Yuno Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

A quiet hot spring village that opens out along the upper Yoichi River in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Counted with Yuda Onsen and Nagato Yumoto Onsen among the "Three Famous Springs of Bocho," it has an alkaline sulfur spring that is rare along the Seto Inland Sea coast. It is a small hot spring resort with only three inns, but all three accept day-use bathing, and each differs in how it handles the water and in its fees. It has also been called the "inner parlor of Tokuyama," and is loved as a moist, beautifying bath.

The Sacred Spring That Cooled Emperor Ojin's Fever

The origins of Yuno Onsen go back to a legend of Empress Jingu. In the ninth year of Emperor Chuai's reign, Empress Jingu's party, on the way back from Silla, met a storm in the Suo-nada Sea and, escaping the danger, landed at Shiraga-no-Ura (present-day Heta, Shunan City). While they were sheltering in a house near Funakami Shrine in Tonomi Village, the newborn Prince Homutawake (later Emperor Ojin) fell gravely ill with a fever. An attendant heard from the villagers about a sacred spring in the area, and when they drew that water and offered it to the prince, his fever is said to have suddenly come down. The empress's party is said to have stayed three days before departing, and that sacred spring is held to be today's Yuno Onsen.

Entering the Meiji era, the flow of people increased as it became a place of recuperation for soldiers wounded and sick in the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars, and it grew stronger in character as a toji (curative bathing) resort. As a hot spring with more than 1,700 years of history, it still carries the banner of "waters for health and beautiful skin."

The Differences between the Three Inns

The source name is Shunan City-owned Source No. 3. The spring quality is a weakly radioactive, alkaline simple sulfur spring, with a high alkaline pH of 9.35 to 9.5. The combination of a sulfur spring that is also alkaline is rare even nationwide; the water is colorless and transparent, tasteless, with a faint smell of hydrogen sulfide. Because the source temperature is on the low side at 32 to 33 degrees C, it is warmed to around 41 degrees C for the tubs.

"Shisuien" is an inn built around a Japanese garden, with a bubble bath, jet bath and open-air bath in addition to the large communal bath. "Hozanen" is an inn with detached buildings that opened a new large bath, "Howa no Yu," in September 2024, and in addition to an open-air rock bath and reclining bath it has two ceramic tubs supplied with free-flowing source water. "Yuya Haruruoto" is a day-use-only facility created by renovating an inn that opened in 1965, and its private hot spring baths "Kouko" and "Tsubotsubo" are both free-flowing from the source.

Highlights

The quiet riverside setting wrapped in rich nature is its charm. The smooth, silky feel slowly unwinds everyday fatigue.

Seasonal Enjoyment

Budding riverbanks in spring, firefly light in summer, mountain foliage in autumn, and bathing in clear air in winter let you feel the four seasons amid tranquility.

