Jiseiji Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

An old hot spring welling up on high ground overlooking the Kotogawa River in the north of Ube City. Though only about 20 minutes by car from the city center, it sits in a quiet countryside where fields and mountains continue all around. There is, however, something to know before you visit. The day-use bathhouse "Kami-no-Yu," long the face of the district, ended its business in 2023, and it has been decided that the building will be demolished.

Highlights

Soaking while gazing over the peaceful rural landscape fills the heart with a soothing calm. Though close to the city, it retains the feel of a mountain village. At the public bath "Sugino-yu," you can casually enjoy the radioactive spring containing radon.

How "Kami-no-Yu" Closed the Curtain on Seventy Years

Kami-no-Yu began operating as a public bathhouse in 1953 (Showa 28). For seventy years thereafter it was used as an everyday bath by the people of Ube, but on June 23, 2023 Legionella bacteria were detected and it suspended business. Then, in the torrential rain from June 30 to July 1, the floors were flooded above floor level and the electrical and mechanical systems suffered heavy damage. It stood at the lowest point in the surrounding area, so the risk of further flood damage could not be avoided, and the ageing of the building and its equipment had also advanced; with these factors combined, in November of the same year it was announced that the reopening had been given up. The decision came just after the first-floor public bath had been renewed and reopened on August 29 of the previous year, 2022. The operating company has said that although the building will be demolished, it will consider how the hot spring source might be put to use in future as a resource for the district.

Two Waters of Differing Character, Recorded in the Edo Period

Jiseiji Onsen originally has two sources of differing character. The water of the public bath "Sugino-yu" is a simple radioactive spring with a source temperature of 26.7 degrees - water far cooler than human body temperature. This spring appears in a record of the origin of the hot spring written in Kyowa 2 (1802), and a document of 1886 (Meiji 19) states that it had been in use since before the Enpo era (1673-1681). That means it was already known as a hot spring at the beginning of the Edo period.

Kami-no-Yu, on the other hand, was handed down as having been opened around the Sengoku period, but the source actually used was struck by boring after the war. The spring quality is an alkaline simple spring with a source temperature of 39.7 degrees. Though they bore the same place name, two entirely different waters - a radioactive spring and an alkaline simple spring - stood side by side.

Seasonal Enjoyment

Riverside cherry blossoms in spring, deep-green ranges in summer, coloring leaves in autumn, and steam rising in the clear winter air let you enjoy the four seasons within familiar nature.

Access and Basic Information

About 15 minutes on foot from Koto Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line. Close to Yamaguchi Ube Airport, it is easy to stop by on the way to or from a trip.

A Word of Advice

The smooth simple spring is unlikely to tire you out, so it suits a long, leisurely soak.

Practical Information

• Spring quality (Sugino-yu): Simple radioactive spring. Source temperature 26.7 degrees
• Spring quality (Kami-no-Yu, closed): Alkaline simple spring. Source temperature 39.7 degrees
• Operating status of Kami-no-Yu: Business ended in 2023. Demolition of the building has been decided, and neither day-trip bathing nor lodging is available
• Using Sugino-yu: It is a small bathhouse for day-trip use only. Closing days are irregular, so before you go, please check the operating days and reception hours by telephone (0836-62-0020)
• Location: Yoshimi Jiseiji, Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
• Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Koto Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line. By Ube city bus, get off at "Jiseiji Onsen Iriguchi" and walk about 8 minutes. By car it is about 30 minutes from the Ogori IC on the Chugoku Expressway via National Route 2
• An option when you want a certain hot spring bath: "Kusunoki Komorebi no Sato Kusukusu no Yu" in the south of Ube City. It is about 30 minutes by car from Jiseiji Onsen, but it accepts day-trip bathers all year round
• Spring quality at Kusukusu no Yu: Alkaline simple spring, source temperature 34.6 degrees. It is the facility's own source, struck in March of Heisei 17 (2005) with a yield of 500 liters per minute
• How the water is used at Kusukusu no Yu: It is free-flowing from the source, but because the source temperature is low the facility itself discloses that the water is heated and disinfected with a bromine-based disinfectant
• Kusukusu no Yu hours: 10:00-21:00 (reception until 20:00). Closed every Wednesday (open when Wednesday is a public holiday)
• Kusukusu no Yu fees: Adults (junior high school age and over) 830 yen, children (elementary school) 410 yen, free below elementary school age. A book of 10 tickets is 7,500 yen
• Family bath: By reservation, 1,900 yen per hour (bathing fee separate). Both the tub and the changing room are spacious and barrier-free, so those needing assistance can use it together with a carer
• Open-air bath and sauna: The two large baths, a rock bath and a stone bath, each have an open-air bath with a sun-shading roof, together with a hinoki cypress sauna and a cold-water bath. Pillars, walls and ceiling are all built of hinoki, and the men's and women's baths are swapped each month
• Hairdryers and families with children: The dresser room has a hairdryer at every mirror. The post-bath lobby has a kids' space where children can play while you wait
• Rough time needed: About one hour for bathing alone. Kusukusu no Yu also has a farm produce direct-sales outlet and an eating place, so allowing two to three hours together gives you room to spare

