Togo Onsen Yurihama: Japan's Only Sunset Resort Where Lake, Sea, and Hot Springs Meet

Hot springs bubbling up along the shore of a brackish lake, a crimson sun sinking below the horizon, and grand views of the famed Mt. Daisen — Togo Onsen in Yurihama Town, Tottori Prefecture, is an unusual lakeside hot spring resort. Blessed with the superb setting of Lake Togo, the Sea of Japan, and Mt. Daisen, it is also called a sunset resort of Japan, with its beautiful evening scenery as a point of pride. You can spend relaxing, healing time while savoring the bounty of the lake.

A Rare Hot Spring by the Lakeshore

Togo Onsen bubbles up along the shore of the brackish Lake Togo, making it a lakeside hot spring resort rare in Japan. Hot spring water even rises from the lake bed, and steam can be seen drifting up here and there across the water. It is known for warming the body well, and an open-air bath taken while gazing over the lake is a luxurious moment of great openness. On the opposite shore lies Hawai Onsen, so the two hot spring areas face each other across Lake Togo.

Lake Togo and the Sunset Spectacle

Lake Togo is a brackish lake connected to the sea, a rich waterside where both freshwater and saltwater fish live. Promenades and footbaths line the shore for leisurely strolling. The greatest highlight is the sun setting while dyeing the lake surface crimson. When conditions align, you may meet the spectacular sight of the sunset and the silhouette of Mt. Daisen together. The area is also known for a playful town-revitalization theme based on the district name Hawai, echoing Hawaii.

Bounty of Lake and Sea

In this area you can enjoy both the bounty of the lake, such as freshwater clams, eel, and pond smelt from Lake Togo, and fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan. The Lake Togo clams in particular are large and richly flavored. At the hot spring inns, you can savor dishes made with local seasonal ingredients. Yurihama Town is also one of the main production areas for Tottori famous Nijisseiki pears, and pear picking can be enjoyed in autumn.

Seasonal Highlights

From autumn into winter, when the air is clear, the sunset is especially beautiful and the silhouette of Mt. Daisen stands out sharply. Autumn, when Nijisseiki pears come into season, is also recommended for its flavors. In summer, lakeside strolls and footbaths are pleasant, and swimming can be enjoyed on the beach on the Hawai Onsen side. Enjoying the charms of both lake and sea by season is this area signature appeal.

Access and Essentials

About 5 minutes by car from JR Sanin Main Line Matsuzaki Station, with some inns within walking distance. From JR Kurayoshi Station it is about 20 minutes by car. Access by car from the Tottori and Kurayoshi areas is convenient. The town name Yurihama is said to combine three charms: hot springs (yu), Nijisseiki pears (ri, from nashi), and white sandy beach (hama).

Practical Travel Notes

• If the sunset is your goal, check the sunset time in advance and adjust your inn dining schedule. Choosing an inn with lake-facing rooms or open-air baths lets you enjoy the evening view from your room.
• Free footbaths are dotted along the shore of Lake Togo. Stopping to warm your feet during a stroll is a pleasure unique to the lakeside.
• Hawai Onsen and Togo Onsen sit close together across Lake Togo, so a hot spring tour of both is possible. Water quality and views differ by inn.
• Pear picking generally runs from around late August to October. Timing and varieties differ by orchard, so checking ahead is recommended.

A Word of Advice

This is an indulgent setting where lake, sea, mountain, and hot springs can all be enjoyed at once. Rather than rushing through, it suits an overnight stay at a lakeside inn to slowly savor the sunset, the baths, and the bounty of the lake. A trip combined with the white-walled storehouses of Kurayoshi and Misasa Onsen is also recommended.

📚 Sources

This article draws on sightseeing information published by Yurihama Town and its tourism association, together with guidance from the Togo Onsen ryokan association and bathing facilities. Signboards along Lake Togo were also consulted. Opening hours and fees for bathing facilities may change, so please confirm official information before your visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: Half a day suffices for a bath and lakeside stroll, or an overnight stay to relax.
• Preparation: Comfortable shoes make the lakeside walk more pleasant.
• Getting around: Walking the shore of Lake Togo offers views of the Sea of Japan and Mount Daisen.
• Best time: The sunset over the horizon is beautiful, the highlight of an evening praised as a Japanese sunset.
• Combine with: The scenery of the brackish lake invites a leisurely lakeside stay.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Day-use bathing (Yu-Asis Togo Ryuhokaku): The bathing zone, where swimsuits are worn, is open 10:00-21:00, and the Chinese bath, which is entered without a swimsuit, is open 10:00-21:30.
• Fees: Full use of the facility costs 1,070 yen for adults (senior high school age and above), 760 yen for junior high school students and 510 yen for children aged 3 to elementary school age. Use of the Chinese bath only costs 450 yen for adults, 390 yen for junior high school students and 320 yen for children aged 3 to elementary school age.
• Closing days: The 4th Tuesday of every month. When the 4th Tuesday is a public holiday it stays open and closes on the following weekday instead.
• Spring quality: sodium-calcium chloride and sulfate spring. There are 2 open-air baths, one large and one small, with sweeping views over Lake Togo.
• Address and contact: 560-7 Hikichi, Yurihama-cho, Tohaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture, telephone 0858-32-2622. Parking available.
• Lake Togo and the footbaths: Lake Togo (Togo-ike) is a brackish lake about 12 kilometers in circumference, with "Hawai Onsen" springing up on its western shore and "Togo Onsen" on its southern shore. The hot spring town has 7 footbaths where you can stop by without taking off your clothes.

* The hours of the footbaths and the fees at bathing facilities differ from facility to facility. Please check the official information of each facility before you set out.

(Sources: Yurihama Town Tourism Association official website, Yu-Asis Togo Ryuhokaku official website (Yurihama Onsen Kosha Foundation))