Practical Information

• Spring quality: weakly radioactive, alkaline simple sulfur spring (source name: Shunan City-owned Source No. 3). pH 9.35 to 9.5; colorless and transparent, tasteless, with a faint hydrogen sulfide smell
• Source temperature: low at 32 to 33 degrees C, warmed to around 41 degrees C in the tubs. The flow is 9 tons per hour
• Indications: gastrointestinal complaints, neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, joint stiffness, bruises, anemia, rheumatism, sprains, sensitivity to cold, chronic digestive disease, hemorrhoids, recovery after illness, fatigue recovery, health promotion, gout, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, gallstones, chronic skin disease, diabetes and others
• Contraindications: people with sensitive skin or mucous membranes, especially those with photosensitivity
• Day-use bathing at Shisuien: 11:00 to 20:00 (last reception 19:00); on weekdays adults (junior high school age and above) 700 yen and children (age 3 to elementary school) 350 yen, on weekends and holidays adults 850 yen and children 350 yen, free for age 2 and under. No reservation is needed; just speak to the counter. Body soap, shampoo, conditioner and hair dryers are provided. Admission may be restricted in busy periods (0834-83-2345)
• Hozanen "Howa no Yu": 11:00 to 21:00 (last reception 20:00); on weekdays adults 1,100 yen and children 550 yen, on weekends and holidays adults 1,300 yen and children 650 yen. A book of 12 coupons is 11,000 yen (valid five months from the date of issue). Closed every Thursday and the third Wednesday of each month (the following day if it falls on a public holiday). Reception is at the Hozanen front desk, not at the Howa no Yu building (0834-83-2255)
• Free-flowing source water at Hozanen: the open-air area of Howa no Yu has two ceramic tubs supplied with free-flowing source water. There are two sauna rooms each for men and women; the women's bath has self-loyly and auto-loyly, while the men's bath has self-loyly and a far-infrared sauna (60 to 70 degrees C). There are two kinds of cold-water bath, a source-water cold bath and a low-temperature cold bath, and there are infinity chairs on the outdoor cooling terrace
• Accessibility at Hozanen: the post-bath lounge has a wheelchair-accessible toilet, and the building is designed to be barrier-free. The changing rooms have hair dryers and Predia lotion, and the women's changing room also has a ReFa hair dryer
• Private baths at Hozanen: two rooms, "Norimi" and "Yoan." Both have an indoor bath, an open-air bath and a tatami-floored post-bath space, making them easy to use even with small children. 11:00 to 20:00; the bathing fee (adults 880 yen, children 440 yen) plus a usage charge of 2,200 yen for 50 minutes, with a separate bathing tax of 150 yen for adults. Telephone reservation in advance is required
• Yuya Haruruoto: the large bath is open 11:00 to 21:00 (last reception 20:00); on weekdays adults (junior high school age and above) 700 yen and children (age 3 and above) 350 yen, on weekends and holidays adults 800 yen and children 400 yen, free for age 2 and under. Prices were revised on May 8, 2026 due to rising fuel costs. Closed every Wednesday. There is no sauna in the large bath (0834-33-9757)
• Private use at Haruruoto: the free-flowing private hot spring baths "Kouko" and "Tsubotsubo" are 5,000 yen for 70 minutes (4,000 yen if used by two people), with a 30-minute extension at 1,500 yen. The private sauna "Sansan" is 7,000 yen for 90 minutes (4,000 yen for one person, 5,000 yen for two), with a 30-minute extension at 2,000 yen. All are for up to four people per group and require advance reservation. Private-use guests may use the large bath free of charge. The attached foot bath cafe is open 10:00 to 21:00 (last order 20:00)
• Free foot bath: there is a foot bath with a large sign next to Yamadaya Hon'ya that can be used free of charge. 10:00 to 16:00, closed Mondays
• Seasons: in early June you can see fireflies along the "Sun-Sun Road" walking path. Autumn foliage is the highlight in autumn
• Access: about 40 minutes from JR Tokuyama Station on a Bocho Bus bound for "Yuno Onsen" or "Yunokigawachi," getting off at "Yuno Onsen." The bus also stops in front of Heta Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line, and from Heta Station the same bus takes about 10 minutes. By car it is about 5 to 10 minutes from Tokuyama-nishi IC on the Sanyo Expressway, or about 35 minutes from Tokuji IC on the Chugoku Expressway
• Addresses: Shisuien is at 4341 Yuno, Shunan City; Hozanen is at 4255-1 Oaza Yuno, Shunan City; and Yuya Haruruoto is at 4346-2 Oaza Yuno, Shunan City. Inquiries are also accepted by the Yuno Onsen Business Cooperative (0834-83-2666)

A Word of Advice

Savor the gentle feel unique to a sulfur spring by relaxing in a long, leisurely soak in the tepid water.

