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Ōkawachi Onsen

Yamaguchi · 大河内温泉

Ōkawachi Onsen is a hot spring town in Yamaguchi, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 31.1–33.8°C, cool enough that the baths here are usually reheated. It measures pH 9.4–9.5 — strongly alkaline. Officially the water is classed as simple spring. Its sources put out around 78 litres a minute.

Getting there

From Kyoto / Osakaabout 3½ h
CarTaxi from the station
JR PassCovers the train
  1. Train to Yutama Station (JR)
  2. Taxi, about 10 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 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.

Things to see nearby

Kuruson ZanMountain · 2.5 km
Jingū Kōgō ShrineShrine · 10.9 km
Katsuyama CastleCastle · 20.3 kmDoigahama SiteMuseum · 10.5 km

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.

Rooms with an open-air bath — Shimonoseki CityInns with a private bath — Shimonoseki City

More on tattoos and onsen

Where to stay

Onsen inns — Shimonoseki City

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

Tsubashiki OnsenYamaguchi · 津波敷温泉7.5 km northwest
Radioactive spring
Kawatana OnsenYamaguchi · 川棚温泉8.3 km south
Chloride springRadioactive spring
Ichinomata OnsenYamaguchi · 一の俣温泉10.9 km northeast
Sulfur spring
Nishinoichi OnsenYamaguchi · 西ノ市温泉11.9 km east
Hino OnsenYamaguchi · 日野温泉12 km east
Bicarbonate spring
Kikugawa OnsenYamaguchi · 菊川温泉12.2 km southeast
Chloride springBicarbonate spring

Similar water elsewhere

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

Ogoto OnsenShiga · 雄琴温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Sakakibara OnsenMie · 榊原温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Inokura OnsenMie · 猪の倉温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Tamagwa OnsenSaitama · 玉川温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Futakuchi OnsenMiyagi · 二口温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Genjiinomori OnsenFukuoka · 源じいの森温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring

The numbers

Water temperature
31.1–33.8°C
pH
9.4–9.5 (strongly alkaline)
Discharge
78 litres a minute
Address in Japanese
山口県下関市豊浦町宇賀大河内

Figures from the town's Japanese Wikipedia article.

Where it is

34.2142, 130.9491 — open the map

Read more

Japanese Wikipedia

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