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Kōya Onsen

Wakayama · 高野温泉

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

Getting there

From Kyoto / Osakaabout 2 h
CarTaxi from the station
JR PassCovers the train
  1. Train to Hashimoto Station (JR)
  2. Taxi, about 40 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.

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.

Rooms with an open-air bath — WakayamaInns with a private bath — Wakayama

More on tattoos and onsen

Where to stay

Onsen inns — Koya Town

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.

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
和歌山県伊都郡高野町上筒香

Figures from the town's Japanese Wikipedia article.

Read more

Japanese Wikipedia

Other towns in Wakayama

Nanki-Shirahama OnsenWakayama · 南紀白浜温泉
Chloride spring+2
Yunomine OnsenWakayama · 湯の峰温泉
Chloride spring+2
Nanki-Katsuura OnsenWakayama · 南紀勝浦温泉
Chloride springSulfur spring
Ryūjin OnsenWakayama · 龍神温泉
Chloride spring+2
Tsubaki OnsenWakayama · 椿温泉
Sulfur spring
Kawayu onsenWakayama · 川湯温泉
Chloride springBicarbonate spring
Wataze OnsenWakayama · 渡瀬温泉
Chloride springBicarbonate spring
Hanayama OnsenWakayama · 花山温泉
Chloride spring+2

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