Shinmei Onsen

Gifu · 神明温泉

Shinmei Onsen is a hot spring town in Gifu, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 37°C, comfortably warm. It measures pH 8.8 — mildly alkaline, the slippery kind. Officially the water is classed as simple spring. Its sources put out around 180 litres a minute. 1 inns take visitors here.

Getting there

From Nagoyaabout 2 h

From Kyoto / Osakaabout 3 h

CarTaxi from the station

JR PassNot a JR line

Train to Tokunaga Station
By car or taxi, about 20 min

Fly into Chubu Centrair. Times are rough estimates worked out from station locations, not a timetable — check the exact route on Google Maps.

Simple spring

The water here

Simple spring 単純温泉

Mild and low in dissolved minerals. Usually clear and gentle on the skin, which is why these baths are often recommended for first-timers.

With tattoos

Many public baths still turn away visible tattoos, and the rule is set by each bath, not by the town. The reliable way round it is to bathe privately: a room with its own open-air bath, or an inn with a private bath you can book for yourselves.

Rooms with an open-air bath — Gifu Inns with a private bath — Gifu