Practical Travel Notes

• Water quality: It has two sources. "Sugino-yu" is a simple radioactive spring containing radon (source temperature 26.7 degrees), while Kami-no-Yu was an alkaline simple spring (source temperature 39.7 degrees).
• Day-use bathing: Day trips are available at the public bath "Sugino-yu." Confirming fees and hours in advance is recommended. Kami-no-Yu ended its business in 2023.
• Location: Yoshimi Jiseiji, Ube City.
• Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Koto Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line, or about 8 minutes on foot from the "Jiseiji Onsen Iriguchi" bus stop. It is also close to Yamaguchi Ube Airport.
• Parking: Available.

📚 Sources

The circumstances of the end of Kami-no-Yu's business (the detection of Legionella bacteria, the flooding above floor level in the torrential rain, the decision to demolish, and the start of business in 1953) are based on the report of November 14, 2023 in the Ube Nippo. For the renewal reopening in August 2022, the announcement article of the time was consulted. The spring qualities and source temperatures of the two sources, the record of the hot spring's origin from Kyowa 2 and the record of the Enpo era, and access from Koto Station and the bus stop are compiled from explanatory articles on Jiseiji Onsen. The spring quality, source temperature, water usage, hours, closing days, fees, family bath, facilities and history of Kusunoki Komorebi no Sato Kusukusu no Yu follow the descriptions on the hot spring page and company profile page of that facility's official website. Operating conditions and fees are subject to change, so please check official sources before setting out.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality (Sugino-yu): Simple radioactive spring. Source temperature 26.7C
• Spring quality (Ue-no-yu, closed): Alkaline simple spring. Source temperature 39.7C
• Status of Ue-no-yu: It ceased operating in 2023. Demolition of the building has been decided, and neither day-trip bathing nor overnight stays are possible
• Using Sugino-yu: This is a small bathhouse for day-trip bathing only. Its closing days are irregular, so please call (0836-62-0020) to confirm the days it is open and its reception hours before you go
• Address: Yoshimi Jiseiji, Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
• Access: About a 15-minute walk from Koto Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line. By Ube municipal bus, get off at "Jiseiji Onsen Iriguchi" and walk about 8 minutes. By car, about 30 minutes from the Ogori IC on the Chugoku Expressway via National Route 2
• If you want to be sure of a hot spring bath: "Kusunoki Komorebi no Sato Kusukusu no Yu" in the south of Ube City. It is about a 30-minute drive from Jiseiji Onsen, but it accepts day-trip bathers all year round
• Spring quality at Kusukusu no Yu: Alkaline simple spring, source temperature 34.6C. It is the facility's own source, struck in March 1993 (Heisei 17) with a yield of 500 liters per minute
• How the water is used at Kusukusu no Yu: The water is free-flowing from the source, but because the source temperature is low the facility itself states that it heats the water and disinfects it with a bromine-based disinfectant
• Opening hours of Kusukusu no Yu: 10:00-21:00 (reception until 20:00). Closed every Wednesday (open when Wednesday falls on a public holiday)
• Fees at Kusukusu no Yu: 830 yen for adults (junior high school students and older), 410 yen for children (elementary school students), free for children below elementary school age. A book of 10 tickets costs 7,500 yen
• Family bath: Reservation required, 1,900 yen per hour (bathing fees are separate). Both the bath and the changing room are spacious and barrier-free, so those who need assistance can use it together with a carer
• Open-air baths and sauna: The two large bathhouses, one with a rock bath and one with a stone bath, each have an open-air bath with a sunshade roof, along with a cypress sauna and a cold-water bath. The pillars, walls and even the ceilings are made of Japanese cypress, and the men's and women's baths are swapped each month
• Hairdryers and families with children: The dresser room has a hairdryer at every mirror. The lobby where you relax after your bath has a kids' space where children can play while they wait
• Time needed: About an hour if you are just bathing. Kusukusu no Yu also has a farm produce shop and a dining area, so allow 2 to 3 hours to take it all in comfortably

Information Sources

The circumstances behind the closure of Ue-no-yu (the detection of Legionella bacteria, flooding above floor level from torrential rain, the decision to demolish the building, and its opening in 1953) are based on a report in the Ube Nippo newspaper dated November 14, 2023. The renewal reopening in August 2022 is taken from the announcement article of that time. The spring quality and source temperatures of the two sources, the record of the hot spring's origins from the 2nd year of Kyowa and the records of the Enpo era, and access from Koto Station and the bus stop are compiled from explanatory articles on Jiseiji Onsen. The spring quality, source temperature, water treatment, opening hours, closing days, fees, family bath, facilities and history of Kusunoki Komorebi no Sato Kusukusu no Yu are based on the hot spring page and company profile of the facility's official website. Operating status and prices are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.