Onoe Onsen

Shiga · 尾上温泉

Onoe Onsen is a hot spring town in Shiga, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 21.3°C, cool enough that the baths here are usually reheated. It measures pH 7.5 — close to neutral. Officially the water is classed as simple spring. 2 inns take visitors here.

Getting there

From Tokyoabout 3 h

From Kyoto / Osakaabout 1½ h

CarNot needed

JR PassCovers the train

Train to Takatsuki Station (JR)
Many inns send a car to the station — ask when you book

Fly into Haneda or Narita. 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 — Nagahama City