Kintaro Onsen: Hot Spring Guide & Visitor Access

Springing in Uozu, a city known for its mirages, Kintaro Onsen is a large hot spring inn that opened in 1965. Its water carries both sulfur and salt, and as if reflecting a land blessed by sea and mountains, its abundant flow and spacious baths invite visitors into a leisurely soak.

Highlights

The pride of the inn is its garden-style grand bath, boldly arranged with rocks. The day-use facility Karuna-no-Yakata offers a striking rock bath, built by piling up unusual stones gathered from Shikoku to evoke Mount Tateyama, along with a spacious garden open-air bath. Both the indoor bath and the garden open-air bath span a scale of several hundred tsubo, and in an atmosphere like an open-air bath among the mountains, you can savor the scent of salt and the sulfur water to your heart content. Cuisine featuring seafood from the Uozu coast is another pleasure.

Enjoying the Seasons

Cherry blossoms nearby in spring, firefly squid and mirages off Uozu Port in early summer, mountain foliage in autumn, and cold yellowtail in winter let you enjoy the seasonal bounty of Toyama Bay. The fresh seafood tasted after a bath is exceptional.

Access and Basic Information

It is convenient to drive from Uozu Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway, and from Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen a shuttle for staying guests is available. The inn also sits close to the Uozu Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway. The water is a sulfur-bearing chloride spring containing sulfur and salt, and the source is hot. Apart from the lodging building Kofukaku, a day-use bathing facility called Karuna-no-Yakata is also attached, so you can enjoy the signature grand rock bath without staying overnight.

Practical Travel Notes

The charm of Kintaro Onsen is that it can be enjoyed on a day trip or an overnight stay. Karuna-no-Yakata has spacious baths, so it suits those who want to enjoy a slow tour of the waters. The Uozu city center and Uozu Port are a short drive away, making it easy to combine with mirage-viewing spots such as Umi-no-Eki Shinkiro. The scent of sulfur clings easily to clothing, so bringing a change of clothes keeps you comfortable. Aiming for the morning or evening rather than the crowded midday hours lets you enjoy the day-use facility more at leisure.

A Quick Tip

To catch a mirage, a clear, warming day from spring to early summer offers the best chance. Combining your stay with a meal plan featuring seafood lets you fully enjoy the charms of Uozu. Since a sulfur spring can leave you light-headed, take care to stay hydrated and soak slowly.