Photo: Soica2001 (talk) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Kurinodake Onsen

Kagoshima · 栗野岳温泉

Kurinodake Onsen is a hot spring town in Kagoshima, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 46–90°C, hot enough that it has to be cooled before anyone can get in. It measures pH 2.3–3 — strongly acidic, the kind that stings on a cut. Officially the water is classed as sulfate spring, iron spring, acidic spring, sulfur spring and radioactive spring. 1 inns take visitors here.

Getting there

From Fukuokaabout 3 h

CarNot needed

JR PassCovers the train

Train to Kurino Station (JR)
Local bus, about 6 min

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

Sulfate springIron springAcidic springSulfur springRadioactive spring

The water here

Sulfate spring 硫酸塩泉

Clear water with a faintly bitter taste. Known for holding heat.

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.

Radioactive spring 放射能泉

Contains trace radon that leaves the water quickly. Also called radium or radon springs.

Things to see nearby

Kirishima Open-Air MuseumArt museum · 1.8 km

Maruike PondLake · 5.5 km

Mount TakachihoMountain · 15.2 km

Inukai FallsWaterfall · 14.9 km

Kokubu CastleCastle · 23.9 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 — Kagoshima Inns with a private bath — Kagoshima