Photo: Soica2001 (talk) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Tōya Onsen
Tōya Onsen is a hot spring town in Hokkaido, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 60°C, hot. Officially the water is classed as simple spring, chloride spring and sulfate spring.
The water here
Simple spring
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
Salty water. The salt leaves a thin film on the skin, so you stay warm well after leaving the bath.
Sulfate spring
Clear water with a faintly bitter taste. Known for holding heat.
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.
Where to stay
Hot spring towns nearby
Similar water elsewhere
The numbers
- Water temperature
- 60°C
- Address in Japanese
- 北海道虻田郡洞爺湖町
Figures from the town's Japanese Wikipedia article.
Read more
Planning a first soak? Read how an onsen stay works, and what to do if you have tattoos.