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Tennokawa Onsen

Nara · 天の川温泉

Tennokawa Onsen is a hot spring town in Nara, Japan. Officially the water is classed as bicarbonate spring.

Getting there

From Kyoto / Osakaabout 2 h
CarNot needed
JR PassNot a JR line
  1. Train to Shimoichiguchi Station
  2. Local bus, about 60 min

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.

Bicarbonate spring

The water here

Bicarbonate spring 炭酸水素塩泉

Smooth, slightly slippery water. Often nicknamed bihada-no-yu, the water for beautiful skin.

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.

More on tattoos and onsen

Where to stay

Onsen inns — Tenkawa Village

Opens Rakuten Travel, which lists inns in English. Onsen Guide earns a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Hot spring towns nearby

Dorogawa OnsenNara · 洞川温泉Same area
Simple spring

Similar water elsewhere

Towns further away with the same kind of water — useful if this one is hard to reach or fully booked.

Tsunashima OnsenKanagawa · 綱島温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Takeo OnsenSaga · 武雄温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Yunō OnsenKagoshima · 湯之尾温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Tateyama OnsenToyama · 立山温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Nitchū OnsenFukushima · 日中温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Yabuzuka OnsenGunma · 藪塚温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring

The numbers

Address in Japanese
奈良県吉野郡天川村

Figures from the town's Japanese Wikipedia article.

Read more

Japanese Wikipedia

Planning a first soak? Read how an onsen stay works, and what to do if you have tattoos.