Gosho Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

Just after you leave the Dosei Interchange on the Tokushima Expressway, "Natural Hot Spring Gosho no Sato" stands amid the farmland spreading at the foot of the Asan mountain range. It is a day-use bathing facility where a Western-style "Roman Bath" and a Japanese-style "Wa no Yu" are used alternately on different days, and its construction with barrier-free features and underfloor heating is a defining characteristic. It is cherished as a countryside bathhouse where you can enjoy bathing, dining, and relaxation all in one place.

Highlights

The water is a sodium chloride and bicarbonate spring. You can enjoy two bathhouses of differing character on rotating days, combining the deeply warming quality of chloride water with the skin-smoothing nature of bicarbonate. Dining and relaxation spaces are also well provided. Chloride water resists cooling, so the warmth lingers long after your bath, while the bicarbonate content adds a moist, smooth feel to the skin, giving this spring the best of both qualities.

The Origin of the Place Name "Gosho"

There is a clear reason why this area is called "Gosho" (imperial residence). Retired Emperor Tsuchimikado, exiled to Tosa after the Jokyu War, later moved to Awa and made this place his temporary palace from 1227 (Karoku 3) until his death in 1231 (Kanki 3). In Yoshida, Dosei-cho, Awa City, the place name "Gosho Yashiki" still survives, handed down as the site of Retired Emperor Tsuchimikado's temporary palace. When the hot spring facility's official website describes itself as "welling up in a place connected with Retired Emperor Tsuchimikado," it is on the basis of this historical fact.

Two Baths, Alternating Daily

There are two bathing areas: "Roman Bath Venus" and "Wa no Yu Keyaki." On odd-numbered days the Roman Bath is for men and Wa no Yu for women; on even-numbered days it is the reverse, swapping every day. You can enter either for the same bathing fee, so on consecutive nights or a repeat visit, the right move is to change the day and savor both.

The centerpiece of the Roman Bath is the low-temperature sauna "Laconium," said to recreate the Caracalla-style bathing of Rome 2,000 years ago. It is a sauna imported directly from Rome that warms you with radiant heat from the walls. Alongside it are the steam sauna "Caldarium," which makes you perspire with steam, a high-temperature sauna, the circular large bath Venus, a Western-style open-air bath, a Western-style lying bath, and a pounding-water bath.

Wa no Yu has the large bath "Keyaki" with a jet bath, a Japanese-style open-air bath with bubbles, a walking bath where you walk slowly through a 90 cm deep tub, a Japanese-style lying bath, high- and low-temperature saunas, and a mist sauna that is gentle on the skin, throat and hair. Both sides have 15 washing stations.

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring offers cherry blossoms in the surrounding hills, summer the rural scenery of green paddies, and autumn the colors of harvest along the way. Savoring dishes made with local ingredients after your bath is a way of spending time unique to this facility. The Dosei countryside is dotted with cherry trees and historic sites linked to the old Kumano pilgrimage routes, so a walk around the area pairs well with your soak.

Access and Basic Information

It is in Yoshida, Doseicho, Awa City. It is a short drive from the Dosei Interchange on the Tokushima Expressway, conveniently placed for a stop on a drive.

