Tōsenji Onsen is a hot spring town in Nara, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 60°C, hot. Officially the water is classed as sulfur spring. 6 inns take visitors here.
Getting there
From Kyoto / Osakaabout 2 h
CarNot needed
JR PassNot a JR line
Train to Yamato-Yagi Station
Local bus
Fly into Kansai (KIX) or Itami. Times are rough estimates worked out from station locations, not a timetable — check the exact route on Google Maps.
Sulfur spring
The water here
Sulfur spring 硫黄泉
The classic rotten-egg smell and milky white water. It can tarnish silver jewellery, so take it off.
More photographs
From Wikimedia Commons. Tap a photo for the photographer and licence.
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.