokko-no-Yu: For viewing only. It cannot be used for bathing or as a foot bath
• Getting there: From Shuzenji Station on the Izuhakone Railway, take the Tokai Bus bound for Shuzenji Onsen for about 10 minutes and get off at the Shuzenji Onsen terminus. A taxi also takes about 10 minutes
• By car: About 30 minutes from the Numazu IC on the Tomei Expressway or the Nagaizumi-Numazu IC on the Shin-Tomei Expressway, via the Izu Jukan Expressway, the Izu Chuo Road (toll) and the Shuzenji Road (toll)
• Footwear: The hot spring town is full of narrow lanes, stone paving and riverside steps, and the bamboo forest path also has uneven sections. Wear comfortable walking shoes
• How long to allow: 1 to 2 hours for a bath and a stroll around the hot spring town; half a day if you want to take your time visiting Shuzen-ji Temple and the bamboo forest path
• Crowds: Weekends during the autumn foliage season are the busiest. Weekdays and mornings are calmer
• Address: Hako-yu is at 924-1 Shuzenji, Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Enjoying the Seasons

In autumn the foliage colours the gorge, and walks along the river are at their most beautiful. The bamboo grove in the fresh green of early summer is equally refreshing, and the way the scenery changes with each season is part of the appeal.

Sources of This Information

Hako-yu's opening hours, bathing fees, discounts, provided amenities, parking voucher and the second-Thursday maintenance day were confirmed on the day-trip bathing pages of the official website of the Shuzenji Onsen Ryokan Cooperative. The spring quality and Hako-yu's address come from the facility listing on the Izu City tourist information site; the fact that Tokko-no-Yu is for viewing only and cannot be used for bathing or as a foot bath, and the legend that the spring was opened in the 2nd year of the Daido era, come from the Tokko-no-Yu page on the same site. The bus journey time from Shuzenji Station and the driving route are based on the cooperative's access information. Details may change, so please check official sources before you set out.