Photo: Abasaa · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Shiobara Onsen

Tochigi · 塩原温泉郷

Shiobara Onsen is a hot spring town in Tochigi, Japan. It measures pH 2.6–9.2 — acidic. Officially the water is classed as chloride spring, bicarbonate spring, sulfate spring and sulfur spring. Its sources put out around 10,000 litres a minute. 60 inns take visitors here.

Getting there

From Tokyoabout 2½ h

CarNot needed

JR PassMost of the way

Train to Nishi-Nasuno Station (JR)
Change for Kamimiyori-Shiobara-Onsenguchi Station — a private line, not covered by the JR Pass
Local bus

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

Chloride springBicarbonate springSulfate springSulfur spring

The water here

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.

Bicarbonate spring 炭酸水素塩泉

Smooth, slightly slippery water. Often nicknamed bihada-no-yu, the water for beautiful skin.

Sulfate spring 硫酸塩泉

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

Sulfur spring 硫黄泉

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

More photographs

From Wikimedia Commons. Tap a photo for the photographer and licence.

Things to see nearby

Hunter Mountain ShiobaraSki area · 7 km

RyūōkyōGorge · 15.2 km

Izumi CastleCastle · 16.5 km

Mount ArakaiMountain · 17.6 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 — Tochigi Inns with a private bath — Tochigi