Hosshō Onsen

Oita · 星生温泉

Hosshō Onsen is a hot spring town in Oita, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 17–94°C, hot enough that it has to be cooled before anyone can get in. Officially the water is classed as iron spring, acidic spring and sulfur spring. Its sources put out around 1,500 litres a minute. 1 inns take visitors here.

Getting there

From Fukuokaabout 3 h

CarNot needed

JR PassCovers the train

Train to Bungo-Nakamura Station (JR)
Local bus, about 50 min

Fly into Fukuoka. Times are rough estimates worked out from station locations, not a timetable — check the exact route on Google Maps.

Iron springAcidic springSulfur spring

The water here

Iron spring 含鉄泉

Turns reddish brown as the iron meets air. The water is clear at the source.

Acidic spring 酸性泉

Strongly acidic, sometimes below pH 2. It stings on cuts and is not for long soaks.

Sulfur spring 硫黄泉

The classic rotten-egg smell and milky white water. It can tarnish silver jewellery, so take it off.

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 — Oita Inns with a private bath — Kokonoe Town