Practical Information

• Spring quality: Sodium chloride and bicarbonate spring
• Benefits: Neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, bruises, weak constitution, chronic women's ailments, frozen shoulder, sensitivity to cold, hemorrhoids, recovery from fatigue, general health promotion and more
• Bathing hours: 10:00-22:00 (last admission 21:30)
• Bathing fee: Adults (junior high school age and over) 700 yen, children (age 3 and over) 300 yen, free under age 3. Those aged 70 and over and people with disabilities pay 600 yen on presentation of proof. A coupon book of 11 admissions is 7,000 yen. Groups of 15 or more get a discount and must reserve
• Closed: The second and fourth Wednesday of each month
• Stone sauna (women only): 10:00-21:00 (last admission 20:00). Separate from the bathing fee: members 500 yen (120 minutes) / general 700 yen (90 minutes). Includes a samue outfit, bath towel and mineral water. It uses germanium, bakuhanseki (red) and yellow onyx, and has a tunnel-shaped cave bath (tourmaline) and a kosui bath. From mid-November to the end of March it is a steam-type stone sauna. Becoming a member for an annual fee of 1,000 yen brings benefits such as one free visit for 20 points and one free samue exchange. Mobile phones may not be brought inside
• Tattoos: Bathing is declined for those with tattoos, body art, tattoo stickers or body paint
• Shampoo and body soap: Provided in the bathing area. Towels 150 yen, bath towel rental 150 yen. Razors, cleansing (face wash), lotion, milky lotion and other items are also sold
• Families with children: Mixed bathing is not allowed for boys and girls aged 7 and over. Children aged 6 and under must be accompanied by a guardian. There is a baby bed in the powder room
• Barrier-free: The building is fully barrier-free with underfloor heating. There are body dryers and a spacious locker room and washbasin area, and according to the Awa City Tourism Association's information, barrier-free accommodation is listed as "by consultation"
• Free rest room: A large Japanese-style room called "Yasunbo." It has coin-operated massage chairs and foot massagers. The lobby has underfloor heating in winter
• How payment works: On entering you leave your shoe locker key at the front desk and receive a changing room locker key (or a check tag if you are only dining). Charges for food, drink, and body treatments or beauty services inside the building are added to this key, and you settle everything at once at the front desk on your way out
• Parking: Free, 200 spaces
• Access: Right after leaving the Dosei IC on the Tokushima Expressway. A 10-minute walk from the "Dosei BS" highway bus stop
• On site: The Japanese-style restaurant "Shugetsu" (11:00-14:30 / L.O. 14:00; 17:00-20:30 / L.O. 20:00), the shop "Hibi Shokusai" (10:00-21:00), body treatments, beauty services and akasuri body scrub, banquet rooms and karaoke
• The building is non-smoking (there is a smoking room). Those under 18 may use the facility unaccompanied only until 22:00
• Address: 1 Nashikihara, Yoshida, Dosei-cho, Awa City, Tokushima Prefecture (088-695-4615)

How to Tour Dosei After Your Bath

Because Gosho no Sato connects directly to an expressway interchange, it is an easy facility to slot into the middle of an itinerary. The shop "Hibi Shokusai" has a direct-from-the-farm corner as well as Dosei's specialty tarai udon and local confections, and you can send parcels by courier on the spot. Dosei is a district known for "Gosho no Tarai Udon," and udon specialty shops are dotted around. The way of eating in which everyone gathers around a large wooden tub is something particular to this area.

Since the last admission for bathing is 21:30 while the restaurant's last order is 20:00, there is a gap between the two, so if you plan to eat as well, entering by early evening will save you rushing.

A Quick Tip

The two baths differ in atmosphere, so trying both by varying the time or day is recommended. Pairing it with a meal heightens the satisfaction.

Practical Travel Notes

• Facility: A day-use natural hot spring built with barrier-free care, with a dining room and relaxation spaces
• Water: Sodium chloride and bicarbonate spring; warms well and feels gentle on the skin
• Baths: Two bathhouses of differing character, enjoyed on rotating days
• Setting: The farmland of Yoshida, Doseicho, Awa City
• Access by car: Close to the Dosei IC on the Tokushima Expressway, handy for a stop on a drive; parking available
• Fees, hours, and closed days may change, so please check official sources in advance

