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Yaita onsen

Tochigi · 矢板温泉

Yaita onsen is a hot spring town in Tochigi, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 76°C, hot. It measures pH 9 — strongly alkaline. Officially the water is classed as chloride spring, sulfate spring and iron spring.

Getting there

From Tokyoabout 2 h
CarTaxi from the station
JR PassCovers the train
  1. Train to Yaita Station (JR)
  2. Taxi, about 10 min

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 springSulfate springIron 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.

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.

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 — TochigiInns with a private bath — Tochigi

More on tattoos and onsen

Where to stay

Onsen inns — Yaita 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.

Similar water elsewhere

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

Shiriuchi OnsenHokkaido · 知内温泉Also iron and sulfate
Chloride spring+2
Nishiyama OnsenYamanashi · 西山温泉Also sulfate and chloride, similar pH
Chloride springSulfate spring
Rebuntou onsenHokkaido · 礼文島温泉Also sulfate and chloride, similar pH
Chloride springSulfate spring
Kamikawachi OnsenTochigi · 上河内温泉Also sulfate and chloride, similar pH
Chloride springSulfate spring
Miyajima OnsenToyama · 宮島温泉Also sulfate and chloride, similar pH
Chloride springSulfate spring
Zenigame OnsenIshikawa · 銭がめ温泉Also sulfate and chloride, similar pH
Chloride springSulfate spring

The numbers

Water temperature
76°C
pH
9 (strongly alkaline)
Address in Japanese
栃木県矢板市

Figures from the town's Japanese Wikipedia article.

Read more

Japanese Wikipedia

Other towns in Tochigi

Kinugawa OnsenTochigi · 鬼怒川温泉
Simple spring
Sandogoya OnsenTochigi · 三斗小屋温泉
Simple spring
Yunishigawa OnsenTochigi · 湯西川温泉
Simple spring
Shiobara OnsenTochigi · 塩原温泉郷
Chloride spring+3
Kawaji OnsenTochigi · 川治温泉
Simple spring
Nikkō Yumoto OnsenTochigi · 日光湯元温泉
Sulfur spring
Kitsuregawa OnsenTochigi · 喜連川温泉
Chloride springSulfur spring
Nasu OnsenkyōTochigi · 那須温泉郷
Simple spring+6

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