📚 Sources

The spring quality name, source name, source temperature, pH, flow rate, indications and contraindications, and the hours and fees for day-use bathing at Shisuien come from the hot spring page of Shisuien's official site; the fees, hours, closing days, sauna and cold-bath layout, barrier-free facilities and private bath fees for Hozanen's "Howa no Yu" come from the hot spring page and day-use page of Hozanen's official site. The fees, hours and private hot spring and sauna charges for Yuya Haruruoto, and the price revision of May 8, 2026, were confirmed from the same facility's official site guide and announcements. The legend of Empress Jingu and the resort's development as a toji site from the Meiji era on follow the accounts on the official Yuno Onsen site and Shisuien's official site, while the "Three Famous Springs of Bocho," the number of facilities, the foot bath hours, the firefly season and bus access come from the tourism information on Shunan City's official site. Details are subject to change, so please check official sources before visiting.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality: Weakly radioactive alkaline simple sulfur spring (source name: Shunan City Source No. 3). pH 9.35-9.5, colorless and clear, tasteless, with a faint hydrogen sulfide smell
• Source temperature: A low 32-33 degrees C, heated to around 41 degrees C in the bathtubs. The yield is 9 tons per hour
• Indications: Gastrointestinal complaints, neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, joint stiffness, bruises, anemia, rheumatism, sprains, sensitivity to cold, chronic digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, convalescence after illness, recovery from fatigue, promotion of general health, gout, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, gallstones, chronic skin conditions, diabetes and more
• Contraindications: People with sensitive skin or mucous membranes, and especially those with photosensitivity
• Day-use bathing at Shisuien: 11:00-20:00 (last reception 19:00); on weekdays 700 yen for adults (junior high school students and above) and 350 yen for children (age 3 to elementary school students), and on weekends and public holidays 850 yen for adults and 350 yen for children, with children aged 2 and under free of charge. No reservation is needed; just speak to the staff at the counter. Body soap, shampoo, conditioner and hairdryers are provided. Entry may be restricted during busy periods (0834-83-2345)
• Hozanen "Howa no Yu": 11:00-21:00 (last reception 20:00); on weekdays 1,100 yen for adults and 550 yen for children, and on weekends and public holidays 1,300 yen for adults and 650 yen for children. A book of 12 tickets costs 11,000 yen (valid for 5 months from the date of issue). Closed every Thursday and on the third Wednesday of each month (the following day when that falls on a public holiday). Reception is at the Hozanen front desk rather than at the Howa no Yu building (0834-83-2255)
• Free-flowing source water at Hozanen: The open-air area of Howa no Yu has 2 ceramic tubs filled with free-flowing water straight from the source. There are 2 sauna rooms each for men and women: the women's bath has a self-service loyly sauna and an auto-loyly sauna, while the men's bath has a self-service loyly sauna and a far-infrared sauna (60-70 degrees C). There are 2 kinds of cold plunge baths, one filled with source water and one low-temperature, and there are infinity chairs on the open-air relaxation terrace
• Barrier-free access at Hozanen: The post-bath lounge has a wheelchair-accessible toilet, and the building is designed to be barrier-free. The changing rooms have hairdryers and Predia lotion, and the women's changing room also has a ReFa hairdryer
• Private baths at Hozanen: Two rooms, "Jomi" and "Yoan". Both come with an indoor bath, an open-air bath and a tatami-floored post-bath space, making them easy to use even with small children. 11:00-20:00, the bathing fee (880 yen for adults and 440 yen for children) plus a usage charge of 2,200 yen for 50 minutes, with a separate bathing tax of 150 yen for adults. Advance telephone reservations are required
• Yuya Haruoto: The large communal bath is open 11:00-21:00 (last reception 20:00); on weekdays 700 yen for adults (junior high school students and above) and 350 yen for children (age 3 and above), and on weekends and public holidays 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children, with children aged 2 and under free of charge. Prices were revised on May 8, 2026 due to soaring fuel costs. Closed every Wednesday. There is no sauna in the large communal bath (0834-33-9757)
• Private hire at Haruoto: The private hot spring baths "Kokou" and "Tsubotsubo", filled with free-flowing water straight from the source, cost 5,000 yen for 70 minutes (4,000 yen if used by 2 people), with a 30-minute extension costing 1,500 yen. The private sauna "Sansan" costs 7,000 yen for 90 minutes (4,000 yen for 1 person, 5,000 yen for 2 people), with a 30-minute extension costing 2,000 yen. All are for up to 4 people per group and require advance reservations. Those using a private bath can use the large communal bath free of charge. The attached footbath cafe is open 10:00-21:00 (L.O. 20:00)
• Free footbath: There is a footbath with a large sign beside Yamadaya Honya that anyone can use free of charge. 10:00-16:00, closed on Mondays
• Seasons: In early June you can see fireflies along the "Sun-Sun Road" walking path. In autumn the fall foliage is the highlight
• Access: About 40 minutes from JR Tokuyama Station on the Bocho bus bound for "Yuno Onsen" or "Yunokouchi", getting off at "Yuno Onsen". The bus also stops in front of Heta Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line, and from Heta Station the same bus takes about 10 minutes. By car it is about 5 to 10 minutes from the Tokuyama-nishi IC on the Sanyo Expressway, or about 35 minutes from the Tokuji IC on the Chugoku Expressway
• Addresses: Shisuien is at 4341 Yuno, Shunan City; Hozanen is at 4255-1 Oaza Yuno, Shunan City; and Yuya Haruoto is at 4346-2 Oaza Yuno, Shunan City. Inquiries are also handled by the Yuno Onsen Business Cooperative Association (0834-83-2666)

Information Sources

The spring quality name, source name, source temperature, pH, yield, indications and contraindications, as well as the hours and fees for day-use bathing at Shisuien, come from the hot spring page of the official Shisuien website, while the fees, opening hours, closing days, sauna and cold bath layout, barrier-free facilities and private bath prices for Hozanen's "Howa no Yu" come from the hot spring page and day-use page of the official Hozanen website. The fees, opening hours and private bath and sauna prices for Yuya Haruoto, as well as the price revision of May 8, 2026, were confirmed in the usage guide and news section of that facility's official website. The legend of Empress Jingu and the town's development as a hot spring cure resort from the Meiji era onward are as described on the official Yuno Onsen website and the official Shisuien website, while its status as one of the three famous hot springs of Bocho, the number of facilities, the footbath hours, the firefly season and access by bus come from the tourism information on the official Shunan City website. Details are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.