Ushio Onsen is a hot spring town in Shimane, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 42–45.9°C, hot. Officially the water is classed as simple spring and chloride spring. Its sources put out around 400 litres a minute.
Getting there
From Kyoto / Osakaabout 4 h
CarNot needed
JR PassCovers the train
Train to Izumo Daitō Station (JR)
Local bus, about 7 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.
Simple springChloride 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.
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.
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.