Sagi-no-yu Onsen is a hot spring town in Shimane, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 51.6°C, hot. Officially the water is classed as chloride spring, sulfate spring and radioactive spring. Its sources put out around 600 litres a minute. 3 inns take visitors here.
Getting there
From Kyoto / Osakaabout 4 h
CarNot needed
JR PassCovers the train
Train to Yasugi Station (JR)
Local bus, about 20 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.
Chloride springSulfate springRadioactive spring
The water here
Chloride spring 塩化物泉
Salty water. The salt leaves a thin film on the skin, so you stay warm well after leaving the bath.
Sulfate spring 硫酸塩泉
Clear water with a faintly bitter taste. Known for holding heat.
Radioactive spring 放射能泉
Contains trace radon that leaves the water quickly. Also called radium or radon springs.
Places from Wikidata, photographs from Wikimedia Commons. Distances are in a straight line from the town.
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.