📚 Sources

The spring quality, benefits, bathing fee and coupon book, hours and closing days, the layout of tubs and saunas in the Roman Bath and Wa no Yu, the odd-day/even-day swap between men and women, the number of washing stations, towel charges, the conditions of use regarding tattoos and age, the payment procedure, and the free rest room and 200-space parking were confirmed on the top page and hot spring page of the official Natural Hot Spring Gosho no Sato website. The stone sauna's fees, hours of use, stones used, membership benefits and the period of the steam-type stone sauna follow the stone sauna page of the same site. The information that it is a 10-minute walk from the Dosei BS, the details of Restaurant Shugetsu and the shop, and the handling of barrier-free access were confirmed on the facility introduction page of the Awa City Tourism Association. The fact that Retired Emperor Tsuchimikado made Yoshida in Dosei-cho his temporary palace from 1227 (Karoku 3) until his death in 1231 (Kanki 3), and the place name "Gosho Yashiki," follow the same association's page on the site of the retired emperor's temporary palace. The bathing fee and closing days are based on the latest description on the official website. Details are subject to change, so please check official sources before setting out.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality: Sodium chloride and bicarbonate spring
• Reputed benefits: Neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, bruises, delicate constitution, chronic women's complaints, frozen shoulder, sensitivity to cold, haemorrhoids, recovery from fatigue, general health promotion and more
• Bathing hours: 10:00-22:00 (last admission 21:30)
• Bathing fee: Adults (junior high school age and above) 700 yen, children (age 3 and above) 300 yen, under 3s free of charge. Visitors aged 70 and over and those with disabilities pay 600 yen on presentation of proof. A multi-ticket book of 11 admissions costs 7,000 yen. Groups of 15 or more receive a discount and must reserve in advance
• Closed: The second and fourth Wednesday of every month
• Rock sauna (women only): 10:00-21:00 (last admission 20:00). Charged separately from the bathing fee: 500 yen for members (120 minutes) / 700 yen for non-members (90 minutes). Includes samue wear, a bath towel and mineral water. It uses germanium, red bakuhanseki stone and yellow onyx, and there is a tunnel-like cave bath (tourmaline) and a kosui bath. From mid-November to the end of March it becomes a steam-type rock sauna. Becoming a member for an annual fee of 1,000 yen brings benefits such as one free visit for 20 points and one free change of samue wear. Mobile phones may not be brought inside
• Tattoos: Bathing is not permitted for anyone with tattoos, stick-on tattoos or body paint
• Shampoo and body soap: Provided in the bathing area. Towels 150 yen, bath towel rental 150 yen. Razors, cleansing (facial wash), lotion, milky lotion and other items are also sold
• Coming with children: Mixed bathing is not allowed for boys and girls aged 7 and over. Children aged 6 and under must be accompanied by a guardian. There is a baby bed in the powder room
• Barrier-free access: The building is fully barrier-free with underfloor heating. There are body dryers and spacious locker rooms and washbasins, and according to information from the Awa City Tourism Association barrier-free arrangements are handled "on consultation"
• Free rest room: A large Japanese-style room called "Yasunbo". It has coin-operated massage chairs and foot massagers. The lobby has underfloor heating in winter
• How payment works: On entering you hand your shoe locker key to the front desk and receive a changing-room locker key (or a check tag if you are only dining). Food, drink and treatments such as body therapy and beauty services are charged to this key, and you settle everything together at the front desk on your way out
• Parking: 200 spaces, free of charge
• Access: Right after leaving Donari IC on the Tokushima Expressway. A 10-minute walk from the "Donari BS" highway bus stop
• On site: The Japanese-style restaurant "Shugetsu" (11:00-14:30 / L.O. 14:00, 17:00-20:30 / L.O. 20:00), the shop "Hibi Shokusai" (10:00-21:00), body therapy, beauty treatments and body scrubs, banquet rooms and karaoke
• The building is non-smoking (there is a smoking room). Visitors under 18 on their own may stay until 22:00
• Location: 1 Nashikihara, Yoshida, Donari-cho, Awa City, Tokushima Prefecture (088-695-4615)

How to Spend Your Time in Donari After the Bath

Because Gosho no Sato is directly connected to an expressway interchange, it is an easy place to slot into the middle of an itinerary. The shop "Hibi Shokusai" has a farm-direct corner as well as Donari's famous tarai udon and local sweets, and you can send parcels by courier on the spot. Donari is known for "Gosho no Tarai Udon", and udon specialty restaurants are dotted around the area. Gathering around a large wooden tub to eat is something unique to this area.

Since last admission to the baths is 21:30 while the restaurant's last order is 20:00, if you plan to eat as well it is best to arrive by the early evening so you are not rushed.

Information Sources

The spring quality, reputed benefits, bathing fees and multi-ticket book, opening hours and closing days, the make-up of the baths and saunas in the Roman Bath and the Japanese Bath, the swapping of the men's and women's baths on odd and even days, the number of washing stations, towel charges, the conditions of use regarding tattoos and age, the payment procedure, and the free rest room and 200 parking spaces were confirmed on the top page and hot spring page of the official website of Natural Hot Spring Gosho no Sato. The rock sauna fees, hours, stones used, membership benefits and the period of the steam-type rock sauna come from the rock sauna page of the same website. The 10-minute walk from Donari BS, the details of Restaurant Shugetsu and the shop, and the handling of barrier-free access were confirmed on the facility introduction page of the Awa City Tourism Association. The fact that Retired Emperor Tsuchimikado used Yoshida in Donari-cho as his temporary palace from 1227 (Karoku 3) until his death in 1231 (Kanki 3), and the place name "Gosho Yashiki", come from the same association's page on the site of Retired Emperor Tsuchimikado's temporary palace. The bathing fees and closing days are based on the latest information on the official website. Details are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.